In September of 2025, I set up my own in-home range with the Laser Ammo i-MTTS Arena training system. At that time, I was running the system with my personal Glock 17 Gen3 build. It is an incredibly productive means of dry-fire training with actual measurable results. However, it is missing an important element that live fire provides—recoil. For this reason, Laser Ammo offers recoil-enabled training pistols, and they add another level to your training.
The Laser Ammo Recoil-Enabled Training Pistol
Obviously, there is no replacing live-fire training. However, that is not always practical or possible. So, the next best thing is dry-fire training. There are numerous options for this, but I really like the i-MTTS Arena for its simplicity and immediate feedback. Now that I am using the recoil-enabled training pistol, I feel like a missing piece of the puzzle is in place.
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Laser Ammo offers a variety of pistols, so you can try to get as close to your personal model as possible. This includes everything from Glock 17 & 19, CZ Shadow, Sig P320 & M17, and more, each weighing approximately the same as the live firearms. Likewise, if you own a blowback Airsoft gun, you can also purchase the patented Recoil Enabled Airsoft Laser (R.E.A.L.) Conversion Kit.
Along with providing close-to-realistic blowback, the training pistols also eliminate the need to rack the slide between shots. The pistols deliver approximately 30-40% of a real firearm’s recoil, which is enough to pull you off target, forcing re-acquisition.
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Correspondingly, you can select between CO2 and green gas. I opted for green gas. While the CO2 cartridge delivers slightly more recoil, it requires more maintenance and takes more time/effort to install. However, the green gas is environmentally friendly and contains a silicone spray that lubricates the magazine and the firearm. Not to mention, it is much quicker and easier to refill. Both the can of green gas and a CO2 cartridge provide approximately 2,500 shots.
Finally, you have your choice of visible red and IR lasers. I was sent the IR laser for testing. It is important to note that you cannot see the IR laser, so there is no true means of zeroing an optic.
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Setting Up the Recoil-Enabled Training Pistol
Setting up the pistol is quick and easy. The first step is to install the battery pack into the laser at the front of the barrel. There is no need to remove the barrel for this step, but it makes it easier if you lock the slide back (though also not necessary). Simply unscrew the laser from the end of the barrel. Then, remove the cap, install the battery, and replace the laser at the end of the barrel.
Filling the green gas took a little more work to figure out. Actually filling the magazine was very easy and intuitive, with the obvious inlet. However, it took a bit to find any information on how long to fill it. What I found is that green gas stabilizes when the magazine is full, and you can’t overfill it. So, I just listened for the gas to stop flowing, and that seemed to do the trick.
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Once the magazine is full, place it into the magwell, just like any semi-auto pistol, and rack the slide. That really is all there is to it. You are ready to turn on your i-MTTS, pick your favorite drill, and start training.
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A quick note: if you want to run an optic, make sure you will be able to install one on the pistol you select. I chose the Sig M17, which is cut for the Sig Air Reflex Sight. Unfortunately, that optic is no longer available.
So, I was directed to an adapter plate for this pistol that would allow me to run my Trijicon RMR for only $11.00. However, shipping was $80. So, I ended up running this pistol with iron sights. Which isn’t bad. I just like options.
Running the Recoil-Enabled Pistol with the i-MTTS Arena
A nice thing about the i-MTTS Arena is that it takes up so little space that I just left it set up in my office. As a result, I am able to practice anytime I have a few minutes to run a few drills. So, as with my write-up about the system, I have my targets set up at 3 yards. This equates to a 10-inch target at 10 yards and approximately 10 yards apart (more details in my original review).
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The laser has windage and elevation adjustments. However, as I mentioned, I have the IR version and cannot see the laser. So, before getting too deep, I set the mode to Standalone, allowing unlimited shots. Then, I aimed at the top, bottom, right, and left extremities of the target to see if it was properly sighted in. Fortunately, all were hits, so the laser was on.
Next, I just started playing with the different modes. My favorite mode is still Shoot/No Shoot because it incorporates critical thinking skills into your training. However, the i-MTTS Arena has plenty of fun drills, with Steel Plate and Chase the Ball among my favorites.
The combination of iron sights and recoil did change my times, which is the point. Although it wasn’t a dramatic increase, it was still enough to demonstrate the importance of recoil training. On average, my split times almost doubled. However, when I first started running it, they were higher than that. Once I got used to it, they came down. But that is the point, isn’t it?
I did find out that the pistol does not like rapid-fire. While shooting quickly (like a full mag dump), the mag hissed, gave up the gas, and was done. But a quick refill, and I was back in it.
Laser Ammo Recoil-Enabled Training Pistol: Next Level Dry-Fire
If you are a regular reader of Personal Defense World, then you understand the importance of dry-fire practice. It is something we talk about regularly. However, not all dry-fire is the same, and Laser Ammo definitely figured out how to enhance it.
The Recoil-Enabled Training Pistols are a slam dunk for a more realistic, at-home training experience. Although they do not provide the same level of recoil as a live-fire pistol, they adequately replicate real-world pistol response. So, you still have to re-acquire your sight picture after each shot.
With prices ranging from $450 to $460, it is a worthwhile expense that will enhance your training for years to come. The fact that you can hit the range in your own home will increase your training time exponentially. When you have a quick 15 minutes to train, but the range is a half hour away, hit your home range. Never miss a quick training session again.
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