AR-10 and SCAR Dry-Fire Training with Mantis BlackbeardX

Mantis is forging the cutting edge of dry fire training. The MantisX system, combined with hardware like the BlackbeardX, makes dry firing more productive than ever. Productivity is great, but the best thing about the Mantis system is how much fun you can have. Dry firing can be boring. But not anymore. And Mantis has just broadened the tent with its brand new BlackbeardX for the AR-10 and SCAR Light and Heavy platforms.

The Mantis BlackbeardX for AR-10 and SCAR

The AR-10 and SCAR join the BlackbeardX for the AR-15 and Sig MCX to provide top-notch training aids for popular tactical rifles. Mantis sent me an AR-10 BlackbeardX for a pre-launch test drive. I’m very familiar with Mantis products, so I dove right in. Here’s what I found.

The Mantis BlackbeardX is built around an electronic bolt carrier group and magazine that replace what’s currently in your rifle. You can install them in about 30 seconds. The magazine is Bluetooth compatible and connects to the MantisX apps on your smartphone.

The Mantis BlackbeardX is built around an electronic bolt carrier group and magazine that replace what’s currently in your AR-10, and it can be installed in about 30 seconds.

The BCG also includes your choice of a red or green laser for instant visual feedback or use with the MantisX Laser Academy system. Correspondingly, the laser is adjustable for proper zeroing. The unit is rechargeable via the included USB cable.

The BlackbeardX is fully compatible with Laser Academy and the MantisX Pistol/Rifle app. Laser Academy includes targets. However, you can buy them separately or make your own. I do all of those things. Note: proper integration with Laser Academy requires Laser Academy targets.

I use the BlackbeardX at the range, too. The laser is perfect for visual feedback on targets. I like to use the pistol range to practice transitions on small targets like dueling trees. However, I need to know my holds to match the optics with the laser. That’s good practice, too.

The author uses the Mantis BlackbeardX for his AR-10 at the range.

I’d practice in my yard, but certain of my neighbors probably wouldn’t appreciate my public display of ARs, and I currently lack a privacy fence.

The Versatile BlackbeardX

I love the BlackbeardX because I can do so much with it. I can take slow, steady shots from the bench if I want, or I can shoot freehand. My AR-10 wears a Magpul bipod, so I can get some work that way or run and gun. The automatic trigger reset makes all that possible since I don’t have to manually run the action to get an actual trigger pull.

The system comes with the bolt and magazine.

Most of my drills involve transitions, and the BlackbeardX excels at measuring that aspect of training. The accompanying MantisX program evaluates my shot efficiency and the transitions themselves, along with overtravel and delay between shots.

I can also put my transitions in motion on replay, tracking each one along with the shot. This allows me to pinpoint where I need improvement. The feedback includes efficiency scores and times for each shot and an overall score for the drill. The transition tracking feedback employs heat sensors to show how your movements impact your speed using different colors.

Most of the author’s drills involve transitions, and the system excels at measuring that aspect of training.

If I don’t want to use the app, I can use the laser for instant visual feedback. The laser isn’t constant, so it’s not a targeting aid. It only flashes when you pull the trigger and turns off when you release it. I normally just use the laser at the range.

The pistol bay, with its myriad targets, lets me incorporate movement and transitions while the laser tells me how I’m doing. My son and I take turns, with one watching for the laser hits and keeping score while the other shoots.

Training With the MantisX App

The MantisX app organizes your training and tracks your progress. It features a variety of drills, and the app will separate your progress with various firearms. I have numerous pistols and three rifles programmed into mine. When I am ready, I just select which firearm I want for that session.

The BlackbeardX is perfect for progressing through the Basic, Advanced, and Elite Rifleman courses. And don’t think you’ll do that quickly. Those courses are demanding. Mantis even sends you a patch upon completing each course. They do that for the pistol courses, too. It’s pretty cool.

Practicing fifteen minutes every night before you hit the sack will noticeably improve your shooting.

This app isn’t like a video game that you beat once and never pick up again. You’ll return to this app again and again because it’s just that good.

BlackbeardX Value

The BlackbeardX, like other Mantis products, provides enormous value. You can literally train almost any time you want. Sure, you can take it to the range, but you don’t have to.

Practicing fifteen minutes every night before you hit the sack will noticeably improve your shooting. No packing up all your stuff, driving to the range, packing it again, coming home, cleaning your weapons (you do that after every range trip, right?), etc.

The Mantis BlackbeardX for your AR-10 allows you to take as many shots as you want.

Don’t get me wrong, you still need to practice with live ammo at the range. But this lets you add to that in a very productive way.

And speaking of value, how many rounds could you fire in one range trip? Effective drills that are also economical do exist, and I highly recommend them. But the BlackbeardX allows you to take as many shots as you want. Rifle shots. .308 Winchester or 5.56 NATO. Hundreds or thousands.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t afford to fire that many rounds of live ammo in a week. However, I can get that many reps of quality dry fire with my BlackbeardX. The potential ammo savings are astronomical. The BlackbeardX can literally pay for itself in a week that way.

Final Thoughts

I’ve run the entire suite of Mantis products, and the BlackbeardX is my favorite. I’ve always preferred rifles to other firearms, so that’s unsurprising. But there’s never really been a good way to dry-fire semi-automatic rifles because of the need to reset the trigger by manually running the action—less than ideal. The BlackbeardX changed that.

The BlackbeardX does all that stuff for you while also providing real-time and after-action feedback. It’s so good that the US Army and Marine Corps use it, too. I’d be surprised if numerous law enforcement agencies don’t also use it. It really is a game-changer.

My son and I benefit greatly from using our Mantis training aids. Having someone to compete with makes it that much more fun. Sometimes, we shoot the drills on the app, and sometimes, we select “Open Training” and make up our own scenarios. It’s easy to lose track of time. That’s a good thing.

With ammo prices only going higher, Mantis has a partial answer. The new BlackbeardX for the AR-10 and SCAR platforms is just one more way to improve. Check it out.

For more information, please visit MantisX.com.