But is it Actually as Good as Live Fire Training? (Ft. Mantis)

State of the Second hosts John and Kaylee sit down with Grant from Mantis, a firearms training company that uses technology to help shooters get better. Grant explains the core idea behind the products: assess your trigger press, tell you what you're doing wrong, and tell you how to fix it, all to improve marksmanship and gun handling. Safety comes first and effectiveness second. He walks through the lineup on the table, including the Blackbeard, an X10 that drops into your AR as a bolt carrier group and charging handle so your own rifle becomes the training tool. It resets your trigger, sends a laser downrange, and gives feedback on your trigger press. A dedicated training gun and a 3D-printed pistol prototype with a realistic Legion-style trigger round out the demo. The conversation digs into why dry fire with feedback matters. Grant compares it to the jump from film photography to digital: you can now see what you did wrong and fix the root of the problem instead of compensating for it. He's clear that Mantis does not replace live fire or simunitions, and he encourages people to train with a qualified instructor. The tools save ammo and range time and let shooters work on fundamentals like grip, sight picture, and trigger press before they ever load a round. He covers what's coming next, including augmented reality that scans up to 10,000 square feet of a space and drops in targets, heart-rate monitors, shock pads, and a physical device for round count that would open up mag changes and more dynamic drills. The back half turns personal and political. Grant is originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, and is now an American citizen. He talks about Canada banning AR-style rifles using an event where, he says, no ARs were used and none of the firearms involved were legally obtained. That experience is a big part of why he supports the Second Amendment. He and the hosts discuss the leaderboards and community Mantis builds, float the idea of a GOA group, and talk about how working in the firearms industry can get you treated differently or quietly pushed out of other fields. Grant left the high-end spa business at the peak of his career to chase work he loves, and his advice to anyone weighing a similar leap is simple: it's scary, but it's worth it. The episode wraps with details on finding Mantis at GOALS, booth 900. Linksevents.goa.org/goalsQuestions this episode answers What does Mantis do, and what is its core training philosophy? Mantis is a firearms training company that uses technology to help shooters improve their marksmanship and gun handling. It assesses your trigger press, tells you what you're doing wrong, and shows you how to fix it, with safety first and effectiveness second. How does the Mantis Blackbeard work, and what's the advantage of swapping in your own bolt carrier group? The Blackbeard is an X10 that drops into your AR in place of the bolt carrier group and charging handle, so your own rifle becomes the training tool. It resets your trigger, sends a laser downrange, and gives feedback on your trigger press. Does dry-fire training with Mantis replace live fire or simunitions? No. Grant is clear that Mantis does not replace live fire or simunitions and encourages training with a qualified instructor. The tools save ammo and range time by letting shooters work on grip, sight picture, and trigger press before loading a round. What is Mantis building next, beyond augmented reality, like round count and dynamic drills? Grant describes a physical round-count device that would open up mag changes and more dynamic drills, plus heart-rate monitors and shock pads. The augmented reality system scans up to 10,000 square feet of a space and drops in targets. Why did Grant leave the high-end spa industry to join the firearms space? Grant left the high-end spa business at the peak of his career to chase work he loves. His advice to anyone weighing a similar leap is that it's scary, but it's worth it. How did Canada's firearms laws shape Grant's view of the Second Amendment? Grant, originally from Regina, Saskatchewan and now an American citizen, points to Canada banning AR-style rifles over an event where, he says, no ARs were used and none of the firearms involved were legally obtained. That experience is a big part of why he supports the Second Amendment. How do Mantis leaderboards help build training and community? Mantis builds leaderboards and community around its training, and Grant and the hosts float the idea of a Gun Owners of America group. The whole goal is to motivate people to practice. Where can you find Mantis at GOALS? Grant points listeners to Mantis at the Gun Owners Action Leadership Summit (GOALS), booth 900. Chapters 00:13 — Rapid fire questions with Grant 02:26 — What Mantis is and how Grant joined 05:24 — The Blackbeard for your AR 06:55 — Safety advantages over regular dry fire 09:24 — The dedicated training gun demo 12:12 — Designed for every level of shooter 13:43 — Saving range time and money 17:10 — What's next: augmented reality 23:14 — Round count and dynamic training 26:34 — Leaderboards and building community 30:53 — Soapbox: train more, polish less 33:45 — Canada, gun bans, and the Second Amendment 40:34 — Getting blackballed and taking the leap 45:34 — Find Mantis at GOALS booth 900 About the guest Grant works for Mantis, a firearms training company that uses technology to help people train and improve their marksmanship and gun handling. He was a Mantis customer before he joined the company. He came from running very high-end spas and was at the pinnacle of that career before switching industries. He is originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and is now an American citizen. He is left-handed and has an 11-year-old daughter. His company role/title was not stated in this episode [VERIFY]. Key quotes "Mantis is a firearms training company and it's at its core we just use technology to help people train to get better." — Grant "So safety first and effectiveness second, I guess would be our thing." — Grant "We do not replace that, nor do we replace live fire. We encourage people to do both, but we don't want you to waste your time either." — Grant "We want to get to the root of the problem, fix it and help you succeed." — Grant "It is one of the greatest training tools I've ever played with." — John "It's scary, but it's worth it. It's just that simple." — Grant "Our whole goal is to help people practice, to motivate people to practice." — Grant