I was probably one of the first to purchase one of these pistols when it was first introduced, I think back in 2004. I became a distributor for NLT and sold quit a few of these units. Back then there were a lot of instructors that did not seem to think that this training pistol had much merit as a training tool, but today it appears that a lot have changed their tune. I use my SIRT Pistol everyday to do my dry fire work. The article below is a very good analysis of this training unit. If you are interested in purchasing one, I have included the contact information. Thank you Mr. Monte Gould for sharing this article.
AS,
a professional law enforcement
and military instructor, I have
seen many training tools come
and go over the years. It is important
to vigilantly evaluate
promising tools and new theories
to stay relevant.
Recently I met the owner of Next Level
Training, Mr. Mike Hughes. He is a competitive
shooter, firearms instructor, and Season 3
finalist on Top Shot. Mike founded Next Level
Training and created the SIRT Pistol. He is
larger-than-life, focused on human performance
enhancement, and constantly seeking
improvement.
As a competitive shooter, instructor, and
practitioner, I endeavor to remain aware of
emerging technologies. The most convincing
remedy to improvement is personal recognition
of deficiencies. We must be able to selfidentify
and analyze.
Frequent, well-executed, and repetitive manipulation
develops reflexive proficiency under
stress. To support practice, we need to perform
self-diagnosis, maintain interest, and have fun.
Yes, I said “fun!” Sometimes people focus too
much on the work aspect and lose the fun. This
reduces motivation and creates labor from what
should be mentally stimulating and enjoyable.
I advise my students to dry practice at least
three times a week for 10 to 15 minutes per session.
When students complete a course of instruction
and return home, they practice as recommended
for a couple weeks. But slowly they
lose motivation and begin to reduce or totally
eliminate dry practice sessions. The NLT SIRT
Pistol brings back the fun!
NLT SIRT PISTOL
The NLT Training Pistol is designed for “highvolume
self-diagnostic firearms training.” The
SIRT (Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger) Pistol
is a replica gun that emits a laser when breaking
the trigger (no need to rack the slide). The
SIRT Training Pistol is an inert training tool incapable
of firing real rounds.
It is equipped standard with a second “takeup”
laser that activates when the trigger is indexed,
held and depressed, but not broken
(taking the slack out). This second take-up laser
is primarily for the instructor or assistant to diagnose
shooter performance during dry practice
sessions. The device physically resembles
the Glock 17. It will fit in all holsters and equipment
as needed and required for like designs.
You can attach your light on a rail of the SIRT.
The newest version resembles a Smith &
Wesson Sigma. You can remove the stock
sights and replace them with your preferred
sight. NLT also produces a replacement bolt for
use in your AR-15/M4 platform that projects
a laser. It comes standard with one magazine
weighted to simulate a fully loaded real magaNEXT
LEVEL TRAINING
zine. However, the SIRT Pistol emulates the
By Monte Gould
SIRT Laser
Training Pistol
AS
80 OCTOBER 2016 | www.SWATMAG.com
functional features of real firearms for the most beneficial
training effects. The lasers fully adjust for elevation and
windage using a small Allen wrench.
The device comes with a fully charged battery that lasts
hundreds of hours and is ready to use out of the box. NLT
provides detailed instructions for use, plus a CD and hard
plastic case. Per the enclosed instructions, check zero
when you receive the pistol. Adjust the lasers to the sights,
not vice versa. The trigger is fully adjustable as well for
take-up and break, and relatively easy to accomplish.
My initial perception was that it is a training tool for beginners.
This misconception was promptly disproved.
I began using the device for personal skills development.
Instead of dry fire sessions with real weapons, I used
the NLT SIRT Pistol. I have used it in my office and then
traveled with it to maintain skills on the road. I routinely
travel across the U.S. and abroad, and am often unable
to carry firearms. I have taken the NLT SIRT to South and
Central America, Europe, Scandinavia, and all over the U.S.
without any difficulty. (Read up on traveling with simulated-type
weapons. Know and understand the specific regulations
of the area you are traveling to before you embark
on a journey carrying this device.)
TESTING
I introduced the NLT SIRT Pistol to training with basiclevel
students. It has reduced training time frames, range
session usage, and ammunition consumption while developing
student confidence.
The device also provides a safer, more relaxed, and less
stressful indoctrination and orientation for new shooters.
More advanced shooters can self-diagnose and self-correct
without argument, denial, or subjective opinion. After
all, personal recognition of flaws and failure is the strongest
medicine for improvement.
The instructor assists, notes errors, and then provides
opportunities for students to self-analyze. As a test, we
conducted non-profit instructor training courses with the
NLT SIRT Pistol. Our first group was a cross-section of instructors
based in Scandinavia. The evaluation group invited
to support the instructors consisted of novice shooters.
This was an eight-hour instructor course. The student
group was restricted to four hours of training with NLT SIRT
Pistols, after which live-fire qualification courses were conducted.
Student scores were on average 42% higher. Nearly
Above: Range staff trains with NLT SIRT.
Left: SWAT officer trains with NLT SIRT Pistol.
81
the same result was achieved with two other focus groups
of novice shooters.
With experienced professionals (competitive, law enforcement,
and military personnel), the rates of improvement
were much lower, within the 3 to 6% range, which
was still remarkable, not to mention reduced live-fire
operations and overall cost reduction.
I have now conducted 11 instructor classes with varying
skill levels (amateurs and professionals) throughout
the world. My results have been relatively uniform and
consistent.
NLT has an excellent online and YouTube support
channel for customer service and training. The training
videos are comprehensive and to the point. NLT customer
support is above average, streamlined, and responsive to
customers. My company, I.M.T.T., now has ten of the pistols
in the field and uses them routinely. Anytime I have
contacted or requested support, NLT has been prompt,
responding to calls and e-mails for service without hesitation
or delay.
TRAINING WITH THE SIRT PISTOL
Follow all basic rules regarding dry fire practice. Do not
have a real pistol or ammunition in the vicinity. When
dry firing off the range, clear the room of all ammunition
even when only dry firing with the SIRT Training Pistol. If
dry firing in conjunction with your live-fire gun, conduct
safety checks of all firearms.
When on the range, it is beneficial to train trigger
mechanics with the SIRT Training Pistol between live-fire
drills. In this environment, treat the SIRT Training Pistol as
a real gun and follow the four basic rules at all times. When
holstering the SIRT, be sure to slide lock your real firearm
without a magazine when placing it down for temporary
storage.
Flip the top toggle switch backward to activate the red
take-up indicator. When you only want the shot indicator
(green laser), flip the switch forward. During most training,
the take-up indicator is turned off.
For beginners, the take-up laser is to identify trigger
mechanics issues during slow fire. After ensuring a proper
grip, stance, body posture, and other fundamental skill
sets, observe the motion of the laser during the trigger pull.
Ensure the student is first taking the slack out of the trigger
and then having a clean follow-through, with the green
laser showing the shot break.
After a shot is broken, release the trigger sufficiently to
shoot off the reset, where the red laser is still on, and then
re-press the trigger to break a second or subsequent shot.
If the lasers go completely off, you have completely disengaged
the trigger from the sear. This indicates you’re not
identifying the reset point. It further allows you to practice
correct finger placement and the correct moment during
the presentation and prepping the trigger correctly.
Have the shooter align the target, prep and break the
trigger. If the lasers are steady during this, they are engaging
in proper trigger mechanics. If the shooter is, for example,
right-handed, and the lasers sweep from right to
left (a nine o’clock sweep), the shooter is not engaging in
proper trigger mechanics. Observe the laser motion when
breaking the trigger. Any comet-tail sweep is an indicator
of poor trigger mechanics.
Advanced shooters should, of course, train the same
fundamentals as above. Many advanced shooters have
fundamentals to train and strengthen, such as prepping
the trigger prior to coming onto a target during a target
transition. But advanced shooters need to train in higher
volume with higher quality of movement.
Such further training includes: shooting on the move,
high-speed transitions (one target to another), high-speed
wide transitions (over 90° between targets), and highvolume
training. This is a supplemental tool, not a replacement.
You still must do live fire and practice recoil management.
ADVANTAGES OF THE SIRT PISTOL
The SIRT Pistol is tremendously convenient for high-volume
training. The lasers help identify mechanical trigger
issues, ensuring proper trigger mechanics and sight alignment
when breaking the trigger. You can set up training
events anywhere at any time. The cost of training is zero,
and range and ammo costs are completely eliminated.
It allows you to focus on prepping the trigger, the break,
re-set, and proper trigger control, all this while forcing the
shooter to focus on the sights correctly and never having
to fire a shot. I have been able to set up scenarios in cliReflective
tape allows SIRT Pistol to be used in bright daylight.
NEXT LEVEL TRAINING
82 OCTOBER 2016 | www.SWATMAG.com
ent police stations and have the officers train while on duty
intermittently, as well as set up in-station training with
simulated ranges in the interior spaces prior to the officers
qualifying the next day. Of course strict adherence to safety
and protocols was implemented.
DISADVANTAGES OF THE SIRT PISTOL
SIRT is not a replacement for live-fire training, but a supplement.
There is no recoil impulse simulation or slide operation
during use. Shooters have a tendency to look at the
laser impact and make corrections through this method
instead of focusing on the sights.
Users occasionally develop complacency relative to safe
weapons handling. Assumptions of harmlessness begin to
sneak into the mindset of the individual, and he may treat
the weapon as a toy. This should be constantly monitored,
highly discouraged, and eliminated. Treat and handle the
device as a real weapon at all times.
Obviously sometimes during force-on-force or other
types of training, the device will be pointed at others. Treat
it in the same manner as a marker-type projectile training
weapon and strictly adhere to the highest safety protocols.
The SIRT is not waterproof. If used in the rain, cover the
upper opening in the slide with a small piece of tape.
CONCLUSION
The SIRT Pistol and rifle bolt are incredible training tools.
You can have them in your home, office, or work place and
set up scenarios safely without using real weapons to clear
spaces. The possibilities are endless.
I use this SIRT for training in vehicles in place of real
weapons and for safety during demonstrations and practice
at home. I routinely use it when demonstrating entry tactics
and/or building search methodologies. It’s an excellent tool
for students during the “crawl, walk, run” phases of training
inside locations and during complex exercises for safety.
My former agency purchased the devices and has integrated
them into defensive tactics training. Some groups,
individuals, and organizations use the SIRT Pistol and
laser bolt for force-on-force scenario training. The SIRT Pistol
allows instant feedback that is visible from the very first
time they press the trigger, making their lack of trigger control
obvious to them.
You can place reflective tape at varying distances on
targets to indicate hits. The laser strikes the reflective portion
and reflects with high intensity.
SIRT is a perfect training tool for anyone who owns or
carries a weapon. Many police and military agencies are
now purchasing these devices and integrating them into
regular training for officers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation
and the Los Angeles Police Department to name
just two.
When you cannot get to the range or adverse weather
hits, the SIRT allows you to continue practicing. If you live
in an urban area and are unable to visit the range regularly,
it helps you maintain skills between sessions. I believe in
this product and cannot recommend it more highly, based
on testing, use, customer service, and ruggedness.
Suggested retail price for the SIRT Pistol is $239.00.
The AR bolt is $139.00.
Monte Gould is a retired California peace officer (27½ years,
22 years SWAT). He served in the U.S. military, with both
peacetime and combat deployments, from 1978 to 2009.
He is the owner of I.M.T.T., which provides services to governmental
organizations and entities. He can be reached at
monteimtt@gmail.com.
SOURCE
NEXT LEVEL TRAINING LLC
(360) 933-4640
www.nextleveltraining.com
Above: Windage adjustment for laser is
located on right side of pistol.
Left: Red and green lasers activated
together for take-up feature.
Right: Weighted magazine simulates
feel of actual magazine.
www.SWATMAG.com | OCTOBER 2016 83
