TargetTalk

Gerard- You can see the item here- it's called the "Target Tone":
http://www.shooterstechnology.com/target-tone.cfm

$100 eh? Well thank you, I will consider it. I was hoping for a DIY solution and will look into that as well.

tuj wrote:What I use is a laser boresighter, then I have a B2 target with the X ring cut out and replaced with a photoeye. There is a circuit that makes a tone when the laser hits the photo eye. Very good trainer for learning to hold onto the center of the target.

And way cheaper than a Rika/Scatt.

That's a very interesting idea!

And what was Zin calling BS on?

Oh, yeah...that "Natural Point of Aim" crap.

To bring these 2 "threads" together, Gunny Zins also calls BS on holding exercises. His point is that holding in the aim area without triggering, trains you to not pull the trigger when you see the proper sight picture. Training with the device mentioned above would tend to make you do that.

However, suppose the receptor was programed/timed to start with a relatively large sensitive area - say 6-ring size - which would get smaller - down to X-ring size - over the course of 6 to 8 seconds, and then turn off. Then, as you came into the aim area, the tone would start and continue while you refined your hold. The start of the tone would tell you to start your trigger pull. If you haven't completed the pull by the 6 to 8 second limit, the cessation of the tone would tell you to bring the gun down and start again. That would be really useful training in starting your trigger early and keeping it moving while you refine your hold, but not holding too long. Training with such a device could help you develop your internal clock while training on your own.

Unfortunately I'm not an electrical engineer, but to this layman it doesn't look like that difficult an engineering problem. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I would certainly like to buy one if it were priced at all reasonably.

FredB

I just talked with our e-guy, and he doesn't think it would be difficult or expensive. He suggested a 555 or dual 555 chip as the timer and lined out a couple of ideas for the rest of it.

A shrinking target area may be an expensive complication. If the sensor is large enough, then the shooter can just use different size masks as his skill improves, maybe starting with 8 or 9 ring size.

I was also thinking that if it buzzes when the light is on target and stops when it is off, that may not be compatible with the "7 second" training - it wouldn't be readily apparent whether the gun has drifted off target or the time is up. Perhaps 2 modes - Mode 1 buzzes only when the gun is on target and Mode 2 starts buzzing when the gun is on target and stops 7 seconds later whether or not the gun drifts off. This would give both hold training and trigger training and do it cheaply. I know it's functionally limited, but it would be inexpensive and anyone with access to a Radio Shack could cobble one up.

Maybe this part of the thread should be restarted on the Shooter's Lounge forum with a subject line that would attract coaches and training professionals. I'd like to hear their comments about the value of a budget training device like this.

Roger

Hey I love that my NPA BS comments have made it into the thread, but really OL' Gunny. I'm only 42. LOL

A knave and peasant slave am I. I beg thy forgiveness.

Glad to see you on here. We had a big discussion on NPA a while back. It got a trifle heated.

Feel free to abuse dissenters.

Semper Fi!

When people become enamored of one person or one point of view, it gets very close to drinking the kool-aid from one pot. Discussions are closed and thinking ceases. There are clearly more paths to be followed. I corresponded with Ragnar Skanaker a few years ago on this very topic of holding exercises. If street cred is required, he certainly has some as arguably the best pistol shot in the history of the planet. He explained that if you can't hold as still as possible, you can't shoot with precision. He would practice holding exercises with weights to achieve conditioning and extended fine motor control. Worked reasonably well for him.

Dennis L