There are infinite numbers of ways we can trim out our favorite blaster.
While some additions are pure vanity, others are very practical in nature.
In the latter category, the Mantis X10 Elite really stands out for me.
The Mantis X10 Elite is a terrific training companion for the Hellcat OSP, shown topped off with a Shield RMSw.
Its an amazing instructional tool.
I shot some video and thought it was a wrap.
The next day I received a Hellcat OSP and theShield RMSw waterproof red dot sightfor some testing.
The Mantis X10 Elite is a great accessory for pistols in both live fire and dry fire. It ships with an adapter that allows use on your shotgun as well.
Although dots have been on pistols for a long time, I think there are still many unanswered questions.
The next day I headed back to the range.
Hellcats and Mantises, Oh My!
Despite the small size of the Hellcat OSP, the Mantis X10 Elite easily fits on the rail of the micro-sized pistol.
I drew from the holster a bit.
I fired at a distance for accuracy.
I shot some fast strings.
Paul has been working hard on becoming a proficient red dot shooter and was excited to see what data the Mantis X10 Elite would share.
I was impressed all around with the sight and the pistol.
What was most striking though was how easy the dot was to track.
When I did my job as a shooter the dot never left the window.
The Mantis X10 Elite easily pairs with an app for your smartphone, allowing you to control the unit and view data.
[Have an AR-15?
Check out ourMantis Blackbeard Reviewto see if it is right for dry fire training with your rifle.]
This got me thinking about my job as a shooter.
The Hellcat shoots amazingly flat for such a small 9mm handgun.
What was it that I really needed to do to be able to shoot with speed and precision?
Thats where the Mantis X10 Elite comes into play.
What Is the Mantis X10 Elite?
The Mantis line of products uses accelerometers and well-designed apps to help instruct shooters on their performance.
The Mantis X10 Elite is the companys top-of-the-line model that can assist with dry-fire and live-fire data.
The X10 also adds significant features overthe X3 that I tested.
The two that matter to me are the Holster Draw Analysis feature and the Recoil Meter.
Even better is the Recoil Meter, which tracks the movement of the gun after the shot breaks.
For my tests, I varied only one aspect of my grip.
I kept my hands positionally the same in all three strings.
I only changed the pressure I used to grip the gun.
For the first 13 rounds, I gripped the gun with a moderate amount of pressure.
The result was around a 50 percent ability to track the dot in the RMSw.
The angle of the muzzle lift was just about 15.
My support thumb often dropped off the Hellcat in recoil.
For the second string, I gripped the Hellcat like a wet noodle.
According to the Mantis, the muzzle lift was 25.
Yours does, too.
For an optimal grip and optimal shooting, you need both an outstanding position and a lot of pressure.
With range loads like I was using, the differences in grip pressure are significant.
Imagine what the differences would be with high performance +P ammunition like theHoneyBadger ammo from Black Hills.
Bottom line: if you want to improve your shooting, improve your grip!
Final Thoughts
The golden age of firearms accessories can be a lot of fun.
More importantly, practical accessories like the RMSw and the Mantis can also help us to be better shooters.
The next step is working to see how I can improve further from that information.
Go to forum thread
MantisX10 Elite
Hellcat3" OSPTM
Shield SightsRMSw
