CoolFire (Like a SIRT with a Reciprocating Slide)

[Default.mp3]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoxAiAr5Guo

http://coolfiretrainer.com/index.asp

Seems pretty interesting, since you're using your actual trigger and sights, and the reciprocating slide allows for some form of sight tracking. Priced about as much as metal-slide SIRT. Not sure how the whole recharge-after-20-shots thing will limit one's practice.

[DMF13]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoxAiAr5Guo

http://coolfiretrainer.com/index.asp

Seems pretty interesting, since you're using your actual trigger and sights, and the reciprocating slide allows for some form of sight tracking. Priced about as much as metal-slide SIRT. Not sure how the whole recharge-after-20-shots thing will limit one's practice.Hopefully someone here will get a chance to try one out and give use a review.

I have had a SIRT a little less than a year, and like it very much, but if this had been available back in May I might have given this a go.

[breakingtime91]

That's clever. Kind of pricey, but really clever.

very clever...

[JM Campbell]

Really cool, but I have to gripe on the booger hook bs with the ponytail dude.

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[GRV]

Can't tell...is it a piston on the back, or just a hole that shoots out air? I'm just trying to think about possible breechface damage.

[LOKNLOD]

The more I think about this, the more I like it, but also the more questions I have.

It also reminds me I need to play with the airsoft gun I have some more. Maybe I can make better use of it... It reciprocates (granted, less realistically) for a heck of a lot less than $400 :P

[rob_s]

I've been waiting for something like this.

Make it a complete slide that also shoots airsoft BBs and I'd pay a price equal to that of a "real" gun.

[Chuck Haggard]

I've been waiting for something like this.

Make it a complete slide that also shoots airsoft BBs and I'd pay a price equal to that of a "real" gun.

Dual purpose BBs and a laser would be bad ass. Use one or the other as needed for the work at hand.

[Lomshek]

Really cool, but I have to gripe on the booger hook bs with the ponytail dude.

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I developed a nervous tic just watching him caress the trigger every time he touched a gun (even the blue one). We need a flinch smiley.

[BillSWPA]

Dual purpose BBs and a laser would be bad ass. Use one or the other as needed for the work at hand.

Dual purpose - BB's and laser - was previously developed.

https://www.google.com/patents/US7581954

https://www.google.com/patents/US6820608?dq=US+6820608+schavone&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjbpOKPqOzLAhVivYMKHfBfCdAQ6AEIHTAA

I have a SIRT, and find it to be some of the best training tool I have ever invested in. Particularly when practicing drawing from a holster, I can perform a level of self-diagnostics and skill isolation that would not be possible even with live ammo. It has also proven to be highly useful for diagnosing and solving problems with new shooters, forming good sight alignment and trigger control habits before bad ones start.

I would be very interested to try the Cool Fire, and think it has serious potential. However, one of the advantages of the SIRT is that I can put my real gun completely away, pick up a SIRT, practice, put the SIRT away, and put my real gun back on, with no need to disassemble the real gun, and with definite indicia of which one I am using.

[Crusader8207]

They are local to me. I will reach out to them and see if I can try it out.


Hopefully someone here will get a chance to try one out and give use a review.

I have had a SIRT a little less than a year, and like it very much, but if this had been available back in May I might have given this a go.

[miller_man]

I have a SIRT, and find it to be some of the best training tool I have ever invested in.

I would be very interested to try the Cool Fire, and think it has serious potential. However, one of the advantages of the SIRT is that I can put my real gun completely away, pick up a SIRT, practice, put the SIRT away, and put my real gun back on, with no need to disassemble the real gun, and with definite indicia of which one I am using.

I had a SIRT and sold it. I found it to be very different from the trigger on my glocks, wasn't G19 size, and making hits with the laser was far easier than live fire with my pistol = didn't translate into beneficial practice for me. I know I am probably alone on my experience/results.

I would bet a lot of folks around here already have an identical, dedicated, empty dry practice gun (I know it was one of the best purchases I've made).
If the price eventually drops like the SIRT guns did, I be pretty interested. Give it time to be proven on the market, a $2-250 price tag and I'd be ready to drop the coin on it.

[BillSWPA]

I had a SIRT and sold it. I found it to be very different from the trigger on my glocks, wasn't G19 size, and making hits with the laser was far easier than live fire with my pistol = didn't translate into beneficial practice for me. I know I am probably alone on my experience/results.

I would bet a lot of folks around here already have an identical, dedicated, empty dry practice gun (I know it was one of the best purchases I've made).
If the price eventually drops like the SIRT guns did, I be pretty interested. Give it time to be proven on the market, a $2-250 price tag and I'd be ready to drop the coin on it.

You are actually not the first person I have heard who found that the differences between the SIRT and their actual pistol were too great for effective practice, and the other is a very high level shooter. If I recall correctly, that shooter found the plastic slide version to be too light for draw practice. I have the metal slide.

My experience is different. I find that skills developed with the SIRT transfer quite well to my Glock 19, Glock 26, and 1911. While I agree that hitting the wall with a laser is easier than hitting a target with a bullet, the difference becomes much less apparent when working on my drawstroke. My drawstroke has definitely improved by using a SIRT.

When helping teach a recent NRA Basic Pistol class, use of plastic slide SIRT pistols helped fine tune the trigger control of the new shooters before we went to the life fire portion, resulting in tighter groups on paper. In one case, it helped me diagnose a sight perception issue with a lady who was having a tough time reconciling bifocals with a good sight picture.

While there are certainly differences in weight, feel, and trigger pull between a SIRT and a real pistol, I like the fact that I can pick up something with a red slide, know immediately that this is not my (almost always loaded) carry pistol, and that I do not have to worry about whether it is loaded, whether it is pointed in a safe direction, whether it is properly secured when I am not practicing, etc. While I can see having an extra gun for dry fire, that is still a gun that must be treated as such.

[Up1911Fan]

They offer a 5% LEO discount for those who qualify.

[rob_s]

I would be very interested to try the Cool Fire, and think it has serious potential. However, one of the advantages of the SIRT is that I can put my real gun completely away, pick up a SIRT, practice, put the SIRT away, and put my real gun back on, with no need to disassemble the real gun, and with definite indicia of which one I am using.

I'd probably be inclined to put the Cool Fire on my third backup gun, or second backup if it was on a game gun. Or, at the very least, keep a spare slide with the device installed so I could easily swap it.

[Doug]

How heavy is the barrel compared to the standard one? Without trying one first, it seems like a gamble with regard to handling characteristics.

For mixing in with my gamer dry fire practice, if they made one for the CZ I might be tempted. No use for the laser. Be nice to better simulate DA to SA...

These are way cheaper than the Dvorak stuff law enforcement uses.


http://youtu.be/07nLb3pymCY






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[BillSWPA]

In evaluating the SIRT or the Cool Fire, any change in handling characteristics should be weighed against the value of practicing with feedback. Dry firing without any feedback is like playing golf in the dark - you have no idea how effective your technique really was.

With the SIRT, I know immediately whether I did everything right or not. If not, I can look at what happened and immediately figure out what I did wrong. The Cool Fire would appear to provide the same advantage.

[Luke]

But your real gun doesnt shoot a laser.

Call me old fashion, but I think a laser FOR ME, would be insanely counter productive in developing my shooting skill. if this offers the same feeling as live fire then this is no longer dry fire. This is live fire without bullets. I think many of the advantages of dry fire is there's no recoil or bang.

[rob_s]

But your real gun doesnt shoot a laser.

Call me old fashion, but I think a laser FOR ME, would be insanely counter productive in developing my shooting skill. if this offers the same feeling as live fire then this is no longer dry fire. This is live fire without bullets. I think many of the advantages of dry fire is there's no recoil or bang.

I believe there are laser-sensing targets, FWIW.

[BillSWPA]

Here is one example of a laser target:

http://www.laserlyte.com/products/kitty-cat-laser-trainer-vest-kit
























(April Fools)

[John Hearne]

Dry firing without any feedback is like playing golf in the dark - you have no idea how effective your technique really was.


You're doing it wrong. Dry practice is great because you can learn to read your sights without the distraction of recoil. Use a target that allows fairly specific feedback - like a bullseye target. Where the sights are when the hammer fell is where your bullet impact would be.

If I did have a SIRT or something else with a laser, the LASR software seems to hold a lot of promise. https://www.lasrapp.com/

[LOKNLOD]

If I did have a SIRT or something else with a laser, the LASR software seems to hold a lot of promise. https://www.lasrapp.com/

I saw on their Faceyspace page that they were working on a self-contained setup - basically a tripod, tablet,and camera as a package. I think that holds a lot of promise, too, and unless it's stupidly priced may put me over the edge on trying it out.

[miller_man]

You are actually not the first person I have heard who found that the differences between the SIRT and their actual pistol were too great for effective practice, and the other is a very high level shooter. If I recall correctly, that shooter found the plastic slide version to be too light for draw practice. I have the metal slide.

My experience is different. I find that skills developed with the SIRT transfer quite well to my Glock 19, Glock 26, and 1911. While I agree that hitting the wall with a laser is easier than hitting a target with a bullet, the difference becomes much less apparent when working on my drawstroke. My drawstroke has definitely improved by using a SIRT.

When helping teach a recent NRA Basic Pistol class, use of plastic slide SIRT pistols helped fine tune the trigger control of the new shooters before we went to the life fire portion, resulting in tighter groups on paper. In one case, it helped me diagnose a sight perception issue with a lady who was having a tough time reconciling bifocals with a good sight picture.

While there are certainly differences in weight, feel, and trigger pull between a SIRT and a real pistol, I like the fact that I can pick up something with a red slide, know immediately that this is not my (almost always loaded) carry pistol, and that I do not have to worry about whether it is loaded, whether it is pointed in a safe direction, whether it is properly secured when I am not practicing, etc. While I can see having an extra gun for dry fire, that is still a gun that must be treated as such.


I do forget there is a TON of value to be gained for new shooters from the SIRT guns (not that I am so far down the road from new shooters, and definitely not a high level shooter). Lots of good, valid points Bill.

[Trajan]

I like what I see with this coolfire. I'll wait to hear some reports from members here about it.

I like the SIRT for specific things. Drawing, when you start to touch the trigger between the 3 and 4, etc etc. My only issue with it is most of the practice needs to be with the laser taped, or you start to develop a target focus. That green laser sure is brighter then those black sights...

[BillSWPA]

I like what I see with this coolfire. I'll wait to hear some reports from members here about it.

I like the SIRT for specific things. Drawing, when you start to touch the trigger between the 3 and 4, etc etc. My only issue with it is most of the practice needs to be with the laser taped, or you start to develop a target focus. That green laser sure is brighter then those black sights...

Taping the laser defeats the whole purpose. When I practice, I use exactly the same sight picture I would use without the laser. If I do everything right, I can see the laser right on top of my front sight. If not, after my follow through, I can figure out where the laser hit and what I did wrong.

Without the laser, it is too easy to believe that one's sight picture had remained perfect when in fact it has not.

[Luke]

Without the laser, it is too easy to believe that one's sight picture had remained perfect when in fact it has not.

I think this is a skill you should work on if you can't do it without the laser. In live fire there is no laser, and unless your looking at the target you will be "playing golf in the dark".

And in no way was this meant to be snarky or anything. I just think you loose some valuable skills by using a laser, not to say a laser in dry fire doesn't have its places..

[BillSWPA]

In live fire I have a hole in the target that either is or is not where I wanted it. That plus my timer are feedback.

[Luke]

In live fire I have a hole in the target that either is or is not where I wanted it. That plus my timer are feedback.


Not sheriff sherious

[HCountyGuy]

Very nifty in that it can be set up to run with your own weapon, if they make a kit for it. Reminds me of the guns used for FATS machines.

I'll be interested in reading an objective review by any credible trainers who care to screw with one of these.

[BillSWPA]

Another possible option. I have no personal experience with this one, but it would allow using your gun's trigger and sights. While I do not know this with certainty, a G17 sized barrel should work in a G19 as well.

https://www.laserlyte.com/products/trainer-barrel-laser-glock-17-22

[Shawn Dodson]

I was a ponytail dude a few years ago. But my booger hook is my lil' finger...

[DacoRoman]

I like what I see with this coolfire. I'll wait to hear some reports from members here about it.

I like the SIRT for specific things. Drawing, when you start to touch the trigger between the 3 and 4, etc etc. My only issue with it is most of the practice needs to be with the laser taped, or you start to develop a target focus. That green laser sure is brighter then those black sights...

I know what you mean. Luckily though my SIRT came with the laser set up to hit in a place that is obscured by the front sight and when I fire it I just see a halo of laser around the front sight which seems to mitigate the distraction of seeing the laser hitting the target somewhat. I wonder if you can adjust it in a similar way, and if that would work better for you. Otherwise assuming you have a Glock, do you ever try/like the piece of cardboard or zip tie trick to keep the slide out of battery and work the trigger/dry fire that way (I know, there is no striker snap resistance like that)?

[DacoRoman]

I wonder how strong the recoil impulse with that Coolfire, cause if it is too soft, like an Airsoft recoil impulse, I don't think it would be that useful. If it gives a realistic enough recoil impulse I think it would be very useful indeed.

[fatdog]

Bringing this thread back just to see if somebody purchased one of these units and what your experience was.

thanks

[Gun Nerd]

Bringing this thread back just to see if somebody purchased one of these units and what your experience was.

thanks

Same here. Sight tracking and recoil management are areas I really need to work on and this seems like a very promising solution.

[warpedcamshaft]

Bringing this thread back just to see if somebody purchased one of these units and what your experience was.

thanks

I’ve gotten the chance to mess with one for an hour or so.

Glock 19 is what I used it on. The recoil is definitely not like an air soft gun. It’s probably heavier than most 9mm loads. Another instructor has used it with some new students.

I dig the fact you can slap it in your carry gun and have the real trigger

I will say that I don’t think the sights track quite the same as live ammo. On the road, so I’ll keep this short and try to answer any questions.

[warpedcamshaft]

I’ll borrow it for another session soon to give more detailed feedback. I’m wondering if it will trip a shot timer if the timer is close enough. That’d be pretty cool.