The long-awaited Mantis BlackbeardX for the AR-10 is here!
If you aren't familiar with the Mantis Blackbeard system, it's the best dry-fire training system that easily and quickly resets the trigger for your AR-15 and now AR-10 rifles.
If you have been into guns for any amount of time, you have heard of the Mantis training systems.
Keep your range gear organized with a purpose-built Concord range bag, with compartments for accessories, ammo, and essentials.
Everyone from Garrand Thumb to the start-up YouTube reviewer talks about this system; heck, even we have written about BlackbardX before.
But now the AR-10 model is available!
Install
Installing the BlackbeardX is just as easy as field stripping your gun to clean it.
Pop your rear take-down pin slide out your bolt carrier group and charging handle and replace it with the Blackbeard "bolt" system.
Close it up, insert the magazine and as KINGPIX says "punch out, and go to work".
https://www.instagram.com/kingpixmedia/reel/C0R1egjL6uA/
One thing I want to mention is about hammers.
If you have a strange hammer with a sharp ledge that is not mil-spec, it may cause the BlackbeardX to not be able to reset it.
I swapped from the one on the left to the hammer on the right and had no issues whatsoever.
Keep in mind that AR-10s use the same fire control group as a standard AR-15.
Personally, I see this as an issue with some manufacturers making quirky hammers and not an issue with the Mantis BlackbeardX.
Non Mil-Spec Hammer vs Mil-Spec Hammer
Training
Training is something that everyone in the firearms space talks about but rarely goes to.
Personally, I've been making an effort to attend at least three training classes per year to gain new perspectives and determine what I need to improve to be a better shooter.
The Mantis BlackbeardX is a fantastic way to train at home daily to understand better what you are doing before you send your first round down range.
But maybe you are new to the game, and you keep hearing about this "dry fire training" and are wondering what it is.
Well, it's simply going through the motions of shooting without firing your gun with a live round.
You put the trigger and let the hammer fall but it doesn't reset automatically.
However, before BlackbeardX, there was no good way to reset your hammer so you could experience a real-life trigger pull and reset.
Dry Fire Training
BlackbeardX is a bolt-and-magazine combination that resets the hammer on trigger pull, allowing you to train as if ammo were being fired.
This really elevates your dry-fire training.
Not only does it save money on ammo, but the ammo you shoot at the range should be more accurate and efficient if you train with the BlackbeardX.
The BlackbeardX really comes together when you pair it with the Mantis App on your smartphone (both iOS and Android are supported).
Drills
The App is chock full of drills you can do, from reload drills to decision drills. The possibilities are endless.
You can also do open training, allowing you to shoot and test your accuracy.
The BlackbeardX has built-in sensors that detect your movement and can help you see what you are doing wrong based on your dry fire work.
I was showing a lot of support hand pulling on my shots, probably due to the heavier frame of the AR-10 rifle.
Accuracy
Another wild and crazy feature is that you can see your shots' accuracy without a single fancy target.
I hang up a B8 target in my man cave and get to work.
But the app really shines by showing you your hold, trigger press, and movement after the trigger break.
This is all critical information if you want to improve your accuracy and the BlackbeardX absolutely helps you do that.
Final Thoughts
This fantastic training tool is cost-effective and allows you to train daily.
Hopefully, you are getting to the range regularly, but if not, this is the perfect tool to supplement your shooting training.
