We found the Mantis Blackbeard, an auto-trigger reset system that enables you to safely dry fire like you live fire almost anywhere, to be a huge leap forward in black rifle training devices.
What is it?
The Blackbeard is not a trigger replacement or a trigger modification. It isn’t fancy snap caps or some sort of oddball accessory. What it is is a drop-in bolt carrier group and magazine that drives your own trigger (in most cases). Via some sort of electromechanical black magic, Blackbeard can handle 10 shots a second, resetting the trigger after each shot.
Installation
As long as you know how to clear your AR and remove the BCG and charging handle, you can swap out the Blackbeard in about a minute.
Just take out the BCG and charging handle from a cleared AR rifle or pistol, insert the Blackbeard training unit, then close the receiver back up.
Add the magazine-sized battery pack and you get a “zip-click” as the Blackbeard initiates and you are good to go.
Just after inserting the Mantis Blackbeard device, replacing the BCG, charging handle, and magazine. Note the laser hits and audible trigger reset:
Just a short test in confined spaces with Mantis Blackbeard dry fire tool inserted in an AR pistol. The sound is the device resetting the mil-spec trigger pack. You can get an idea of the safe training applications for the Blackbeard in the below video. We found that the laser is visible at distances out to 100 yards:
The average BCG weighs about 11.5 ounces or so, and the Blackbeard’s one-piece upper receiver unit runs about 6.6 ounces, so there is a slight difference in weight. Likewise, the battery pack lower receiver unit weighs 7.8 ounces, which is about half what a loaded 30 round magazine weighs.
In all, the weight difference is about a pound off of your typical loaded weight, but the feel is remarkably similar. Plus, you are using your own sights and trigger.
There is no report of muzzle blast, the spray of ejected brass, smell of burnt primer and propellant, or recoil either but it is still a lot farther along to a realistic training experience than an airsoft gun or even a .22LR subcaliber unit. Plus, you can pull it off in your home, something that airsoft or a rimfire kit likely won’t allow.
The Blackbeard uses red, green, and infrared lasers, giving the user options.
Compatibility
We tried the Blackbeard with several different AR rifles and pistols including several PSA and Anderson builds, a Daniel Defence DD4, a Rock River Arms LAR-15, two different Diamondbacks, a Colt LE6290, and a DelTon. It worked absolutely fine on all but the latter.
This is what we got on the DelTon. Inserted a Mantis Blackbeard laser training device and it just continues to cycle then leads to a dead trigger. Note, the lower has a shelf. We never could get it to work with the DelTon, but did get the Blackbeard to run with several other brands:
The app
Besides the Blackbeard unit itself, the Mantis Laser Academy training app is remarkable. Just install the smartphone application, turn on the Blackbeard, and pair the device with a phone/tablet via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE or Bluetooth 4.0). Then just collect the data after firing the unit, evaluate your shooting performance, identify any areas of improvement, and track progress over time.
We stopped by the Mantis booth at the 2022 SHOT Show and got a great demo. Keep in mind you can set one of these up on an old iPad or tablet that you have around the house rather than having to use your current phone.
Stay tuned as we continue to stretch the legs on the Blackbeard and touch base with what we found out.
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