Mantis is a titan in the world of dry fire training, so it’s only fitting that they named their new laser training pistol the Titan X. I’ve been running Mantis training products since 2022, and their innovative system has never failed to impress me. The one weak spot has been the inability to reset the trigger during training sessions. Mantis addressed that shortcoming with their Blackbeard X for the AR-15, AR-10, MCX, and SCAR platforms, and now they’ve done it for handguns with the Mantis Titan X.
The Mantis Titan X steps up the dry-fire game because the system is essentially a Glock 19 with an onboard laser and Bluetooth connectivity to the Mantis app. It’s even optic-ready with an accessory rail for a light. It will fit in your holster, assuming you own a Glock 19. If not, other popular firearm models are on the way.
The red grip frame ensures that no one will confuse it with a real Glock. The plastic Titan X is lighter than a Glock 19, but the two included magazines are weighted to simulate a full ammo load for when you practice reloading.
Just be aware that they retain that weight when you drop them, so maybe practice your reloads over something soft. I didn’t test the mags on concrete or anything solid because I didn’t want to damage them or the surface itself.
The slide doesn’t reciprocate, but the Titan X has a non-functional slide release you can hit after reloading if you want.
Dry-Fire Training with Mantis
Dry-fire can be, and frankly should be, an integral part of your training regimen. Ammunition is expensive and doesn’t look like it will become less so anytime soon. And unless you have a backyard range, shooting requires a time commitment just to get to the training site. Then you probably have membership fees. It adds up quickly.
Finally, how many ranges allow realistic training scenarios? You can probably do that if you get a private outdoor bay, but indoor ranges aren’t about that life. Nor are many outdoor ranges. Mantis addresses each of those issues.
The Titan X is compatible with the fantastic Mantis Laser Academy program, as are all Mantis products. You buy the equipment, which includes access to the app.
Do a little math to see how quickly you’d match the Mantis purchase cost when buying ammo. Now figure out how quickly you’d burn through that ammo before having to buy more. Mantis makes a lot of sense.
You’ll obviously have to do live fire, but Mantis will help you improve your skills so that you get the most from that live fire and the ammo it consumes.
You can literally use the Mantis system anywhere you want. I have targets plastered on my bedroom wall, in the living room, and in the garage. Being the eternal bachelor has a few benefits. Just training for 10 minutes before bedtime can yield enormous benefits. The Mantis system provides immediate, actionable feedback to improve your technique very quickly.
And you can train like you want. I’ve set up room-clearing drills, hostage rescue drills, and anything else I can think of. It can be as fun and varied as you want it to be.
The Mantis Titan X
The Mantis system is fun and easy to use, but the Titan X makes it even easier. Just connect to the app, choose your drill, and off you go. I like the Mantis X-10 Elite module for my real guns, and I still use it, especially with live ammo. But it doesn’t reset the trigger in dry-fire mode.
I mounted an RMS footprint optic on the Titan X, which is really nice. Mantis includes a tool with which to zero the laser, and I co-witnessed everything with the front sight blade. It’s very easy.
The on-off switch enabling the Bluetooth is easy and visible, and a small light tells you when it’s working or when you need to recharge the battery with the included USB cord.
The Titan X’s trigger has a little take-up with a clean break. It’s probably a little better than a factory Glock trigger, if I’m being honest. The blacked-out rear notch and front blade mirror standard pistol sights. They aren’t adjustable but they don’t need to be. The magazine release is positive and ejects the mags cleanly every time. You can even put a light on the Glock accessory rail. This thing is just like a real pistol, except it fires a laser instead of bullets.
The Titan X obviously has no recoil, which is an important part of dry-fire training because it develops muscle memory that helps minimize or eliminate recoil anticipation.
I also like that the Titan X’s laser provides immediate visible feedback without checking the app. I immediately caught myself anticipating recoil because even I don’t train as much as I should. Remedial trigger drills fixed it, but we know that skill requires constant practice and awareness. I really have no excuse now.
Final Thoughts on the Mantis Titan X
I can’t recommend the Mantis Titan X highly enough. That fact doesn’t surprise me. I’ve literally run every product they offer, and I love the entire system. Mantis has earned that esteem at every step.
I had high expectations for the Titan X, and it delivered. I think it’s their best product yet. And it’s most effective when paired with the Laser Academy system and app. My colleague Jason Mosher wrote an excellent analysis of the Mantis system, which you can read here.
Dry-fire training cannot replace live-fire. It’s not meant to. But it can be a powerful supplement when utilized correctly. And let’s be honest, how much live-fire does the average gun owner really do? Ammo prices alone preclude regular training for many shooters.
So, what’s better, your guns gathering dust thanks to high ammo costs, or proven dry-fire techniques to fill in the gaps between range trips? The answer is obvious.
The Titan X can be an effective part of that regimen. I’m not a Glock guy, but I still use the Titan X a lot. Skills do transfer between Glocks and pistols with God’s grip angle, as determined by John Moses Browning, no matter what some folks might tell you. And I can literally take thousands of shots, as many as I want, without worrying about ammo costs.
The Titan X Provides Unmatched Accessibility
Effective dry-fire training has never been more accessible. Yes, you can just use your own gun and hope you’re doing it right. That can help if you’re aware of proper technique and how to correct bad habits. The Mantis system lets even beginners do that.
The program tailors drills to different skill levels and even features beginner, intermediate, and expert training programs tracked through the app. You literally never “beat” the program. Your only adversary is yourself, and I don’t care who you are, you can always get a better or more consistent.
We all need to shoot better. The Mantis Titan X can help you do that. Give it a try. I bet you won’t be sorry.
