Proper recoil is essential for training, which is why VirTra designs high-quality recoil kits. When an officer or military servicemember is training, they must account for the weapon’s recoil and how it may affect their position and aim. Training with a non-recoiling weapon in the simulator is simply not realistic, as real guns produce the “kick-back” sensation each time a bullet is fired. This is especially true for rifles such as the M4 and AR-15, as they produce heavier recoil than a pistol.

 

Providing Lifelike Recoil

One of VirTra’s latest hardware developments is the M4 Recoil Kit. They are designed to convert real firearms with no weapon modification required. This allows a duty weapon to go from live to simulator-ready within minutes with a simple exchange of the barrel. The recoil kits operate with liquid CO2 magazines to provide the most realistic recoil on the market. This hardware can be used within a simulated environment without the limitations of a cord or tether.

 

M4 recoil kits allow an officer or warfighter the ability to use their own rifle in their VirTra simulator. This maximizes skill transfer as the student is training in a similar manner to the way they would perform on the field. The kits can be used in all VirTra suites and in either scenarios or marksmanship ranges.

VirTra’s recoil kits are manufactured in the company’s own CNC machine shop in Arizona, never sourcing from overseas. Using ArmorGen® coating exceeds the durability of other coating options, such as DLC. Black nitride coating over a carbon steel body ensures that the product will not corrode. This also reduces the need for lubrication.

M4 recoil kits as well as recoil kits for many other weapons are used by VirTra clients not only around the United States, but in 40 countries worldwide for training. Instructors have noted positive experiences using VirTra’s hardware. This is due to their transferability to a real-life setting, including a live fire range.

Learn more about this product here.

Glocks are the reactionary weapon for many officers, and many civilians immediately think of a Glock when they hear “police firearms.” In the recent ATCC course, VirTra’s customers from all over the country learned how to prepare their Glock for use in a VirTra simulator. When a customer purchases a VirTra training system, they are equipped with drop-in bolt replacement recoil kits and magazines consisting of CO2 that can be inserted into their own personal firearm.

Recoil Kits Provide Added Realism

Now these law enforcement and military trainers are quite familiar with the way their firearms work, but how about when it comes to setting their own weapon up to be used in a simulator? It’s a simple but essential skill to make sure you get the most out of your training. After all, what’s the point of using a water gun-style weapon that has no similarity to what’s used in the real world?

ATCC, Advanced Trainer Certification Course

ATCC, Advanced Trainer Certification Course, is the advanced course for military and law enforcement instructors on how to use their simulators to their fullest. The course provides CE credits to those that qualify by the POST states that recognize the IADLEST Nationally Certified Programs Customers who have recently purchased a simulator attend from all over the world to learn everything from training concepts to…You guessed it, how to assemble, de-assemble, maintain and troubleshoot their weapon kits.

Wendy Laake of Dallas PD came all the way to Tempe, Arizona to get some extra knowledge on her V-300, and today she practiced setting weapons up with recoil kits. “Once you get used to it, it becomes easier,” said Laake as she and a room full of others took turns practicing with the Glock and converted it from a live ammo weapon to the simulation ready weapon in under two minutes.

Laake and the other law enforcement and military personnel attending ATCC have a similar goal in mind – to take these tips and techniques back home to their departments. Nathan Scharr, VirTra’s System Installation Coordinator, led Tuesday’s course where he taught guests how to assemble, service and de-assemble the Glock, M4 and other various weapons.

Scharr noticed through the years that the Glock is the most difficult weapon to assemble and de-assemble, mostly because shooters’ hands get tired while holding the weapon open. “I like to show tricks I learned,” said Scharr, who gave today’s guests tips on how to hold the Glock in a way that is easier on the hands.

VirTra 2020 Schedule

VirTra is ready to do it all over again this November with another full class and are about to release the 2020 schedule. For more information on ATCC and other training courses, visit www.virtra.com/virtra-training-courses.