MArooned Product Review: LaserLyte LT-PRO

Every once in a while, a product comes along that seems almost too good to be true. "Cleans while you sleep!" "Eat all you want and lose weight!" "Regrow your own hair". The old saw "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" is true for a reason; TANSTAAFL. However, sometimes a product comes along that really does what it alleges and does it well.

The LaserLyte LT-PRO Pistol Laser Trainer is such a product.

I had a chance to put an LT-PRO to the test last night, and I liked how it performed. The installation could not be simpler - thread the screw into the LT-PRO body, tighten until it fits the caliber you wish to shoot, then place in muzzle. Fire weapon, see laser dot on target. I hung an NRA B-3 on either end of the house and fired a variety of different handguns with the LT-PRO system - Glock G30, Colt 1991A1 compact, Smith & Wesson model 13, and SigSauer P226.

The revolver showed one of the minor weaknesses of the LT-PRO - since it is sound actuated, the sound of the cylinder rotating causes infrequent activation of the laser dot as the gun is brought into battery. It is also imperative to be certain that the LT-PRO unit is firmly inserted all the way into the barrel or the unit will not activate, which leads to some interesting manners of removal (I found that a clean cloth and the judicious - albeit very careful - application of a pair of pliers was sufficient).

The plusses far outweigh the minuses, though: I fired several hundred "rounds" last night in the comfort of my kitchen. I dry-fired four pistols and received useful, immediate feedback without having to go to the range, expend precious ammo, or replace targets. I practiced off-hand shooting. I practiced shooting from a draw. Heck, I even practiced point-shooting. The LT-PRO allowed me to develop skills that I don't normally get to work on at the range; for that alone it's an invaluable tool.

Another area in which the LT-PRO will be very useful is in training new shooters. It allows the new shooter to go through every step of firing a handgun without the flinch-inducing [BANG] or the need for cumbersome hearing protection that makes the instructor's advice hard to hear. A quick dry-fire exercise, complete with target and laser dot, can be incorporated as part of the safety instruction which will free up more time actually on the range doing the actual shooting. This will have two immediate and dramatic benefits - not only will the new shooter be more confident when it comes time to pull the trigger on a live round, but there will be fewer round expended just getting them used to the gun.

As for cost, the MSRP on the LT-PRO is just shy of $100; real-world pricing comes up between $75-$85. Considering that just what I shot last night (100 rounds .45 ACP, 50 rounds 9mm, and 100 rounds .38 special) would have cost me almost that much in factory ammo, that's a steal. Throw in the obvious value as a training tool for new shooters, and it's a bargain at twice the price (just kidding guys, don't go raising the prices... *g*). It does what it's intended to do in a no-nonsense fashion - it just plain works.

The LaserLyte LT-PRO Pistol Laser Trainer gets an unabashed two thumbs up, way up.

That is all.

Obligatory FTC disclaimer: LaserLyte provided the LT-PRO Pistol Laser Trainer for review as well as numerous other items in their shipment to the writer of this review.