Gun owners love gear and accessories. There is a ton of amazing technology out there to enhance the shooting experience, whether it’s just for fun, competition, or for protection. For the more tech-savvy shooter, there are lots of electronic gadgets available that improve your firing range practice and help you get the most out of your weapon.
Electronic Shooter’s Ear Muffs
All gun owners know the value of good ear protection at the range. Why not upgrade from those foam ear plugs to top-of-the-line electronic ear muffs? Your hearing is important and you should take steps to protect it.
Older model ear muffs contained an amplifier that would register low sounds and allow you to hear them, such as the person talking next to you. They would then simply just not turn on when the sound reached a certain volume so that gunshots were noticeably muted. Newer models offer more options to keep hearing safe. The microphones located on the outside can pick up all of the sound in the environment and compress it to a safe level. More advanced models will give shooter a better idea of the direction from which each sound comes.
Look for options that can actually make your hearing better than it is normally, due to the microphones located on the outside. Many models also offer the user to set the maximum allowed volume. Review the NRR rating on the options you consider to make sure you are getting the correct set for the arms you’ll be firing.
Measure Velocity with a Chronograph
Chronographs measure the velocity or speed of a projectile. Bring one with you to the range in order to test out your handloads, the velocity claims on your ammo, or to get an accurate reading of the performance of your gun. If you notice the velocity varying greatly in your handloads or catch one of your guns dropping in velocity, you’ll know that some maintenance is necessary.
They are made up of two optical sensing areas and a digital timer. As the fired bullet passes between the screens, the timer accurately measures the time it took to pass through. This reading will tell you the speed. A chronograph can be set up about ten feet from the shooter and should be placed in an area with very good light for it to work accurately. Flickering lights of an indoor range can cause it to malfunction.
These devices can vary in price, so review the capabilities before you try one. Some chronographs can give you a record of up to thirty or forty shots, giving you the fastest and slowest shots and the standard deviation. Some will give you a printed record and other more modern versions offer a auxiliary hookup that can connect to an app on your smartphone so you can take your results with you wherever you go.
Most chronographs measure velocities from 30-7000 feet per second (fps) so it’s a tool that can also be used for arrows, airguns, or paintballs. If you’re a member of a firing range, be sure that you are allowed to bring a chronograph with you since they may be distracting to other shooters, or some ranges may have one for you to rent.
Competition Shot Timers: For When Seconds Count
For those who carry concealed, timing is everything. Accessibility, comfort, stopping power, and a compact size are all important things to consider. Ultimately though, the time it takes to access your gun and fire it is where the seconds really count. The time that it takes to either find a back-up weapon or to reload is made up of precious life-saving seconds. Use a competition timer to get your skills in shape.
An electronic shot timer is an essential item to bring to the firing range. They aren’t just for competition shooting. These timers can be set to give off a starting beep sound and then time the seconds until the first shot is fired. They can time the time between shots or also the time it takes to reload and get firing again. When you’re at the range you are your own competition. A stopwatch won’t cut it since you can’t hit buttons with your finger on the trigger. These shot timers use audio sensors to stop the timer when the shot is fired.
It can be tough to choose with all of the accessories available out there. For the gun owner who seems to have everything, one of these electronic accessories may be just the perfect gift item. When new gun owners need to practice and improve their shooting skills, they can use these electronic firing range accessories to take off precious seconds that can mean the difference between life or death.
