Ok, here is the live fire test video, using the P-09.
This went very well, both from a new device standpoint and a video shoot standpoint. I can't believe I got this many battery operated devices working at the same time long enough to finish shooting the video.
At the end is a correlation of the target scores versus the MantisX app scores. The correlation between poor shots and low scores was good, as expected. But the correlation between really good hits like 10 ring or x ring, was also good. This was a short test under less than ideal conditions, but I am very happy with the correlation, even for the very limited number of data points I collected.
I learned a few things in live fire regarding use of the device. One, you must tell the app that you are going to be shooting live fire instead of dry fire. Second, the battery in the MantisX should be fully charged before you head to the range. No dry fire the night before without charging. Next, and this is a biggie, you should stop the datalogger before dropping the magazine, putting in a fresh one, and closing the slide. Closing the slide is interpreted as a hammer drop by the device, and the datalogger will record the gun motion due to slide movement instead of trigger movement. You have to load and chamber a round, THEN start the datalogger, if you want 10 datalogs for 10 shots. Ideally, one would have an assistant or an instructor holding the iPhone and watching the results, safely behind the line and to the left of the shooter. 15 feet is no problem, at least I don't think it is, based on very limited testing at the house during dry fire.
Keep in mind also that the device doesn't know where you are aiming, so correlation of the bullseye target scores and MantisX scores is affected by wind and shooter's ability to line up the sight with the center of the target. I had a few times when I knew the hit was going to be a little high this morning, even with a perfect trigger pull. If you aim high right but have a perfect trigger pull, you could have an 8 ring hit with a 97 MantisX score.
I'm thinking dry fire practice is where the MantisX will be most useful for an experienced shooter. Improving steadiness and developing a consistent (95+) trigger pull will most definitely result in higher live fire practice scores. The device should be helpful in speeding up training of new shooters, as they can get some feedback on trigger pull during dry fire well before trying live fire. I can't wait to try the device with a new shooter, both in the classroom and at the range. I guarantee you that jerking the trigger or pushing right or left will show up on the device scores!!
The iPhone app doesn't appear to be buggy at all. The device itself has worked perfectly. The user must understand that the device will interpret a bump or a slide closure as a hammer drop and the user must charge the unit up before heading to the range or starting an extended dry fire training session.
I am probably just going to tape it to the dust cover of my 97 for dry fire practice. That is this week's chore. There won't be any more three camera videos of the little device. That would be pushing my luck. Still can't believe I got it this morning in one take.
Let me know if you have any questions. Just in case anyone asks, I bought this device with my own money, it was not sent to me for testing or anything like that. I love this stuff. That is my ownly motivation.
Joe