Weapon Setup

DART MAX supports multiple laser training weapons. Up to six weapons can be used concurrently. Before a weapon can be used, it must be configured. This is a simple process. that only needs to be done once per weapon. The Weapons Setup menu is where you configure the various training firearms you will use with the DART MAX system.

This section defines the various controls and settings used to configure a training firearm. For a step-by-step guide on setting up a new weapon, refer to the Weapon Setup Workflow section.

Open

Load Weapon

Load Weapon opens a window for loading a previously saved weapon configuration. Doing this will fill in the controls below with the data from the loaded weapon.

Weapon ID

This field is automatically set when the training firearm is fired at the screen. The button displays the assigned Weapon ID with the duration of the laser of the weapon that was fired. This data cannot be edited. It is only for informational purposes.

Weapon Type

This is a multi-select field used to choose the type of weapon this is. Options include Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Taser, and Other. The weapon type determines shot penetration in certain aspects of a course. For example, a wall can be set so that they can be penetrated with a rifle but not a pistol.

Shot Marker

The Shot Marker button opens a color selector used to set the color of bullet holes created by this weapon. This is useful when multiple shooters are firing at the same target/object. The button and weapon icon will reflect the shot marker color.

Shot Sound

Opens a window for selecting the sound the selected weapon will make when it is fired.

Horizontal and Vertical Offset

When the 3+ shots are fired at the setup target, it is likely they will not all hit the precise center of the target. The program will capture this offset information and display it in the horizontal and vertical offset controls. There are several reasons for small inaccuracies including the aim of the shooter, the sighting of the laser weapon, and even system calibration.

Use Alignment

This is a Yes/No option. If Yes is selected, the program will use the offsets shown in the Horizontal and Vertical sliders to augment the shot placement of the selected gun. If No is selected, no offset information will be used.

Save Weapon

Clicking the Save Weapon button will save your configuration. It is recommended that you give the weapon a descriptive name and include the Weapon ID number. For example, Colt AR-15 ID 6 or Bill’s GLOCK 17. This will make it easier to assign the correct weapon when running a course or practice session.

Setting Up a Trace Weapon

The Practice section of DART MAX supports weapons that continually trace the aim of a weapon during all phases of a shot: target acquisition, aim, trigger pull, and follow-through. This is particularly useful for accessing the capabilities of new students.

This feature requires a specialized laser training weapon but setup is virtually identical to configuring a regular laser weapon.

While the Weapon Setup side panel is open, activate a trace weapon and fire three or more shots at the center of the target. The program will detect a laser that is continually on (a trace weapon), and set the Weapon ID “0 – Trace”.

Set the various weapon parameters as normal and save the weapon configuration. It is recommended that you use Trace as part of the name of the weapon to make it easy to distinguish from other training weapons.

About DART Trace

Trace mode adds real-time shot tracking to DART MAX. This is particularly useful for accessing the capabilities of new students. When a trace weapon (pistol or rifle) is used, the program tracks the movement of a firearm during all phases of a shot: target acquisition, aim, trigger pull, and follow-through.

Once a shot is made, the shooter’s aim point can be replayed in real-time along with various data points, which can be used to analyze shooting performance. Trace data can also be saved in spreadsheet format.

Trace mode requires a specialized laser training weapon that is available as an option to the DART MAX system.