The Steiner TOR-X: Laser Aiming with the Mantis Dry-Fire Training System

Mantis calls its latest hardware release “The Ultimate Mantis-Steiner Fusion.” Even though as far as I know this is the only Mantis-Steiner Fusion, I suppose they can be given some allowance for hyperbole, as its collaboration with Steiner (a respected German optics/laser company now a part of the Beretta Group) resulted in the TOR-X.

The TOR-X is the first handgun-mountable aiming laser system to be integrated with MantisX technology (the same as is in a Mantis X10 Elite unit).

TOR-X box and contents

Front end of TOR-X showing laser aperature

Front end of TOR-X showing laser aperture

Mounting a TOR laser pointing device and a Mantis X10 Elite on the same handgun rail mount is not feasible on most handguns; there simply isn’t enough room on the rail. The TOR-X allows a shooter to have both systems in a package that will fit on most forward undermount rail-equipped handguns.

Walther PPQ 45 and unmounted TOR-X

I’ve written about MantisX systems in a previous blog post, and for additional information see my post about the BlackbeardX training system, which integrated the Blackbeard AR-15 training system with MantisX technology. As such, I won’t repeat myself – please refer to the previous blog posts for information about MantisX dry fire training and how to operate the associated systems.

In my earlier blog posting, I explained why the MantisX system is an excellent aid to learning proper handgun grip and trigger management. Adding the technology to a dedicated laser aiming system in the TOR-X package, which is small enough to be deployed effectively from the forward undermount rail location of a handgun, has not changed my opinion of the Mantis concept. Also, fortunately, the system will fit into a holster that accommodates the particular pistol plus a light mounted on the aforementioned forward rail, thereby allowing full use of the different training programs available with the Mantis smartphone application.

Mantis continually upgrades the smartphone application that takes data from MantisX and then provides to the user pointing direction up to trigger break, shot analysis, and a trace of pistol movement from the start of sight hold on target through shot break and recoil (if used in a live fire exercise). All this capability is inherent in the TOR-X system due to its MantisX technology.

Having the capability of laser aiming while using MantisX for shot monitoring and handgun mastery training expands the latter dimension of the Mantis concept. Not only can you use the MantisX for dry fire training without the laser, or the laser for aiming at a target during live fire, but you can use both MantisX and the laser when doing either type of training to help diagnose difficulties you may be having with your grip of the gun, trigger management prior to shot break, and recoil management afterwards.

Steiner TOR-X Fit on Guns

Having a large array of handguns at my disposal, I checked the fit of the TOR-X on a number of them in order to give the reader an idea how well the system would integrate with a particular gun. Some of the designs I checked are no longer in production, but are in use so I didn’t exclude them from my examination. A photograph of each fit check is below.

Walther PPQ 45, .45 ACP caliber. Good fit, but laser pointing cannot be elevated enough to coincide with the point-of-aim (POI) at 7 yards. The laser spot at 7 yards is about 2 inches low.

Walther PPQ 45

SIG Sauer P220, .45 ACP caliber. Good fit and pointing capacity.

SIG Sauer P220

Glock 22, .40 S&W caliber. Pointing capacity good, TOR-X mount cross-pin had to be force-fitted into the rail groove.

Glock 22

S&W M&P 40 Performance Center, .40 S&W caliber. Good fit and pointing capacity.

S&W M&P 40

Walther PDP, 9 mm Parabellum caliber. Good fit, but laser pointing cannot be elevated enough to coincide with the POI at 7 yards. The laser spot at 7 yards is about 1 inch low.

Walther PDP

Remington RP9, 9 mm Parabellum +P caliber. Good fit and pointing capacity.

Remington RP9

Remington RP9

Ruger 57, 5.7 x 28 mm caliber. Good fit and pointing capacity.

Ruger 57

SIG Sauer Mosquito, .22 Long Rifle caliber. Good fit and pointing capacity.

SIG Sauer Mosquito

Ruger SR22, .22 Long Rifle caliber. Good fit and pointing capacity.

Ruger SR22

Taurus TX22, .22 Long Rifle caliber. Good fit and pointing capacity.

Taurus TX22

Note: For the Ruger SR9, 9 mm Parabellum caliber, the TOR-X mount cross-pin was too big to fit into the rail groove without filing the groove or the cross-pin. I didn’t do either for the purpose of this brief exam, but would file the groove to open it up if I wanted to dedicate the TOR-X to this gun.

When installing the TOR-X, it is critical to pay close attention to, and to follow, the rail mounting instructions in the User Guide. If you are not careful to align the cross-pin with the correct and corresponding holes in the mount and in its clamping bar, you will not be able to tighten the mount to the rail sufficiently enough to keep the mount from moving and possibly departing the gun if live firing. At the very least, the system cannot provide good accelerometer data if its sensors are slopping around on the gun in ways that don’t correspond to your grip and trigger management.

TOR-X showing cross pin and its mounting holes

TOR-X showing cross pin in place

For more information about the TOR-X, visit the Steiner website. The TOR-X is distributed by Mantis, so you should visit their website for availability and purchasing information.

MSRP: $359.99

The Steiner TOR-X: Laser Aiming with the Mantis Dry-Fire Training System

Steiner TOR-X Fit on Guns

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