In a recent feature published by Armed Lifestyle Magazine, firearms instructor Trampas Swanson discussed his firsthand experience with the Laser Ammo Smokeless Range® and how simulator-based training became an important part of his firearms instruction program.

Like many instructors during and after the COVID era, Swanson began searching for better ways to continue training students while overcoming rising ammunition costs, limited range access, and changing training demands. That search eventually led him into the world of virtual firearms simulators and immersive dry fire technology.

Rather than relying entirely on traditional static range training, he wanted a system that could help students develop both marksmanship skills and real-world decision-making abilities in a safer, more flexible environment.

According to Swanson, the Smokeless Range® quickly became a major part of that solution.

First Impressions of the Smokeless Range®

One of the biggest things that stood out to Swanson early on was how immersive and adaptable the Smokeless Range® system felt once it was fully set up.

Using interactive software, projection-based scenarios, laser training firearms, and drop-in laser cartridges, the system allowed students to engage with dynamic drills and reactive environments instead of only shooting paper targets.

He explained that the setup process was straightforward and that the overall experience ran smoothly once installed. The ability to transform ordinary spaces into functional virtual training environments also became a major advantage for both instruction and ongoing student development.

What impressed him most was how the system encouraged shooters to work beyond simple mechanical shooting fundamentals and instead focus on judgment, target identification, reaction time, and critical thinking under pressure.

Virtual Range Time: Building Real Skills Through Repetition

Swanson emphasized that one of the greatest strengths of the Smokeless Range® is the amount of meaningful repetition students can get during training sessions.

Over several years of teaching with both earlier and newer versions of the system, he observed students becoming more engaged, more confident, and more competitive as they progressed through drills and simulations.

The Smokeless Range® allowed students to practice:

• Sight alignment and trigger control
• Target transitions
• Speed and reaction drills
• Decision-making under pressure
• Movement and positioning
• Multiple firearm platforms including pistol, shotgun, and rifle

He explained that the system creates a bridge between static range shooting and realistic defensive scenarios by placing students into interactive environments where they must process information quickly and respond appropriately.

Instead of solely firing at stationary targets, students are challenged to think through evolving situations while maintaining proper firearm fundamentals.

The Value of Scenario-Based Training

One recurring theme throughout the article is how important scenario-based training can be for modern shooters.

Swanson discussed how many students initially focus only on marksmanship, but later realize that real-world defensive situations involve much more than accuracy alone.

The Smokeless Range® allows instructors to introduce situations involving:

• Threat identification
• Shoot/no-shoot decisions
• Environmental awareness
• Stress management
• Time pressure
• Realistic movement and transitions

These types of drills help students apply shooting fundamentals in ways that feel more realistic and mentally demanding than traditional target shooting alone.

Swanson noted that many students become highly engaged during these exercises because the system creates both a learning environment and a level of competitive energy that pushes shooters to improve.

Spotlight on the VST Pro System

A major highlight of the article is Swanson’s discussion of the VST Pro software package and its advanced training capabilities.

The VST Pro expands the Smokeless Range® beyond traditional marksmanship drills by introducing interactive live video scenarios that place shooters into realistic environments requiring immediate decisions and responses.

According to Swanson, the system includes dozens of customizable scenarios covering situations such as:

• Home defense encounters
• Armed robberies
• Traffic stop interactions
• Domestic disputes
• Civilian self-defense situations

What makes the VST Pro particularly valuable is that instructors can modify and adapt scenarios based on student responses, creating a more dynamic and unpredictable training experience.

Rather than memorizing drills, students must actively process unfolding events and make decisions under pressure — similar to what would happen in real life.

Swanson explained that these scenario-based exercises often generate some of the most valuable teaching moments because instructors can immediately discuss decision-making, situational awareness, communication, and tactical choices after each run.

What Students Often Take Away from the Experience

Although the original article includes detailed student feedback, the overall takeaway was clear: students consistently left the Smokeless Range® sessions feeling more confident, more engaged, and more aware of their own strengths and weaknesses.

Swanson noted that many shooters appreciated the ability to safely work through stressful situations in a controlled environment before ever encountering similar pressures during live-fire training.

Students also benefited from:

• Immediate visual feedback
• Increased confidence
• Improved firearm handling
• Better decision-making under stress
• Greater situational awareness
• More productive repetition without ammunition costs

For newer shooters especially, simulator training helped reduce intimidation while building familiarity and confidence in firearm manipulation and defensive concepts.

Final Thoughts from Trampas Swanson

Toward the end of the feature, Swanson explained that while the Smokeless Range® represents a significant investment, he believes the training value it provides makes it worthwhile for serious instructors and shooters.

He emphasized that simulator-based training should not replace live fire entirely, but instead complement it by allowing shooters to develop skills that are difficult to practice consistently on a traditional range.

Perhaps most importantly, he noted that the system keeps students engaged while exposing them to scenarios and decision-making opportunities they may never experience otherwise.

For instructors, competitors, defensive shooters, and even younger students, the Smokeless Range® provides a way to train more frequently, more safely, and more realistically.

For those who want to read the complete original feature exactly as written by Trampas Swanson, you can view the full digital magazine issue here.