IL323733A

IL323733A - Dry fire practice training device

Info

Publication number: IL323733A
Application number: IL323733A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Sarah Leslie Rentz Seigler
Priority date: 2019-10-28
Filing date: 2025-09-30
Publication date: 2025-11-01
Also published as: AU2019472053A1; IL300498B1; CA3156616A1; EP4051977A1; CN114787576A; EP4051977A4; IL300498A; AU2019472053A2; WO2021086301A1

Description

WO 2021/086301 PCT/US2019/058266 DRY FIRE PRACTICE TRAINING DEVICE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS - NOT APPLICABLE STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT-NOT APPLICABLE REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM, LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX -NOT APPLICABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (0001) Live firing is the best way to practice drawing and firing a weapon. The practice process builds muscle memory, and helps the shooter develop proper techniques of delivery and complete weapon control. There are several negatives of this type of practice. Using ammunition is an ongoing expense, and measures have to be taken to practice with safety. This could mean traveling to a firing range, providing safety equipment for the shooter and possibly others, and allotting special time in the schedule for the practice session. (0002)Dry fire practice is a good substitute for live fire practice. Dry firing is another process of building muscle memory whereby a firearm, especially a pistol, is drawn, aimed, and fired without using live ammunition. This enables the practice of firing a weapon to proceed smoothly and accurately without all of the negatives of live fire practice. Because no live ammunition is used, there is no ongoing expense, there is no need to use safety equipment, a special shooting environment is not necessary, and practicing can be accomplished in much less time. (0003)Dry firing also allows the shooter to practice in the actual environment where the weapon may need to be used for protection such as in the home. With complete safety, actual shooting scenarios can be practiced in and around the home. 1 WO 2021/086301 PCT/US2019/058266 (0004) Practicing at the range can also be improved. When live fire is practiced at the range, the novice shooter usually has to spend a significant amount of time and expend a lot of ammunition getting accustomed to the report and recoil of the pistol. Before live practice begins, some dry fire practicing can be done. This gets the novice shooter accustomed to the trigger feel before having to deal with the recoil and the report of live firing. (0005) A major negative factor occurs with most methods of dry firing because when a semi-automatic pistol is live fired, it resets its firing pin and is ready to be fired again until the magazine is empty. The shooter's hands remain in the firing position, and just the trigger finger and the trigger are employed.

With normal dry fire practice, after the first activation of the trigger releasing the firing pin, the shooter must remove a hand from the pistol and ratchet the slide back in order to reset the firing pin. The shooter can then let the trigger return the to its unfired position. The pistol is then ready for another activation. This must be done each time a shot is simulated. Doing this, teaches improper muscle memory because it is not at all what happens during actual live fire. When people are in real shooting situations, they need to be able to depend on simply acting upon how they have practiced. Anything else could be deadly. (0006) Another negative for standard dry fire practice is that there is concern as to wear and tear on the constant releasing of a weapon's firing pin without it having the cushioning effect of the firing pin striking a round of ammunition. (0007) Some patented training systems incorporate computer graphics into the training scenario. Other patents address the duplication of a pistol's recoil, laser marking of "shots", projecting images onto a screen, etc. 2 WO 2021/086301 PCT/US2019/058266 Here are a few examples of pistol training patents: U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS: ,993,215; November 30, 1999 Jansen; Kotsiopoulos 4,657,511 April 14, 1987 Allard; Briard; Saunier 4,725,235 February 16, 1988 Schroeder; Osborne 4,737,106 April 12, 1988 Laciny 4,804,325 February 14, 1989 Willits; Kleeman; Willits ,451,162 September 19, 1995 Parsons 9,182,189 November, 10, 2015 Seigler (0008) These are some devices or systems that aid in dry fire practice, but only one of the patented devices (9,182,189) or systems address the "hands-free" trigger reset problem or the firing pin use problem. (0009) Negative qualities of these devices or systems are that they are either user intensive and/or expensive to purchase, but most significantly they do not allow a shooter to use a fully functioning pistol that he may already own. There is also a learning curve or training necessary to use these systems, but most of all, none of the patented devices or systems except (9,182,189) address the "hands-free" trigger reset problem and the possible firing pin damage problem of normal dry fire practice. (0010) The device with patent number 9,182,189 (my previous patent) solves all of the stated problems, but there are improvements that need to be made. The means for insertion into the magazine's well has 3 WO 2021/086301 PCT/US2019/058266 been simplified, internal parts have been improved, and alterations have been provided so that the device can interact with electronic training systems through a micro switch and electronic components. (0011) There is no device that provides proper dryfire training as already described that also has components that will allow it to interact with electronic training devices like lasers.

There is therefore a need for a dry fire training device that uses a fully functioning pistol, allows for precise muscle memory training, is simple to operate, prevents the firing pin of the fully functioning pistol from being damaged, provides for safe on-site home training, inserts easily into the magazine well, and has capabilities to interact with electronic training systems. This new device improves upon existing device 9,182,189 (my previous patent) .

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (0011) The invention that is to be described accomplishes the most important aspects of dry fire training: no live ammunition is used providing safety and no on going expense, convenience of practicing in the home environment where the protective, fully functioning pistol would most likely be used for defensive purposes, no involved disassembling and reassembling of any of the fully functional pistol's components, the realistic feel of the trigger during the firing process and the trigger reset, precise muscle memory training using only the trigger finger motion, and does not negatively affect the fully functional pistol's firing pin. This invention also helps the novice shooter train with his pistol before he has to deal with the recoil and the report of firing live ammunition. This invention is simple to use, provides realistic feel of the trigger operation, produces a sound that simulates the release of the pistol's firing pin, and does not require any alterations to the fully functional pistol such as disassembling and reassembling of any parts of the pistol. There is therefore a need for a dry fire 4 WO 2021/086301 PCT/US2019/058266 training device that uses a fully functioning pistol, allows for precise muscle memory training, is simple to operate, prevents the firing pin of the fully functioning pistol from being damaged, provides for safe on-site home training, inserts easily into the magazine well, and has capabilities to interact with electronic training systems. This new device improves upon existing device 9,182,189 (my previous patent). This improved device addresses these situations through the pistol's magazine compartment.

This invention simply slides into the magazine compartment in the pistol's handle, and practice can begin. It requires no alterations to the pistol before or after practice. This new device functions completely independent of the pistol's firing pin. (0012) An additional point of safety is that the base plate, which is always visible to the shooter and trainer, is a bright orange color to identify the safety of device from a magazine that could contain live ammunition. There is no way that this device can mechanically accommodate any live ammunition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a back view of a simulated magazine case with an adjusting set screw base adhered to its back wall.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional side view of said simulated magazine case showing the set screw base adhered to its back wall.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a lever.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of said lever FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a swing lock.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of said swing lock.

FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of a micro switch lever.

WO 2021/086301 PCT/US2019/058266 FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of said micro switch lever.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of a set screw base.

FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of said set screw base.

FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of a fulcrum pin.

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of a compression spring.

FIG. 13 illustrates a top view of a detente reed.

FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of a set screw.

FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of a micro switch.

FIG. 16 illustrates a side view of said micro switch.

FIG. 17 illustrates a side view of a micro processor.

FIG. 18 illustrates a top view of said micro processor.

FIG. 19. illustrates a sectional view of the assembled device in its resting position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1 & 2 illustrate the simulated magazine case 1 that has six holes: a pair of holes in each side to receive the fulcrum pin 7 for the lever 2 to hinge upon; a third hole in the front of said magazine 1 to provide access to the regulating set screw 10 which is mounted in the set base 5 as illustrated in FIG. 2, being adhered to the inside back wall of said magazine case 1; a forth hole beneath the previously mentioned hole which allows for adjusting the mounting screw for the detent reed 6; a fifth hole in the back of the magazine 1 for adjusting a second set screw 10 in the micro switch lever 4 to regulate the adjusting point of another training device; a sixth hole in the front of the magazine 1 to allow the swing lock 3 to interact with a member in the pistol's magazine well to lift and place the lever 2 in the proper position with the pistol's trigger mechanism when the device is inserted into the pistol's magazine well. 6 WO 2021/086301 PCT/US2019/058266 FIGS. 3 & 4 illustrate the lever 2 with various shapes that allow it to support the detente reed 6, locate the coil spring 7, mount the swing lock 3, and mount the micro switch lever 4, and a projection at the top to interact with the pistol's trigger mechanism at point A; all these are illustrated in FIG. 19.

FIGS. 5&6 illustrate the swing lock 3 which is pin mounted to the lever 2 and protrudes out of the hole in the front of the magazine's 1 front side to interact with a member in the pistol's magazine well which places the lever 2 into its proper position with the pistol's trigger mechanism.

FIGS. 7& 8 illustrate a lever 4 which pin mounts to the lever 2, has a hole for accommodating the set screw 10 for adjustments, and provides a location for mounting a micro switch 9.

FIGS. 9 & 10 illustrate the set screw base 5 which is adhered to the inner front wall of the magazine and accommodates the set screw 10 to adjust when the detente reed 6 snaps as the lever 2 is actuated by the pistol's trigger mechanism at point A.

FIG. 11 illustrates a fulcrum pin 6 that allows the lever 5 to rotate to activated the detent reed 6 by the action transferred through the lever 5 at point A, moving the detent reed 6 against the set screw 10, producing the simulated tactile release and the audible response of the weapon's firing pin. Another fulcrum pin 7 mounts the micro switch lever 4 onto the lever 2.

FIG. 12 illustrates a compression spring 8 that returns the lever 2 to its resting position against the front of the magazine 1 and resets the pistol's trigger mechanism to its resting position.

FIG. 13 illustrates a detent reed 6 which is mounted to the lever 2 and provides the tactile release 7 WO 2021/086301 PCT/US2019/058266 simulating the feel of the release of the pistol's firing pin and an audible response simulating the sound of the release of the pistol's firing pin.

FIG. 14 illustrates the set screw 10 which is used in the set screw base 5 and the micro switch lever and provides for adjustments of both as illustrated in FIG. 19.

FIGS.15 & 16 illustrate the micro switch 9 which is mounted to its lever 4 and presses against the inner wall of the magazine 1 to activate an electronic component for other training devices.

FIGS. 17 & 18 illustrate the micro processor 11 that is activated by the micro switch 9 when the lever assembly is hinged towards the back of the magazine 1 and thus provides an electrical signal received by another device for dry fire training.

FIG. 19 illustrates a sectional view of the assembled dry fire training device showing the lever 2 in its resting position. The compression spring 8 is applying a forward force to hold the lever 2 forward. This view shows the detent reed 6 resting against the set screw 10 in its "untripped" or unreleased position.

The set screw 10 provides adjustment to control the release of the detent reed 6 at precisely the right position in the travel of the pistol's trigger. The swing lock 3 is mounted to the lever 2 so that when the device is inserted into the pistol's magazine compartment, the swing lock 3 interacts with the pistol's magazine release bar and pushes the lever 2 towards the back of pistol far enough that the lever 2 can freely move behind the pistol's trigger mechanism. The swing lock 3 then swings out of the way so that the lever 2 assembly is free to interact with the pistol's trigger mechanism. When the pistol's trigger mechanism pressed against the lever 2 at point A, the lever 2 assembly swings towards the back of the magazine 1. This movement compresses the coil spring 8, bends the detent reed 6 through its 8 WO 2021/086301 PCT/US2019/058266 activation point against the set screw 10 and provides the tactile and the audible response, thus simulating the release of the pistol's firing pin; the micro switch 9 is compressed against the wall of the magazine 1 completing the circuit to the micro processor which sends a signal to interact with a separate dry fire training device. When the pistol's trigger is released, the coil spring 8 returns the lever 2 assembly to its resting position.

The previously patented device 9,182,189 had a sliding member that had to be pushed up to accomplish the positioning of the lever 2 behind the trigger mechanism. Then, after the lever 2 was in its working position, the shooter needed to pull the sliding lever lifter back to its resting position. This new design accomplishes this setting action without any additional actions of the shooter. The new devise also has means of interacting electronically with other dry fire training devices. 9

Claims

1. CLAIMS 1. A dry fire training device for use with a pistol having an ammunition magazine compartment and a trigger mechanism, the dry fire training device comprising: a simulated ammunition magazine that has opposing side portions, an exterior surface, and an interior cavity, the simulated ammunition magazine having a platform at a top end portion for operative engagement with a compression spring; a lever that is pivotably carried within the interior cavity of the simulated ammunition magazine, the lever is elongate and has a bottom end portion that is proximate an inside bottom surface of the interior cavity, and a top end portion that is proximate the top end portion of the simulated ammunition magazine, the lever further having a projection at the top end portion thereof that operatively communicates with the trigger mechanism of the pistol, and a projection for engagement with the compression spring, and the lever is pivotably movable on a fulcrum between a resting position and a firing position, the fulcrum is sandwiched between the opposing side portions inside the interior cavity of the simulated ammunition magazine; a detent reed carried on the lever, the detent reed formed of a material that generates a tactile and audible signal when manipulated through an activation point between an un-tripped position and a tripped position; a microswitch operatively connecting the lever to the simulated ammunition magazine such that the microswitch is activated when the lever is pivotably moved on the fulcrum from the resting position to the firing position; and a microprocessor operatively communicating with the microswitch and which sends a signal when the microswitch is activated.

2. The dry fire training device of Claim 1 and further comprising: a laser training device carried by the pistol that receives the signal from the microprocessor and the laser training device is actuated responsive to the signal from the microprocessor.

3. The dry fire training device of Claim 1 or Claim 2 and further comprising: a baseplate carried on a bottom end portion exterior surface of the simulated ammunition magazine, and the baseplate is colored so that an observer is able to recognize the pistol ammunition magazine compartment is carrying a simulated ammunition magazine for use with dry fire training.

4. The dry fire training device of any one of Claims 1 to 3 and further comprising: a regulating assembly carried inside the interior cavity of the simulated ammunition magazine proximate the top end portion, the regulating assembly having a set screw base carrying a regulating set screw that operatively communicates with the detent reed to provide adjustability to the activation point of the detent reed;

5. The dry fire training device of any one of Claims 1 to 4 and further comprising: a swing lock pivotally carried by the lever spaced between the top end portion and the bottom end portion, the swing lock having an end portion that extends through an orifice at a front portion of the simulated ammunition magazine and the extending end portion of the swing lock frictionally communicates with a surface of the pistol ammunition magazine compartment so as to properly position the projection at the top end portion of the lever relative to the pistol trigger mechanism for operation.

6. A method of using a dry fire training device, the method comprising: providing a dry fire training device for use with a pistol having an ammunition magazine compartment and a trigger mechanism, the dry fire training device comprising: a simulated ammunition magazine that has opposing side portions, an exterior surface, and an interior cavity, the simulated ammunition magazine having a platform at a top end portion for operative engagement with a compression spring; a lever that is pivotably carried within the interior cavity of the simulated ammunition magazine, the lever is elongate and has a bottom end portion that is proximate an inside bottom surface of the interior cavity, and a top end portion that is proximate the top end portion of the simulated ammunition magazine, the lever further having a projection at the top end portion thereof that operatively communicates with the trigger mechanism of the pistol, and a projection for engagement with the compression spring, and the lever is pivotably movable on a fulcrum between a resting position and a firing position, the fulcrum is sandwiched between the opposing side portions inside the interior cavity of the simulated ammunition magazine; a detent reed carried on the lever, the detent reed formed of a material that generates a tactile and audible signal when manipulated through an activation point between an un-tripped position and a tripped position; a microswitch operatively connecting the lever to the simulated ammunition magazine such that the microswitch is activated when the lever is pivotably moved on the fulcrum from the resting position to the firing position; and a microprocessor operatively communicating with the microswitch and which sends a signal when the microswitch is activated; inserting the dry fire training device into the ammunition magazine compartment of a pistol; and positioning the projection at the top end portion of the lever relative to the pistol trigger mechanism for operation.

7. The method of Claim 6, further comprising: actuating the pistol trigger mechanism to pivotally move the lever from the resting position to the firing position.

8. The method of Claim 7, further comprising: releasing the pistol trigger mechanism to pivotally move the lever from the firing position to the resting position.

9. The method of Claim any one of Claims 6 to 8, further comprising: removing the dry fire training device from the ammunition magazine compartment of the pistol.

10. A method of manufacturing a dry fire training device, the method comprising: providing a first side portion and a second side portion of a simulated ammunition magazine, the first and second side portions opposing one another, and each of the first and second side portions having an exterior surface and an interior cavity, and at least one of the first and second side portions of the simulated ammunition magazine having a platform at a top end portion for operative engagement with a compression spring; inserting a lever into the interior cavity of one of the first and second side portions of the simulated ammunition magazine, the lever is elongate and has a bottom end portion that is proximate an inside bottom surface of the interior cavity, and a top end portion that is proximate the top end portion of the simulated ammunition magazine, the lever further having a projection at the top end portion thereof that operatively communicates with a trigger mechanism of a pistol, and a projection for engagement with the compression spring, and the lever is pivotably movable on a fulcrum between a resting position and a firing position; connecting a detent reed to the lever, the detent reed is formed of a material that generates a tactile and audible signal when manipulated through an activation point between an un-tripped position and a tripped position; operatively connecting the lever to the simulated ammunition magazine with a microswitch such that the microswitch is activated when the lever is pivotably moved on the fulcrum from the resting position to the firing position; providing a microprocessor to operatively communicate with the microswitch and which sends a signal when the microswitch is activated; and sandwiching the lever and the detent reed between the opposing first and second side portions inside the interior cavity of the simulated ammunition magazine.

11. The method of Claim 10 and further comprising: attaching a baseplate to a bottom end portion exterior surface of the simulated ammunition magazine, and the baseplate is colored so that an observer is able to recognize the pistol ammunition magazine compartment is carrying a simulated ammunition magazine for use with dry fire training.

12. A dry fire training device for a pistol that defines an ammunition magazine compartment in the pistol handle that releasably carries an ammunition magazine therein that is sized and configured to operatively cooperate with a trigger mechanism of the pistol and wherein the trigger mechanism operatively controls a firing pin of the pistol, the dry fire training device comprising: a simulated ammunition magazine that has a top end portion, a bottom end portion, a front portion, a back portion, opposing side portions, an exterior surface and the simulated ammunition magazine defines an interior cavity, the interior cavity having inside surfaces at the top end portion, the bottom end portion, the front portion, the back portion, and the opposing side portions, the simulated ammunition magazine further having a platform at the inside top end portion for operative engagement with a compression spring; a lever that is pivotably carried within the interior cavity of the simulated ammunition magazine, the lever is elongate and has a bottom end portion that is proximate the inside bottom surface of the interior cavity, and a top end portion that is proximate the top end portion of the simulated ammunition magazine, the lever further having a projection at the top end portion thereof that operatively communicates with the trigger mechanism of the pistol, and a projection for engagement with the compression spring, and the lever is pivotably movable on a fulcrum pin that communicates with the opposing side portions inside the interior cavity defined by the simulated ammunition magazine; a detent reed carried on the lever and adjacent the inside back surface of the simulated ammunition magazine, the detent reed formed of a material that generates a tactile and audible signal when manipulated through an activation point between an un-tripped position and a tripped position; a regulating assembly carried inside the interior cavity of the simulated ammunition magazine proximate the top end portion, the regulating assembly having a set screw base carrying a regulating set screw that operatively communicates with the detent reed to provide adjustability to the activation point of the detent reed; a microswitch lever pivotally carried by the lever proximate the bottom end portion thereof and proximate the inside back surface of the simulated ammunition magazine, the microswitch lever carrying a microswitch thereon that operatively contacts the inside back surface of the simulated ammunition magazine when the lever is pivotally moved rearwardly responsive to activation of the pistol trigger mechanism; a baseplate carried on the bottom end portion exterior surface of the simulated ammunition magazine, and the baseplate is colored so that an observer is able to recognize the pistol ammunition magazine compartment is carrying a simulated ammunition magazine for use with dry fire training; a microprocessor operatively communicating with the microswitch and which sends a signal; and a laser training device carried by the pistol that receives the signal from the microprocessor and the laser training device is actuated responsive to the signal from the microprocessor.

13. The dry fire training device for a pistol of claim 12 and further comprising: a swing lock pivotally carried by the lever spaced between the top end portion and the bottom end portion, the swing lock having an end portion that extends through an orifice defined in the front portion of the simulated ammunition magazine and the extending end portion of the swing lock frictionally communicate with a surface of the pistol ammunition magazine compartment so as to properly position the projection at the top end portion of the lever relative to the pistol trigger mechanism for operation.

14. A dry fire training device for use with a pistol having an ammunition magazine compartment and a trigger mechanism, the dry fire training device comprising: a magazine case sized and shaped to fit within the magazine compartment of the pistol; a lever within the magazine case, the lever is elongate with a top end portion and a bottom end portion opposite the top end portion, the bottom end portion of the lever is connected to the magazine case, the lever has a projection at the top end portion that extends outside the top end portion of the magazine and is sized and shaped to operatively communicate with the trigger mechanism of the pistol, the lever is movable within the magazine case between a first position and a second position; and a detent reed connected to the lever or to the case, the detent reed formed of a material that generates a tactile or audible signal when manipulated through an activation point between a first position and a second position; wherein the detent reed is configured to bias the lever toward the first position, the lever moves toward the second position in response to a pull of the trigger mechanism, and the lever biases back toward the first position in response to a release of the trigger mechanism.

15. The dry fire training device of Claim 14 and further comprising: a microswitch operatively connecting the lever to the magazine case such that the microswitch is activated when the lever is moved toward the second position; and a microprocessor operatively communicating with the microswitch and which sends a signal when the microswitch is activated.

16. The dry fire training device of Claim 15 and further comprising: a signal-activated training device carried by the pistol that receives the signal from the microprocessor and the signal-activated training device is activated responsive to the signal from the microprocessor.

17. The dry fire training device of any one of Claims 14-16 and further comprising: a swing lock connected to the lever between the top end portion and the bottom end portion, the swing lock having an end portion that extends through an orifice of the magazine case and the extending end portion of the swing lock frictionally communicates with the pistol ammunition magazine compartment so as to properly position the projection at the top end portion of the lever relative to the pistol trigger mechanism for operation.

18. A method of using a dry fire training device, the method comprising: providing a dry fire training device of any one of Claims 14-17; inserting the dry fire training device into the ammunition magazine compartment of a pistol; and positioning the projection at the top end portion of the lever relative to the pistol trigger mechanism for operation.

19. The method of Claim 18, further comprising: actuating the pistol trigger mechanism to move the lever toward the second position.

20. The method of Claim 19, further comprising: releasing the pistol trigger mechanism to move the lever back toward the first position.

21. The method of Claim 19 or Claim 20 , further comprising: removing the dry fire training device from the ammunition magazine compartment of the pistol.

22. A method of manufacturing a dry fire training device, the method comprising: providing a magazine case sized and shaped to fit within the magazine compartment of the pistol; inserting a lever into the magazine case, the lever is elongate with a top end portion and a bottom end portion opposite the top end portion, the bottom end portion of the lever is connected to the magazine case, the lever has a projection at the top end portion that extends outside the top end portion of the magazine and is sized and shaped to operatively communicate with the trigger mechanism of the pistol, the lever is movable within the magazine case between a first position and a second position; connecting a detent reed to the lever or to the case, the detent reed is formed of a material that generates a tactile or audible signal when manipulated through an activation point between a first position and a second position; wherein the detent reed is configured to bias the lever toward the first position, the lever moves toward the second position in response to a pull of the trigger mechanism, and the lever biases back toward the first position in response to a release of the trigger mechanism.

23. The method of Claim 22 and further comprising: operatively connecting the lever to the magazine case with a microswitch such that the microswitch is activated when the lever is moved toward the second position; and providing a microprocessor to operatively communicate with the microswitch and which sends a signal when the microswitch is activated.

24. The method of Claim 22 or Claim 23 and further comprising: providing a signal-activated training device carried by the pistol that receives the signal from the microprocessor and the signal-activated training device is actuated responsive to the signal from the microprocessor.

25. A dry fire training device for use with a pistol having an ammunition magazine compartment and a trigger mechanism, the dry fire training device comprising: a magazine case sized and shaped to fit within the magazine compartment of the pistol, the magazine case having a platform at a top end portion for operative engagement with a compression spring; a lever within the magazine case, the lever is elongate with a top end portion and a bottom end portion opposite the top end portion, the bottom end portion of the lever is connected to the magazine case, the lever has a projection at the top end portion that extends outside the top end portion of the magazine and is sized and shaped to operatively communicate with the trigger mechanism of the pistol, the lever is movable within the magazine case between a first position and a second position, the lever is sized and shaped for engagement with the compression spring; and wherein the compression spring is configured to bias the lever toward the first position, the lever moves toward the second position in response to a pull of the trigger mechanism, and the lever biases back toward the first position in response to a release of the trigger mechanism.

26. The dry fire training device of Claim 25 and further comprising: a microswitch operatively connecting the lever to the magazine case such that the microswitch is activated when the lever is moved toward the second position; and a microprocessor operatively communicating with the microswitch and which sends a signal when the microswitch is activated.

27. The dry fire training device of Claim 26 and further comprising: a signal-activated training device carried by the pistol that receives the signal from the microprocessor and the signal-activated training device is actuated responsive to the signal from the microprocessor.

28. The dry fire training device of any one of Claims 25 to 27 and further comprising: a swing lock connected to the lever between the top end portion and the bottom end portion, the swing lock having an end portion that extends through an orifice of the magazine case and the extending end portion of the swing lock frictionally communicates with the pistol ammunition magazine compartment so as to properly position the projection at the top end portion of the lever relative to the pistol trigger mechanism for operation.

29. The dry fire training device of any one of Claims 25 to 28 and further comprising: a detent reed connected to the lever, the detent reed formed of a material that generates a tactile or audible signal when manipulated through an activation point between a first position and a second position.

30. A method of using a dry fire training device, the method comprising: providing a dry fire training device of any one of Claims 25 to 29; inserting the dry fire training device into the ammunition magazine compartment of a pistol; and positioning the projection at the top end portion of the lever relative to the pistol trigger mechanism for operation.

31. The method of Claim 30, further comprising: actuating the pistol trigger mechanism to move the lever toward the second position.

32. The method of Claim 31, further comprising: releasing the pistol trigger mechanism to move the lever back toward the first position.

33. The method of Claim 31 or Claim 32, further comprising: removing the dry fire training device from the ammunition magazine compartment of the pistol.

34. A method of manufacturing a dry fire training device, the method comprising: providing a magazine case sized and shaped to fit within the magazine compartment of the pistol, the magazine case having a platform at a top end portion for operative engagement with a compression spring; inserting a lever into the magazine case, the lever is elongate with a top end portion and a bottom end portion opposite the top end portion, the bottom end portion of the lever is connected to the magazine case, the lever has a projection at the top end portion that extends outside the top end portion of the magazine and is sized and shaped to operatively communicate with the trigger mechanism of the pistol, the lever is movable within the magazine case between a first position and a second position, the lever is sized and shaped for engagement with the compression spring; connecting a first end of the compression spring to the lever; connecting a second end of the compression spring to the platform at the top end portion of the magazine case; wherein the compression spring is configured to bias the lever toward the first position, the lever moves toward the second position in response to a pull of the trigger mechanism, and the lever biases back toward the first position in response to a release of the trigger mechanism.

35. The method of Claim 34 and further comprising: operatively connecting the lever to the magazine case with a microswitch such that the microswitch is activated when the lever is moved toward the second position; and providing a microprocessor to operatively communicate with the microswitch and which sends a signal when the microswitch is activated.

36. The method of Claim 35 and further comprising: providing a signal-activated training device carried by the pistol that receives the signal from the microprocessor and the signal-activated training device is actuated responsive to the signal from the microprocessor.

37. The method of any one of Claims 34 to 36 and further comprising: connecting a detent reed to the lever or to the case, the detent reed is formed of a material that generates a tactile or audible signal when manipulated through an activation point between a first position and a second position.