5 of the best: Training aids

DryFire is the world’s leading indoor shooting simulator. Designed and manufactured in Derbyshire, it’s trusted by thousands of shooters since 2002. Using your own gun, the system recreates precise sporting and trap targets. Additionally, it provides feedback down to fractions of an inch after every shot.

Designed for intensive, structured training, it allows shooters to practise at home at any time. There are no range fees and no cartridges required. You maintain complete control over target presentations. From club shooters to world champions, DryFire remains the benchmark in indoor training technology. Consequently, it helps users build consistency and improve scores with measurable accuracy.

RRP: From £1,080

The MegaVR Simstock is a highly effective training tool for clay and game shooters. It offers year-round practice that mirrors the weight, balance and feel of a real shotgun. When paired with ClayHunt VR, it allows users to rehearse technique and refine consistency. Therefore, you can build lasting muscle memory without using ammunition or travelling to a ground.

The adjustable stock accommodates length, comb height and cast. This ensures a perfect personal fit. With instant feedback and unlimited practice sessions, the Simstock provides accessible training. Furthermore, compatibility with weight kits enhances realism for highly transferable training from home.

RRP: MegaVR Simstock £269 (headset not included); Weight Kits £44 & £69

GAIM delivers a highly realistic virtual reality training experience. It combines dry-fire practice with correct ballistics, animal anatomy and lifelike firearm handling. Used with the Meta Quest headset, it allows shooters to build genuine muscle memory. As a result, improvements translate directly to real-world performance.

Users can shoot clays, ducks, pheasants, wild boar and fallow deer. Each scenario offers detailed post-shot analysis to assess barrel movement and shot placement. Suitable for both home users and training organisations, GAIM provides an engaging way to practise more often. Ultimately, you’ll sharpen core skills without stepping foot on a ground.

RRP: GAIM Clay Shooting €472 ex VAT

ShotKam’s Gen 4 model is designed for shooters who demand rugged reliability. It offers long battery life and crystal-clear video analysis of their real-world shooting. Ideal for both hunters and clay shooters, the Gen 4 mounts directly to the barrel. It records every shot automatically, allowing users to review leads, timing and technique frame by frame.

With a 15-hour battery, robust cold-weather performance and a compact 11.7cm design, it’s built for full days in the field. For anyone serious about improving, ShotKam provides invaluable visual feedback post-shoot. This helps turn missed opportunities into lessons learned. Plus, it’s great to relive some of the shots you surprised yourself or your fellow guns with.

Price: £649

The Real Stock Pro from TextureVR gives users an authentic training experience. It replicates the exact weight, balance and handling of their real-world shotgun when using Clay Hunt VR. This ensures that skills developed in the virtual environment transfer seamlessly to live shooting.

The system supports a full range of clay disciplines. These include skeet, trap and sporting, as well as upland and bird hunting scenarios. For shooters looking to build confidence, refine technique and maintain sharpness between outings, Real Stock Pro offers a convincing solution. Indeed, it’s a highly practical training tool.

RRP: From £186