Regarding range practice, there is a very cool ability to laser train targets with a SIRT laser pistol, a very high quality item made to hyper-realistic weight and dimensions. There's also an AR-15 bolt that can be put into a rifle to fire a laser down the barrel.
You can even coordinate your practice with a software program like LASR, with a computer, phone, or tablet so that you are given different drills, including timed ones. You can use regular targets or better yet, assign target sizes, places, and hit zones at will on the objects around you in your environment. You can practice indoors or out, whenever you like.
The initial outlay runs in the low hundreds but from that point on, the only cost is batteries. While no training can completely replace live fire, especially for someone brand new to guns (learning to deal with noise and recoil, even the presence of other people and general noise, is important), the training to acquire a sight picture, proper grip, and smooth motion regarding both trigger control and overall body coordination is extremely helpful and challenging. And considering how easy it becomes to practice anytime and anywhere, virtually cost-free, the learning curve is almost certain to be shortened dramatically.
Plus it's pretty fun ... if you're into the gun thing at all. And even if you're not but do own a gun, it's best to practice anyway.
Note: revolver is not an option with SIRT yet.
