System and Method for Timing Firearm Practice Drills

Abstract

A practice round is provided for use with an electronic device, such as a smart phone, to allow a user to time firearm practice drills without using live ammunition. Prior to performing a practice drill, the user loads the practice round into the chamber of the firearm similar to a live round. After a short delay, the electronic device provides a start signal and simultaneously starts an electronic timer. In response to the start signal, the user performs the practice drill which ends with the firing pin of the firearm striking the practice round in response to a trigger pull. The practice round senses the strike of the firing pin and stops the electronic timer. The electronic device then displays the elapsed time between the start signal and the strike of the firing pin on the practice round.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A practice round for use with a firearm having a chamber and a firing pin, said practice round comprising:
 a casing configured and dimensioned to be removably inserted into the chamber of the firearm;   a processor disposed within the casing; and   a firing pin strike sensor in communication with said processor;   wherein said firing pin strike sensor is configured to send a signal to said processor in response to an impact of the firing pin of the firearm.   
     
     
         2 . The practice round of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to provide an electronic timer, wherein the processor is further configured to stop the electronic timer in response to the signal from the firing pin strike sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The practice round of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to start the electronic timer in response to receiving a wireless signal from a remote electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . The practice round of  claim 2 , further comprising a memory in communication with said processor, wherein said processor is further configured to store measured times in said memory as determined by said electronic timer. 
     
     
         5 . The practice round of  claim 1 , further comprising a radio transmitter disposed within the casing, wherein the radio transmitter is in communication with said processor, wherein the processor is configured to transmit a wireless signal using the radio transmitter to a remote electronic device in response to the signal from the firing pin strike sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The practice round of  claim 1 , wherein the firing pin strike sensor comprises one of a mechanical switch, a pressure switch and a piezoelectric material. 
     
     
         7 . The practice round of  claim 6 , further comprising a battery disposed within said casing and a battery charging port for charging said battery. 
     
     
         8 . The practice round of  claim 1 , further comprising a radio transmitter and receiver disposed within said casing, wherein the radio transmitter and receiver is in communication with said processor. 
     
     
         9 . A system for performing training drills with a firearm, the firearm having a chamber and a firing pin, said system comprising:
 a practice round comprising:
 a casing configured and dimensioned to be removably inserted into the chamber of the firearm, 
 a processor disposed within the casing, and 
 a firing pin strike sensor in communication with said processor, 
 wherein said firing pin strike sensor is configured to generate a signal in response to an impact of the firing pin of the firearm; 
   an electronic device comprising:
 a processor configured to receive user input from a user interface, and 
 wherein said processor is further configured to generate a start signal in response to said user input; and 
   an electronic timing device configured to (i) start an electronic timer in response to the start signal generated by the processor of the electronic device, and (ii) stop the electronic timer in response to the signal from said firing pin strike sensor.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic timing device is disposed within the casing of the practice round. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic timing device comprises the processor of the electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the practice round further comprises a radio transmitter and receiver disposed within the casing. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the practice round and the electronic device communicate using short range radio frequency transmissions. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device is a smart phone. 
     
     
         15 . A method of performing a practice drill with a firearm, the firearm having a chamber, firing pin, and a trigger, said method comprising:
 loading a practice round into the chamber of the firearm, the practice round having a firing pin strike sensor;   starting an electronic timer;   performing the practice drill with the firearm that ends with the firing pin striking the practice round;   generating a signal from the firing pin strike sensor in response to the firing pin striking the practice round;   stopping the electronic timer in response to the signal from the firing pin strike sensor; and   displaying on a display an elapsed time between the start and stop of the electronic timer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the practice round comprises a processor in communication with the firing pin strike sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the practice round further comprises a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the practice round further comprises a radio transmitter and receiver. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the firing pin strike sensor is one of a mechanical switch, a pressure switch, and a piezoelectric switch. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the practice drill is one of a quick-draw drill, a malfunction clearance drill, a transition drill, and a magazine change drill.