Optic elite Steiner joins its new TOR-X pistol laser with MantisX training technology to deliver a dual-function laser unit that will get you more productive time behind the trigger
by Rob Reaser
I admit to never having been much of a pistol-mounted laser fan. Then again, I’ve only just begun to warm up to the notion using a red dot for my concealed carry weapon (and that only because my right eye is beginning to gimp out on me!). Thus, it was with a touch of excitement that I cracked open the box containing Steiner’s just-released-today TOR-X pistol-mounted laser.
The folks at Steiner gave us a preview of the new TOR-X earlier this year, and I was immediately intrigued — not so much because it was a laser aiming device, but because it was a Steiner-grade laser that also incorporated MantisX training compatibility.
I have been a MantisX fan since I picked up the Mantis X10 Elite system a few years ago to enhance my dry-fire pistol training. Shortly after that, I acquired the Mantis Blackbeard system for open-sight AR-15 marksmanship training.
The Mantis system attaches to your firearm and uses some rather sophisticated technology to record a host of performance points that are part of the shooting sequence. This information is transmitted via Bluetooth to a mobile device that has been uploaded with the MantisX app.
More on all that to follow. For now, enter Steiner’s TOR-X…
We’re all familiar with Steiner’s reputation for premium, military-grade optics — from binoculars and rifle scopes to thermal units and red dots. The company has also carved out a position in the laser aiming segment with duty-centric rifle and pistol IR and laser systems.
The new TOR-X spins off from Steiner’s TOR MINI pistol-mounted laser as far as general design and operating specifications are concerned. The key difference, of course, is that the TOR-X also comes with the integrated MantisX technology.
If you are a Steiner laser fan, this is big news. Now you can utilize the TOR-X laser for pinpoint, 24-hour aiming with your carry gun and leverage the MantisX system for training. No more swapping out units whenever you want to train and risk losing your zero. This also makes training more convenient, so you will be more likely to do it whenever you have a free 10- or 15-minute block in the day.
Steiner TOR-X Up Close
Steiner TOR-X Specifications
- Laser Color: green (520 ± 10nm)
- Maximum Power Output: <5 mW
- Beam Dispersion: 0.5-in. @ 50 ft.
- Output: 3 adjustable laser intensities
- Housing: hard-coat anodized aluminum
- Switches: ambidextrous pressure pads
- Zeroing: windage and elevation adjustment
- Mount: Picatinny rail compatible
- Battery: (1) 1/3N or 2L76
- Environmental: water resistant
- Weight: 2.5 oz.
- Dimensions: 2.4 x 1.4 x 1.3 in.
- Integration: MantisX technology/Bluetooth
- MSRP: $359
The TOR-X secures in the expected location forward of a pistol’s trigger guard via the Picatinny rail. The ambidextrous paddles/switches feature an aggressively textured rubber coating that make it easy to turn on the unit with your trigger finger or supporting hand’s thumb — whichever is most convenient for your operational style.
What I really appreciate about the mounting system is that it uses a moveable rail bar instead of a fixed rail bar to engage the pistol’s Picatinny rail slots. A typical Picatinny offers fore/aft adjustment of the mounted device of about 0.40 inches with each slot movement. The TOR-X adjustable rail bar system, though, brings that down to 0.16 inches of fore/aft device positioning between each rail bar position. This means you can fine-tune the switch position of the mounted laser to the reach that is optimal for your hand size and desired comfort.
It takes minor trial fitment to find the best rail bar position for your setup and operational preference. This is done by loosening the clamping bar screws and inserting the rail bar pins into the desired slots between the clamping bars.
Once you’ve determined the proper rail bar position, the TOR-X installs just like any other pistol rail-mounted accessory.
I set mine up so that I could easily reach the right-side switch with my trigger finger while keeping the trigger guard clear. I don’t want anything blocking or interfering with trigger access or finger movement within the trigger guard. You shouldn’t, either!
The TOR-X runs on a single 1/3N or 2L76 battery accessed from the bottom of the housing. I like this because you don’t need to remove the unit from the pistol in order to swap batteries. The battery compartment lid has an offset slot that allows you to use the supplied Allen wrench to loosen or tighten the lid.
Steiner doesn’t mention anything about the battery runtime in the TOR-X specifications, and I haven’t been using the unit long enough to know how long a charge will last. According to the owner’s manual, the red LED light at the bottom of the housing, which indicates the laser is on, will flash when the charge begins to dwindle, and the laser’s power output will automatically drop once a critically low charge is detected. So, there is some advance notice to prevent you from being caught with a dead battery.
A quick check on Amazon for Duracell 1/3N batteries in a 3-pack is currently $13.39. Considering the time you can spend dry-fire training with the laser and MantisX running vs. the cost of ammo and range trips, I count that as a mega-bargain.
The laser is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. It doesn’t take much rotation to shift the point-of-aim with the included Allen wrench.
Start the zeroing process by aligning your pistol’s open sights with a distant point. I secured my Sig P320 in Real Avid’s Master Gun Vise, which worked really well because its ball-and-socket design allowed me to rotate the gun and lock it onto a precise point-of-aim. With your gun secured and the open sights aligned to your “target,” get your eye behind the sights (as if you were shooting) and adjust the laser’s windage and elevation until the green dot is in line with the pistol’s front and rear sights. From here, you can head to the range and refine the laser’s zero to achieve a perfect point-of-aim/point-of-impact.
The MantisX Bonus
Most folks who take their marksmanship training seriously are likely already familiar with the MantisX system. If not, they’ve probably heard about it through radio or podcast advertisements.
As training aids go, this one is hard to beat because the data the technology presented is so detailed it allows you to closely analyze your shooting process — through dry- or live-fire training — since the MantisX app provides feedback and suggestions for corrective measures based on the data collected.
If this is all new to you, I encourage you to check out the “how it works” page over at MantisX.
There are so many factors in pistol shooting that can negatively impact the shot. Using a training system like MantisX on a regular…even daily…basis is possible because you can use it at home through dry-fire exercises. Just ensure your gun is clear of ammo (and no ammo is present in the area), your “downrange” is safe (remember…treat all guns as if they are loaded!), and set up your target.
Downloading the MantisX app is easy enough, as is connecting the TOR-X via Bluetooth to your mobile device. Just press and hold both switches on the TOR-X until the connection is made. As you engage your training, the app will provide a mountain of feedback data that will tell you what you’re doing wrong, if anything, and how to correct the problems.
Amazing stuff.
Pairing a top-notch laser aiming system like the new TOR-X with MantisX technology was a smart move on Steiner’s part. I would guess that unless Steiner entered into an exclusive agreement with MantisX to incorporate the latter’s training system into their laser units, more manufacturers are likely to do the same moving forward.
But for now, if you want a reliable pistol laser with on-the-go training capability, the Steiner TOR-X hits the mark.
