The global virtual reality (VR) headset market is worth over $10 billion, and the U.S. is one of the biggest markets for VR headsets.
And because VR headsets are so expensive they have become a target for thieves.
Over the last few years, a group of six men stole more than $1.5 million worth of VR headsets.
The men would stake out warehouses where valuable items were stored.
Then, they’d wait for truck drivers to leave the warehouse with the goods, then follow them to truck stops and wait for the drivers to go inside.
While the drivers were inside paying for fuel or using the restroom the men would steal the semi-truck and trailer.
They would steal trucks all over the place including Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana.
After stealing the trucks, the men would drive a short distance and hook the trailer up to another semi.
Then, they would paint the trailer and change the numbers on it.
Once that was done, most of the stolen goods – including the VR headsets – were driven to Florida and sold for a fraction of their value.
It’s estimated that about 25% of U.S. adults have a VR headset.
One area where VR headsets are growing in use is firearms training.
VR headsets aren’t dependent on the weather, or the operating hours of an indoor range, or your hectic schedule.
A headset allows you to get in some training on your own terms and timeline.
So, if you have ever thought about getting a VR headset for firearms training (or are thinking about it now) here are a few things to keep in mind.
Benefits of VR headset training:
Technology has come a long way when it comes to creating realistic situations.
VR headsets allow people to interact in a highly realistic environment with different scenarios.
For instance, VR headsets can create active shooter situations, close-quarter encounters, and various lighting conditions.
The training is as realistic as technology can get.
Another good thing about VR training is that it eliminates the risk of needing guns and ammo.
Since live ammo should be nowhere around there is less risk of accidents.
Also, a VR headset lets the user do a wide range of scenarios to practice specific skills or techniques.
So, if you are struggling with a certain situation, you can practice it repeatedly.
Over time, VR headset training can be more cost-effective than going to the gun range since you won’t be using ammo and range time.
Plus, VR headsets can track metrics such as reaction time, accuracy, and movement.
This can provide valuable training feedback and give insight into areas you need to improve.
Drawbacks to VR headset training:
One issue with VR headset training is that it can’t accurately simulate the gun’s recoil.
So, if all you do is train with a VR headset it could throw you off when shooting a real gun.
Additionally, as good as the technology is, it’s still not real, and the visual effects are not perfect.
For example, the hand-eye coordination between the VR controller and a real firearm will feel different.
Rapid movements in virtual reality can cause motion sickness, so if you are sensitive to this it could make you sick.
Lastly, there is no substitute for live-fire training, and there is still a need to go to the shooting range.
Now, a good VR headset for firearms training is the Meta Quest 3 (it sells for about $300).
So, it’s true that virtual reality headsets can be a valuable tool for firearms training, but they can’t be the only training.
You still need to go to the shooting range.
And while you’re there, to ensure you get the most out of your time, practice a small number of highly specific and effective drills and scenarios.
