Ace Virtual Shooting Simulator: Range Time at Home

By Peter Suciu

Posted in
#Gear

In today’s article, Peter Suciu reviews the Ace VR shooting simulator from AceXR. This system puts a virtual shooting range in your home with the ability to train with real-world firearms like the Springfield Armory 1911 TRP.

“It’s not around the block,” was an often-used saying of this reporter’s late grandfather. That was really an excuse for places he didn’t want to go, but it was also a barrier for things he legitimately enjoyed. That included the shooting range. None were close, and as a result, he didn’t get out to the range all that often. That was part of the reason.

This is the primary hardware footprint of the at-home shooting simulator — a VR headset paired with a life-sized Springfield TRP-inspired controller. There is no ammo to buy and no brass to pick up. Image: Carson McDaniel

The other was the cost. My grandfather worked very hard his entire life, and being of “The Greatest Generation,” he wasn’t someone who ever spent money unwisely. He lived through periods of high inflation, and this influenced his spending habits for his whole life.

My grandfather did live long enough to see the introduction of digital cameras and other technologies, such as mobile phones. Despite being an old timer, he seemed ready to embrace new technologies. So, I’m sorry he didn’t get to experience the Ace Virtual Shooting Simulator. As someone who truly had a passion for shooting at the gun range, I know he would have enjoyed it very much.

VR Shooting Simulator Backstory

The idea of simulating the shooting experience has existed for nearly a century, and the first light gun games emerged in the 1930s. These may seem simplistic today, but it should be remembered that people listened to the radio instead of watching TV!

The split-screen image shows a man on the left aiming the 1911 TRP handset while wearing a VR headset, with his in-headset view of a shooting bay displayed on the right. This side-by-side framing illustrates how the Ace VR Shooting Simulator connects real movement to a simulated range. As the shooter draws, presents and transitions, the virtual targets and surroundings respond in real time. The view on the right is one of more than 100 stages drawn from USPSA, PCSL and Steel Challenge formats. Because the simulation tracks his position and muzzle direction, it can score accuracy and flag safety violations such as breaking the 180. The setup proves how little physical room a virtual shooting range actually needs. — On the left, a shooter runs a stage in his living room. On the right is the virtual range he sees through the headset. Image: Ace

The Seeburg Ray-O-Lite was among the most successful, featuring a small, mounted rifle that emitted a beam of light to hit mechanically moving targets. The technology evolved slowly, but in the 1970’s the first arcade games were introduced. From there, professional “Shoot-Don’t/Shoot” simulations for the military and law enforcement were developed. That, in turn, led to more consumer and arcade platforms.

Today, technology has embraced the latest trends in virtual and augmented reality (AR). This is where the Ace Virtual Shooting Simulator comes into play. It incorporates many of the “gamification” attributes we’d expect, but unlike first-person shooter games, this is a simulation at heart.

It requires a compatible virtual reality (VR) headset: either the Meta Quest 2, 3, or 3S; and a weighted, life-sized handset. More on that in a moment.

The photo shows the AceXR training handset, a controller built to mimic the Springfield Armory 1911 TRP pistol. This weighted replica is the firearm controller at the center of the Ace VR Shooting Simulator. It matches the size, texture, grip angle and trigger pull of the live-fire 1911 TRP so practice carries over to the real gun. That degree of detail is what makes the virtual shooting trainer useful for building marksmanship fundamentals rather than just entertaining. Configured like the 5-inch rail-equipped variant, it gives 1911 fans a familiar feel in the hand. Springfield Armory and AceXR worked together to keep a high degree of congruence between the handset and the production pistol. — The AceXR handset is built as a close recreation of the Springfield Armory 1911 TRP, right down to its size and grip angle. Image: Ace

With it, users can compete in more than 100 stages across USPSA, PCSL and Steel Challenge, including over 40 official USPSA Classifiers and eight SCSA Stages. Each of the ranges was created to real-world scale, where users can hone a gauntlet of shooting skills, including movement and barricades. Users can also track their performance with real-time feedback and measure their progress in speed, accuracy, precision, and efficiency across various shooting scenarios.

A Shooting Simulation

For many, games and simulations may seem to be the same, but we can look to the “electronic entertainment industry” for attempts to pass off what are truly games as simulations. We must remember that military pilots train on simulators that cost millions of dollars, not on Microsoft Flight Simulator — although MSFS is used to supplement the training.

Still, whereas games are designed primarily for fun, entertainment and the achievement of a specific goal — such as winning or overcoming a challenge — a simulation is designed to accurately represent or model a real-world system or scenario to enable practice, training or safe experimentation.

Ace 1911 TRP simulator pistol — From this angle, you can see how closely the simulator pistol tracks the production TRP — down to details like the frame rail and grip texture. Image: Ace

Ace Virtual Shooting Simulator is very much a simulation. It isn’t about shooting zombies or aliens, or offering a Call of Duty-style action experience. Instead, it is about simulating the experience today’s shooters will have at the gun range. To hardcore gamers, that might seem odd, even boring, but this is about honing real-world gun skills, notably competitive shooting, virtually.

“Our vision is for Ace Virtual Shooting to be something that the shooting community has never had: A Home for Shooting,” explained Conor Donahue, CEO and co-founder of Ace Virtual Shooting. “A place where people across the globe can shoot the same challenges, be part of the same community, and do so from wherever they are. The consumer VR headset, affordable price point and ease of use all work to remove the barriers people face in enjoying shooting experiences. For about the same cost as one small box of 9mm ammo per month, an Ace user can shoot an unlimited number of rounds, from the comfort of their living room or backyard.”

Donahue explained that VR technology is at a new level, offering users an experience that might not have been possible even a few years ago.

Moreover, one notable difference in this simulation is that it was developed, designed and engineered by those who have spent time on the shooting range and have experience with emerging tools and technology.

“Ace Virtual Shooting is built by people who shoot themselves and understand VR technology. So every facet of shooting in Ace is thoughtfully designed with the authenticity of a real shooting experience,” added Donahue. “The robustness of this technology also positively impacts professional enterprise scale users, local law enforcement units, and tier-one units alike, who want to build skills without the hassle of big technology installations that always seem to be broken.”

Advances in VR and AR

The ability to go to the range without leaving the house is also largely possible thanks to Facebook parent Meta, which introduced its first standalone VR headset in 2018. In the past eight years, the technology has seen significant improvement, offering developers a platform to build upon.

On the left of this split image, a man in a VR headset works a stage with the weighted firearm controller; on the right is the matching first-person view from inside the simulation. Together the panels show the at-home shooting simulator doing its job, mapping his real motions onto a virtual competition stage. The handset stands in for a live-fire Springfield 1911, so his grip, draw and trigger press mirror what he would do at an actual range. Meanwhile the headset renders the bay, the targets and his hits with real-time feedback. This is skill-building practice in marksmanship fundamentals rather than a first-person shooter game. Tools like draw, presentation, sight alignment and target acquisition all carry over to live fire. — The user and his in-headset view sit side by side here, which is the clearest way to understand how the at-home shooting simulator works. Image: Ace

“In general, the rapid acceleration of virtual and mixed reality software and hardware has put our company in a position to deliver at an accelerated speed that would have been impossible even in the late 2010s. Our software is advancing monthly, and sometimes even more rapidly, thanks to our passionate team,” Donahue told The Armory Life.

The company, founded in 2022 and made up of military veterans and competitive shooters, has remained committed to its core mission: developing a simulation for shooters of all levels.

“Ace Virtual Shooting is designed for shooters of all ability levels. Our members today include beginners building their confidence, hobbyists who enjoy plinking, all the way up to competitive shooters and law enforcement/military members trying to stay sharp,” said Donahue. “Regardless of experience level, our members all share one thing in common: A desire to get better, with Ace being the ‘unlock’ that helps them get there.”

The company’s key goal has also been to eliminate “the friction” involved with a live-fire range trip. That includes the time-consuming set-up steps like cleaning guns, scheduling with friends, scheduling childcare, packing the car, and driving long distances.

This image shows the Ace 1911 TRP pistol from an alternate viewpoint, rounding out the look at its slide, rail and grip. The handset pairs with a consumer VR headset to form the Ace VR Shooting Simulator. Built as a clone of the Springfield Armory 1911 TRP, it matches the size, texture and trigger pull of the live-fire gun. That congruence is the product of close collaboration between AceXR and Springfield Armory. Viewing the controller from multiple angles makes clear how much the tactile experience drives the virtual trainer. It is a practical illustration of why hardware feel carries as much weight as software in an at-home shooting simulator. — Hardware this close to the production gun is why the Ace VR Shooting Simulator reads as a simulation rather than simply a “game.” Image: Ace

“Once you’re at the range, you have to set up targets, track scores, pick up brass, engage with range staff, and pack and reload the car when you’re done,” Donahue continued. “Once you’re home, you need to unpack the car and clean your equipment again. All of these things tend to reduce the frequency most shooters can get to the range. As a result, the vast majority of gun owners shoot only a few times a year.”

Ace Virtual Shooting can allow shooters to train more frequently and improve their skills, but it still isn’t meant to fully replace range time. Rather, it is meant to enhance it so that shooters can get the most out of it when they can get to the real-world range. It also allows training that would otherwise be financially infeasible for most individuals!

Efforts are now underway for custom range design.

Attracting An Older Crowd

Another benefit this simulation could offer is for older shooters, who aren’t as bound by time as by physical limitations. A large portion of the user base is over 50 and entirely new to VR. Thus, the customers aren’t “gamers” but rather shooting enthusiasts at heart.

The image shows an in-headset view of the Ace VR Shooting Simulator displaying shooting scores and run statistics. This is the real-time feedback the system provides after a stage, presented inside the virtual range. The data covers metrics such as speed, accuracy, precision and efficiency across each scenario. Tracking these numbers lets a shooter measure progress the way a competitor would at a live match. That performance feedback is part of what makes the at-home shooting simulator a genuine training tool rather than a game. Over time, the readouts show whether drills in draw, presentation and target transition are actually paying off. — Inside the headset, the Ace VR Shooting Simulator puts your scores and run data right in front of you. Speed, accuracy and efficiency all get measured. Image: Ace

“The vast majority of our users never owned or even used virtual reality technology before experiencing Ace Virtual Shooting. This speaks to the quality of the end-user experience, driving realism and real-world skill transfer.

Many of our users are in their 50s, 60s, or 70s,” said Donahue, and added that he recently had a conversation with one of our users who is in his 80s, and who has shot over 500,000 virtual rounds in Ace. “He stated that Ace has been a tremendous contributor to his enjoyment of life.”

For users of all ages, it is important to note that the simulation stresses gun safety, which Donahue told The Armory Life is a core tenet of the company’s philosophy. The virtual range has a highly visible board that reminds users of the primary firearm safety rules. Users who “break the 180” while on the range with their virtual firearm are immediately disqualified from the stage.

Additionally, Ace Virtual Shooting has no violence or human targets in its consumer product. The company is also constantly improving and evolving the product, and exploring additional ways to promote proper firearm safety and handling.

Making a Better Shooter

Even as Microsoft Flight Simulator likely won’t train a future U.S. Air Force pilot, the game could help spur interest in aviation. Likewise, and more importantly, the video game industry has seen several instances where individuals have transitioned from high-end racing simulations to the actual track. Programs such as GT Academy and, more recently, NASCAR’s development program have turned virtual racers into professional racers or supplemented their path to professional racing careers.

The image highlights the benefits of VR training with the Ace VR Shooting Simulator, a virtual range a shooter can run at home. Its biggest advantage is frequency, since users can practice without scheduling, driving or buying ammunition. For roughly the monthly cost of a small box of 9mm, a shooter can fire unlimited virtual rounds. The virtual trainer is effective at building pistol fundamentals such as draw, presentation, sight alignment and target transition. It also works for shooters of every level, from beginners to competitors and law enforcement keeping their skills sharp. Because the system stresses gun safety and real-world skill transfer, it is designed to enhance live range time rather than replace it. — VR training addresses the two biggest reasons most gun owners rarely practice: time and cost. With the Ace VR Shooting Simulator, the range comes to you and the only round you pay for is the subscription. Image: Ace

Ace Virtual Shooting could offer similar advantages for shooters.

“We have considerable anecdotal evidence, as a result of regular inbound customer feedback, that Ace builds meaningful skills,” said Donahue. “Ace is very effective at helping train the majority of the pistol shooting fundamentals. Ace is particularly effective at training draw, presentation, sight alignment with iron sights and red dot optics, target acquisition, accuracy, speed, target transition, and target identification. We hear stories of customers who have trained almost exclusively in Ace, subsequently show up at matches and achieve impressive results.”

The company has stated that its core, Ace, is a supportive community of members who share common interests. That includes an active Facebook group where members welcome new users every day, share tips, and celebrate achievements.

“More enjoyable than a traditional training tool and more realistic than a video game, it brings the range experience to your living room,” said Donahue.

The Springfield TRP Handset

A crucial component of the experience remains the firearm controller. Among those is the Springfield 1911 TRP Handset, which is aimed at the modern 1911 fan, offering a close approximation of the original’s weight and feel. Configured like the 5” rail-equipped model variant of the TRP, it is a reminder of how important the tactile experience with a simulation is.

The photo shows the Ace 1911 TRP handset displayed side by side with the live-fire Springfield Armory 1911 TRP pistol for comparison. Placing the two together highlights how closely the controller for the Ace VR Shooting Simulator matches the production gun. The replica reproduces the size, weight, texture and grip angle of the real pistol. That close congruence is what drives real-world skill transfer from the virtual trainer to live fire. AceXR and Springfield Armory worked together to keep a high degree of agreement between the handset and the production TRP. Matching the feel of the actual gun is what separates a true shooting simulation from a video game. — This side-by-side shows just how far Ace went to clone the production TRP. Matching the silhouette, grip angle and trigger is what makes practice on the simulator transfer so well to live fire. Image: Carson McDaniel

“We take great pride in the attention to detail in our handsets, including the Springfield TRP handset,” Donahue told The Armory Life. “The user experience with their handset is definitely an important aspect of what makes Ace Virtual Shooting special.”

The company also understands that there is tremendous brand loyalty and preference when it comes to firearms. Delivering a product that is the same size, weight, texture, and grip angle, and has the same trigger pull, is important for real-world skill transfer.

“Our partnership with Springfield is exciting, given the large market demand and enthusiasm for 1911 frames,” said Donahue. “The TRP is a terrific firearm, and both of our companies worked closely together to ensure a high degree of congruence between the live-fire weapon and the Ace 1911 TRP handset.”

Taking Aim

It should be noted that the Ace Virtual Shooting Simulation does require a bit of an upfront investment. Users do need to purchase the VR headset and handset. There is also a monthly subscription for the ACE Club, which is currently $19 per month (or a discounted rate of $168/year).

However, those costs can be quickly offset by the savings in ammunition, not to mention the money needed to drive to the range. This is also a good way to hone the skills regardless of the weather, season or even time of day. It requires very little physical space while simulating open swaths of land.

For those who simply can’t get enough range time, this could be like having an ace up your sleeve!

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