Video games have come a long way since the Big Buck Hunter arcade game you used to play for a dollar at your favorite restaurant. The accompanying short orange, plastic pump-action shotgun with open sights was great for an arcade game, but bad for actual shooting practice.

Shooting practice, of course, has traditionally come in the form of getting to the range. But with the cost of ammunition currently, shooting once a week can hurt the wallet. That’s why virtual reality is finding a way into the hunting and shooting realm.

Watch the GAIM Hunting & Shooting Simulator in Action!!

What is GAIM?

We’ve all read fiction novels such as "Ender’s Game" or "Ready Player One" where characters live in dystopian societies and video games have replaced real-life. Fast forward to today, and now, video games are not far from what we’ve read in those books.  

Virtual reality (VR) is quite literally, the technology of the future. With the use of a headset, users experience a simulated environment with scenes and objects that are so realistic that, at times, it’s hard to remember you’re using a video game headset. VR has been used to teach doctors how to perform heart surgery, and now, the hunting and shooting simulator, GAIM, is using it to teach shooting skills.

GAIM, from the brains behind scope manufacturer Aimpoint, is bringing hunters a VR game like no other. Aimpoint, known for their red dot scopes for both military and hunting use, wanted hunters to be able to practice shooting with their red dot sights at any time of day, and in any location. GAIM, thanks to VR technology, puts hunters in the heart of a hunt or on the trap field.

The GAIM simulator is specially designed for bird hunters utilizing Aimpoint’s Micro S-1 red dot sight. The S-1 attaches to the rib of your shotgun and helps shooters find their point of impact with a low-profile red dot that helps with instinctive shooting, rather than aiming. This can take time to get used to, and the GAIM simulator helps users become comfortable using the sight and make a seamless transition when going from the simulation to using their Micro S-1 in the field.

Inside the GAIM Simulator

Users must own a Meta Quest or Meta Quest 2 headset to play the GAIM. The GAIM package comes with a wood stock (non-adjustable), a Bluetooth trigger system, and the software bundle for your Meta Quest headset.

Inside the game, bird hunters can practice on a duck hunt, pheasant hunt, 5-stand, on the trap range, and more. Additionally, the game has options for big game hunting such as a driven boar hunt, moose hunting, fallow deer hunts, and more.

Particularly great about the GAIM simulator is you can see in real time your point of impact, giving you a visual of how far behind, or in front, you are when shooting. It allows new hunters to see good form, follow throughs, and more. Additionally, the headset can be streamed in real time to a TV, so that mentors can guide mentees while they practice within the game.

The simulations make you feel as if you’re sitting in a duck blind or standing on a trap course, complete with realistic noises such as duck calls and pheasant cackles. Users have to move realistically, scanning the skies for incoming birds, making the simulation very life-like.

The GAIM simulation is great for practice in any location, at any time. It allows users to visually see their point of impact while shooting and allows for shooting repetition without breaking the bank. However, it’s important to remember that it is a simulation only. It doesn’t mimic recoil, and you are shooting at virtual animals rather than live ones. It allows for you to get practice reps in the home, but it’s important to hit the trap or sporting clays course multiple times as well to put your simulation skills to the test.