Aaaahhhh! The wonders of Open Source. What we love about Open Source is the community of sharing in which airsoft itself has benefitted from. Many forums and websites related to airsoft use open source web applications such as content management systems. But an Open Source Project wants to bring airsoft front and center, in a way.

Called HomeLESS (Home LASER Shooting Simulator), it is a Bullet Free Shooting System which is basically a laser-based target simulator system that you can build yourself. If you want to practice some target shooting with the use of your airsoft gun and do it within the confines of your home, especially when it's cold outside, then building HomeLESS could help you improve your shooting skills in a safe and cost-efficient way. Apart from that, you can also improve your DIY and programming skills by building the system.

How did the project start?  Well, here's what the project owners say:

"The project started for need of training shooting according to the rules ISSF air rifle and air pistol. Of course it is possible to use the simulator for purposes other than training according to ISSF rules. The aim was, among other things save time required to visit the shooting range. With the simulator you can shoot almost anywhere, anytime. You can train at home on the corridor or even in the living room. Hit Analyzer allows you to adjust the shooting conditions to match the distances in the real shooting range. For example, shooting at 25 meters you can train at 5 meters. One of the users using simulator Hit Analyzer to train shooting at 300 meters in the living room. [sic] He using a target size of 16mm."

To build a HomeLESS System, there are four components:

Hit Analyzer. This is the most important part of the HomeLESS as this the freely downloadable cross-platform (Linux and MS Windows) software. You can set the settings, the shooting conditions, and also serve as the shooting log.  Since it is open source, if you have some programming skills, you can modify or improve on it. But since it is open source, you should provide the source code showing the changes you made when you start sharing it others.

LaBr Gun (Laser Brander Gun). This is a laser gun that build yourself using the Laser Module installed on an airsoft gun (or any 1:1 scale replica of the gun you want to use). Putting together and configuring a LaBr gun is included in the link.

Paper Targets.  In order for the Hit Analyzer to work, it will need the special target files that that have the "tgt" suffix. Each target file contains the dimensions, target type, and name of target. Users can easily add their own targets.

Web Cam. This should be a webcam attached to the computer in which the Hit Analyzer is installed. It requires a minimum resolution 640 x 480 resolution and 30 frames per second. The  Hit Analyzer uses the Web Cam to record the target shooting for it to analyze the shot and show a report.

It’s a project indeed but anyone is free to use this system without paying the HomeLESS project owners (though they will appreciate a donation so they can be motivated further to work on the project).  Also, the sharing of modifications and improvements on the code will help the HomeLESS project evolve, especially the Hit Analyzer software.

So if you have a lot of time in your hands when the snow starts falling and you want to have some trigger time whilst being in the warmth comfort of home, then why not build a HomeLESS system for yourself? It is a safe way of shooting targets at home, and you can invite your airsoft team mates to join you and do some shooting competitions.