Airsoft as a training tool

[WarBoyNux]

You may have already seen this video, but it really got my attention and validates using airsoft as a training tool. It has some really good talking/writing points. I'm using airsoft more and more now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQDfwyUgtjg

I recall a video of a guy from Japan that had only airsoft training until he was invited to a range here in America to see if his experience would transfer over and surprisingly it transferred over pretty well.

Watching what enduro posted right now.

[rodralig]

Airsoft as a training tool

We dont even need to see that video from T.REX...

Circa 2004... https://www.airsoftforum.com/topic/8...eel-challenge/

[Munny$hot]

Airsoft is a great way to get training on a 2 way range especially CQB distances. The bad thing is I always get to the end at their respond area then I have to start from the beginning and go the other direction because there is more OPFOR going the other direction.

[sfvshooter]

Target at 7 yards. 5 & 7 yard results. Had shoot higher because BB bounced back when it hit 2x4 (center mass).

First time shooting anything in weeks. Oak Tree is still open so might go there tomorrow.

[CVShooter]

I have a BB pistol that is a Walther PPK clone. It's a CO2 blowback design. I'd love something similar with airsoft. I also wish there were airsoft versions of Kahr firearms to help practice that loooooong double action trigger. Oh well.

Besides Glocks & Beretta 92s, what other replica blowback airsoft guns are out there?

[rodralig]

The blog looks interesting. One thing I would like to see is a basic article on how to get started.

So let's say you have sold me. I want to get into Airsoft. How do I start? What do I need to buy? Where should I buy stuff from? Online or physical store? Any laws I should be aware of?

I will answer based on the perspective of coming from real firearms going into Airsoft (and not the other way around):

1. Firearms safety rules - What applies to firearms, should also be strictly applied, practiced and strongly enforced when using Airsoft.
2. Firearms fundamentals - Same thing will apply to Airsoft. Stance, grip, sight alignment, sight picture, trigger control and follow-through.
3. Laws - Yeah, unfortunately the laws are quite convoluted that you need to do some research on what is allowed or not allowed in your precise locality. In my case, I live in LA County; but the laws are somewhat different in the City of LA.
4. Just order some an Airsoft pistol of your choice, a CO2 source, pellets, and a target. You should be good to go. A reminder, though - again, firearm safety rules should also be applied to Airsoft.

As for shops, Google is your friend. There are a lot...

For example, in James blog...

I'm contributing to an airsoft blog aimed to write articles on airsoft as a training tool more so than the recreational playing aspect of airsoft.

you'd find this:

https://store.kwausa.com/product/at-home-training/ (which, unfortunately, is out of stock) but can be found from other retailers:

https://ballahackairsoft.com/product...-training-kit/ (again, Google is your friend)


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[JazzStandard]

I'm interested in cross training with airsoft replicas of my glock 19 gen 5 and AR15 with MLOK rails. I would really like to buy used if possible to save on money for real gun gear/ammo. Anybody got tips on what models to look for etc? I know that Umarex doesn't have a G19 Gen5 but they do have a 19X so I wasn't sure if I get that or just get a gen 3 glock 19. Not sure how well they'll fit in my holsters

[ghilligan]

[*]Laws - Yeah, unfortunately the laws are quite convoluted that you need to do some research on what is allowed or not allowed in your precise locality. [/LIST]

I looked into the possibility of doing 2-way "tactical" training by running around with friends in one of the many city, county, and state parks or wilderness areas in the Bay Area, and all of them pretty much explicitly ban any kind of airsoft or bb gun use.

Other than in your back yard or at a sanctioned airsoft event, it looks like practicing with airsoft in CA is as hard as finding a place to shoot real guns.

I suppose we could run around doing tactical drills on BLM land.

I dabbled with paintball years ago, playing on teams in an "urban" environment, and my biggest take-away was how easy it was to get shot in some random place like your foot or elbow when you think you're behind cover, or from behind while moving positions, especially when there are multiple shooters running around and "bullets" flying everywhere.

I agree that drills with realistic airsoft guns are a great training aid, in the same way dry firing is, and range time with real guns is great and I love USPSA-type shooting, but nothing beats 2-way range time with airsoft or paintball for practicing how to move around, maintain cover, and survive in "real world" scenarios.

[tuna quesadilla]

I'm interested in cross training with airsoft replicas of my glock 19 gen 5 and AR15 with MLOK rails. I would really like to buy used if possible to save on money for real gun gear/ammo. Anybody got tips on what models to look for etc? I know that Umarex doesn't have a G19 Gen5 but they do have a 19X so I wasn't sure if I get that or just get a gen 3 glock 19. Not sure how well they'll fit in my holsters

I have the Umarex Gen 3 G19 and it's a really impressive clone of my real Gen 3 G19. The weight distribution is a little off, and the trigger isn't quite the same, but otherwise it's a really good clone and it does fit in my G19 holsters.

[JazzStandard]

What are your thoughts on potentially using airsoft to practice room clearing in your own house or doing force on force training of that sort? I figured that actually shooting BBs around the house would be an annoyance to clean and maybe could even damage stuff, but I guess it was a thought I had that would potentially be better than going around with your unloaded firearms.

I am aware that it would be difficult to legally practice airsoft in public places so that is a bummer. I'll have to check on the availability of airsoft matches to get more of that. Has anybody ever been to the Evike store? Apparently there's an indoor CQC arena there that actually looks like a fantastic place to do some force on force type of stuff https://combatzonecqc.com

[tuna quesadilla]

Airsoft BBs will break glass and dent your drywall, so you definitely don't want to do that around the house. I also wouldn't recommend doing force-on-force training on your own without a qualified trainer present--otherwise, you have no idea what you're actually doing right and wrong, and you're more likely to be cementing bad habits.

[The War Wagon]

I can see where, if living in a big city, under the Newscum Regime, and where range availability might be limited, Airsoft would be a good tool.

I'M in a big city, but a free state; range time IS available, but my time is limited. So I prefer the .22 LR trainer (dedicated AR, Ruger Mk.III 22/45 - as I'm a 1911 guy) at this point.

Airsoft has clearly come a LONG ways over the years. Amped Airsoft used to be about 2 miles from me, and my local FUDD gunshop wasn't carrying Magpul yet. They capitalized on that, and carried REAL Magpul gear, in addition to their Airsoft line, which was incredibly eye-opening to see!

[Verdha603]

Honestly airsoft does provide some decent uses that can forward your skill as a shooter.

For example, I can't easily take my AR-15 or Sig P226 and run around a fairly large room or field, aim, and fire at moving targets, whereas airsoft lets you do so in a safe, controlled environment, and without having to spend a couple hundred bucks a pop for scheduled training sessions with blue guns and simunitions from one of the various "shooting academies" multiple times. I think I sunk about 400 bucks into safety equipment, an airsoft rifle and pistol, and just incorporated most of my already owned gear with it and I was ready to go.

I can test my plate carrier and magazine pouch setups in an airsoft game to see if I can run in it, access the items I need to in a timely manner under stress, and see in real life what the various screw ups will occur with the kit I wanted to run with. Common ones included finding out my pouch had too much stuffed up front, making going prone a pain in the rear end, causing me to more evenly distribute and strip down what I put on the carrier. It forced me to invest money in a drop-leg holster for a battle belt to clear the plate carrier and run my handgun items and personal IFAK on a belt while rifle items and a team IFAK went on the plate carrier. I also learned trying to incorporate a hydration source onto a plate carrier is also a pain in the butt, and a 1-liter mini-Camelbak that you can tie down with plastic clips and paracord is better than the 3-liter one sloshing around and coming loose every time you decide to go faster than a brisk walk.

Lastly, it provides me a way to practice my shooting in my own backyard without scaring the bejesus out of the neighbors if it was an air gun or actual firearm, both of which are illegal to discharge in city limits where I live. Considering Covid's restricted access to ranges and I'd prefer to do something other than dry-fire/clean/reload my firearms and ammo for the umpteenth time, it gives me a way to not let my shooting skills get rusty.

[Garand Hunter]

BIIGG diference between pulling the trigger on a airsoft rig and pulling the trigger on a real rifle/pistol that fires a real bullet at a target, person, animal, etc. Consequence of a very serious nature follows the real cartridge firing a bullet or shot pellets at whatever target is used.

Psalm 1

[Gun Kraft]

Would love any thoughts/opinions you folks have or any questions you'd like me to either answer/speak on or write about.

I'm also a KWA LEO ambassador who helps agencies transition into using KWA airsoft products with their training programs so everything sorta blends together nicely for me :-)

Maybe not the kind of question you were thinking of, but I have a number of KWA 1911 MKIVs. I can never get a full gas charge in the 21 round magazines. Sometimes they'll shoot less than 10 rounds before running dry. What's the deal?