training with airsoft for action shooting sports?

[shooterx10]

Given the still sky high ammo prices, does anyone use airsoft as a supplement for live fire training for shooting sports such as USPSA, 3-gun, steel challenge, etc.?

I setup a mini COF (course of fire) in my garage. Yes, the Texas Star is a hoot to shoot.

https://ibb.co/8x3Fg5H

[PeteH]

I use laser ammo which is airsoft and a projector. It is great to stay tuned up-the only thing I've noticed is the much lower recoil with airsoft makes you need to readjust to higher recoil after the first shot to stay on target with real steel.

[G-forceJunkie]

Why not, other than recoil control, alot of training can be done with Airsoft.

[shooterx10]

Here are some of the airsoft I used to supplement my training.

The KWA RM4 has a kinetic feedback system to simulate recoil. But, it's more like a 22lr than a 223. The weight of the rifle is similar to a real one unloaded.

The Jag Arms shotgun and AW Custom pistol are gas powered, but the recoil is nothing like that of the real thing. But, the handling and manipulation of both are similar to their real steel cousins.

https://ibb.co/0q5hjqy

[brassburnz]

I have a little airsoft range in my backyard. I use the targets from Tactrainers. I have a few of the 4" plate racks and the Texas Star. I also made some reactive targets from stuff I had around the garage. Fun stuff.

https://tactrainers.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAvqGcBhCJARIsAFQ5ke650mVHqzFbARefRC-oP2UeaXWRMR7PBnvpooHLyKd3bqtMY6miJdQaAgADEALw_wcBhttps://tactrainers.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAvqGcBhCJARIsAFQ5ke650mVHqzFbARefRC-oP2UeaXWRMR7PBnvpooHLyKd3bqtMY6miJdQaAgADEALw_wcB

[SharedShots]

If you use airsoft that are the very close replicants of the real deal, the huge benefit is handling. The one thing often overlooked or not given enough emphasis is that just handling the firearm as much as practical is highly beneficial. Take the Glocks, the HKs, the 1911s and Berettas for example. There are models that can use the very same holsters, the mag gear, the works and handle just like their true firearm counterpart. Often, the weight is almost identical. If they have green gas or CO2 they even have some recoil, like a super light target load.

It's the hands-on handling part. The more you have hands on, the more natural the feel. The thing is that it's pretty inexpensive to use although the gun prices aren't exactly cheap for good ones and you can do it in places where you might not want to with a real firearm.

On a cold day when your home alone you can even run training in your house, something nearly impossible with the real deal unless you use one of those dry fire accessories and then they are far less realistic than the green gas blowback models.

You can make cutouts from those styro insulation panels, the 3-4" thick ones and get at least some handling and trigger pulls going. It's never going to be true to life but its as close as you can get and often all you can get inside your own home.

So long as you don't get carried away and start replacing live fire with airsoft it's another good tool.

I always if possible, follow up any airsoft handling with live fire the next day so that last memory is live fire. It's very easy to fall into the trap of thinking airsoft is a replacement instead of just augmenting you practice. You also need very good discipline to insure you don't mix airsoft and live firearms together. The Glocks for example, appear identical except for the red muzzle end. It's not just with airsoft because enough people load the wrong ammo in their firearms and shoot them too so...





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[Jamez]

A lot of shooters don't realize the quality of current airsoft products so they're easy to overlook.

I used to set up stages and run them in the backyard before competitions.

here's some range ideas for targets and backstops. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HE4sclaxv4

[Blu808]

[shooterx10]

Thanks Jamez for the youtube link. That video was very informative. I never would have thought airsoft pellets can dent a cookie sheet that much.

For those of you who shoot pistol caliber carbine (PCC), EMG now has a gas blow back version. It takes the same mags as the Elite Force Glock pistols. The mags are shared across both platforms, just like their real steel counterparts.

https://www.evike.com/products/80124/

[shooterx10]

airsoft transitions to real firearms?

This was from several years ago, but still relevant today.

https://youtu.be/qQDfwyUgtjg

[j1133s]

For action pistol, if you can't shoot, then I think just using your competition gun (unloaded of course) and do some holster drills, mag changes, and dry firing is very effective practice.

[ronlglock]

How about a Laser-Ammo Airsoft conversion? Shoots lasers at their targets or Mantis.

Nothing to clean up and you get the same recoil. I?ve written several articles about using them on Police1.