Airsoft For Training

[Harrylee]

As I’m sitting putting my streamlight on my gun for the night I thought I would pass on what I have gotten lately. I have been doing a lot of research and I have seen many train with airsoft, well I took the plunge once I found a direct copy of what I carry, sorry not a Kahr this time of the year but a XDM 3.8 45 compact. I was amazed how close this was to the real gun. I got this to practice pulling from my holster. I can do this in my shop with out a problem and has given me some insight. Some will say it doesn’t have recoil but what I wanted was first shot practice, now on first shot you do not worry about the recoil and shots after I do agree. I wish I could find a CM9 version but they do not exist. But it does give me the time to hone the skill that one day may be needed and I can do this at any given time of the day. Don’t get me wrong I love shooting live fire but this will help me develop the motor skills that are needed and seem to always get rusty. I like using a laser cartridge but with this it has a blow back design feels like a 22. So for a training tool I thing it’s great, it will never replace live fire but it’s hard to find a place where you can draw from the holster and practice. All the practice I have been doing is from a iwb holster and I can manage to do it in 1.5 seconds or less a distance of four yards self defense distance. So at that speed you don’t have time to use the sights this is where point shooting training comes into play. So I hope I don’t get beat up on this, but as said before it a great way to practice. On the photo of the target I use a 3"X3" post it and each hole represents a draw from the holster, I folded the back side of the holes in the paper for better viewing.By no means am I fast draw crack shot nor anything like that, this give me the means to get better

[muggsy]

Anyone who wants to beat you up had better check out your shooting before they reach for the key board. Just sayin.

[Bawanna]

My department utilizes air soft and sometimes simunition which is like a mini paint ball marking system.

We have AR's and Glocks. They work well in that the bad guy players can shoot back and let you know it's not like a paper target.

I agree that draw and first shot practice is very important.

Habit is a terrible thing to try and break. Had scenario's where an officer is standing at a car door with citation book and flashlight and pen when the driver presents a threat. Many don't compute that the citation book and pen are no longer important. Time to not whistle Dixie but go fer them guns ya know?

Us civilians are in the same boat, your polishing the chrome on your harley when the door crashes open, what cha gonna do. Act quickly, you don't want the polish to stay on the chrome too long.

[Harrylee]

Thanks muggsy means alot coming from you:)

[Bill K]

I'm with you 100%. I've been training/practicing with airsoft for years. Clear and draw, point and shoot are almost exclusively done with my airsoft pistols.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8360224@N04/8556201432/

[muggsy]

Thanks muggsy means alot coming from you:)

The only thing that you don't get with air soft is the noise and recoil. I think it's great practice. Damn sure better than not practicing. If you can duplicate it on the range with a firearm I'd say your in business. I call 'em as I see 'em.

[Harrylee]

If spring and a thaw EVER gets here I do have a place where I can do live fire but it doesn’t look likely soon with the next storm coming our way. So isn’t winter FUN!!!

[deadeye]

It does work. I found a Gamo P23 CO2 pistol to be very close to my CM9. Size and weight are very close and trigger pull is almost exact. Can practice in my garage or back yard. Was lucky to hit a 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper to begin with. Can now put my 9MM shots in a 4" circle. Still practicing.

[muggsy]

If spring and a thaw EVER gets here I do have a place where I can do live fire but it doesn’t look likely soon with the next storm coming our way. So isn’t winter FUN!!!

The next time I here someone say that man made global warming is a reality I may just lose it. :32:

[johnh]

I enjoy using airsoft to practice. The guns are relatively realistic--in particular the gas blowback models. I also occasionally participate in airsoft games at our local CQB arena. The environment is target rich. It will quickly remind you of things like pie the corners, no chicken wings, watch your six, etc.. Habits that have nothing to do with the platform used to practice. Apart from that, sights are realistic if you pick the right equipment, and you can use the same gear as your real equipment assuming you have correct airsoft analogues to the guns. Just be realistic in understanding that recoil, cover, malfunctions, penetration--all are missing, as are many other aspects of real gun function. It is what it is, and can serve to work on a set of skills that carry over to real defensive shooting--just not every skill.

[Harrylee]

Well I have been practicing with the airsoft for point shooting and have got the motor skills working. So yesterday I went down to the in door range at the gun club to throw some rounds down range, there was only one other guy there but he was finishing up. So I ended up having the range to myself for about 40 minutes that was real sweet so after shooting a bit thought I would try point shooting. Well I did better point shooting I think than with the sights stood back at 7 yds held the gun between my hip and shoulder high and about 3/4 reach out and this is what I got from my 9 round magazine. So muggsy I’m I getting it? And yes they are all 45 holes in the target and all 9 rounds hit

[AIRret]

HarryLee, I think it's an excellent idea!!
Anything that gets us thinking and moving in Self-defense mode is valuable and a lot more than many do!!

I hate it when I hear about CCW holders that only shoot once before they renew their license…………what it the world are they going to do when real trouble comes.
Another good one that I've actually heard a guy say was; "well, this is the gun I've been carrying but I haven't shot it yet because ammo. is too expensive!!!!!!