airsoft training?

toyfreak

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
289
Location
Piedmont ok
For the guys that aren't really good already, like Jesse. What do you think about training with Airsoft. I have been looking are some high cap 2011's. Even though I probably won't ever own a real one, they look like they could do a noob like my self some good fundamental Wise.
I wannna set up some real stages in my shop or my garage. I shoot about 2 times a week at my home range but its so hard for my wife to holler at me out there.
If you do use them, what gun do you shoot?
 
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Who's Jesse?

Chris Andersen used Airsoft training to take his game to the next level. I have a 2011 and a couple of Glocks. I just need to get my garage right so I don't shoot the place up.
 
We drank more beer than shooting that night. Good times. That reminds me I still need to fix all 3 of my airsoft guns. JP is half Asian. Maybe he knows how to fix them?
 
We drank more beer than shooting that night. Good times. That reminds me I still need to fix all 3 of my airsoft guns. JP is half Asian. Maybe he knows how to fix them?
they would only be half right......
I can take them to the shop close to my work if you want.

BTW: I forgot to tell you I finally found my mag about 2 weeks ago.
 
How much accuracy could one expect from an airsoft? And could somebody change the name to something less gay? airballs? blowback training pistol (BTP)? blowballs?

Actually, two of those are gay as well. I suppose the name is just doomed to latent homosexuality.
 
How much accuracy could one expect from an airsoft? And could somebody change the name to something less gay? airballs? blowback training pistol (BTP)? blowballs?

Actually, two of those are gay as well. I suppose the name is just doomed to latent homosexuality.

I don't care what the rest of the world does, I'm calling them blowballs from now on!!!

Hey OP, check out Airsoft Tulsa if you're ever in the area. I imagine OKC has something similar. The challenge for me has been finding one with a firearm-like trigger feel.
 
They are good for training your eyes, but are no substitute for live fire practice...IMO.
 
I use an airsoft that matches my actual pistol I compete with. They can help replace the blue gun with a functioning slide - mag release and you can shoot it. You can pull the trigger and be almost 100% safe. Jesse I can fix anything!
 
All this Airsoft stuff is entertaining. But segueing back to topic, you should just dry-fire and practice pointing. It's great training. I point-shoot better than I aim-shoot, and I'm assuming it's all the dry-fire training and pointing. If you whip your gun out and point it at a lamp (or anything) a hundred times, and each time correct your aim using the sights, you'll eventually be able to draw and point to the POA without using your sights. Then you can work on trigger control. This is my method, and it's been a great success.
I read that someone on one of the forums bought a cheap-o Nagant revolver to practice trigger control. I should do that.
 
here is my toy
Airsoft.jpg


Airsoft 2.jpg
 
Airsoft training is very similar to dry fire training. The big difference is airsoft gives you feedback and that makes it more fun.
 
Airsoft has helped me tremendously. With a good blow-back style gun you have a suprising amount of recoil and can build all sorts of drills around them. Sights are moving just like a real gun so you have something to watch from shot to shot. Manipulation, etc is nearly identical to my STI's...it even fits the holster. I usually try and end with a little dry fire or reload practice with my real gun. This has transitioned really well for me into actual matches.

I use a Tokyo Marui Hi Capa 5.1. There are several versions of that gun available for as cheap as about $90. Several guys on the board have a WE Hi Capa 5.1. Those are all metal and very well built. I prefer the Marui because it is all plastic and the lighter slide actually means more recoil as well as uses less propellant. They are a bit more expensive, I believe I paid $150 for mine. When you handle one of the high end guns it becomes really apparent why they are so expensive though. Plus if you think about what it would cost to shoot 15000 or so live training rounds over the winter through a real gun, $150 doesnt sound like much at all.

Accuracy is reasonably good out to about 25 feet, which is realistically as far as you would ever shoot it in practice. With my gun I can just about put them in the same hole at 10-15 feet.

For targets, BAMairsoft.com has some really good scale plate racks, poppers, etc that are perfect for drills. They are great guys that shoot IPSC so they know what works for training and have developed some pretty cool stuff.

I think probably one of the best benifits was brought up by toyfreak. Going out to the garage for a half hour or each night takes a much smaller toll on family time that a trip to the range no matter how close it is. Also, knowing you can get a good practice session in when there is snow on the ground is a good feeling. In the past 6 months I have shot very few live rounds between matches relative to the amount I was doing when I originally started shooting USPSA. But I have been diligent with the airsoft/dryfire stuff and had very good success with it.

Make sure you are doing the RIGHT kind of practice and not just spraying pellets around though. It is very easy to take the fact that those pellets are practically free and start screwing around. You need to treat it like it is a real gun shooting real bullets and make your shots count like you would in a match. If you havent taken a class from anyone yet, pick up a copy of Mike Seeklanders book. It is full of excellent drills that you can implement with an airsoft gun and keep your practices productive.
 
How thick are those steel targets from BAM. i'm going to make some poppers and plates. I just want to make sure i don't make'em to thick so they will fall.
What brand guns do you have Jesse?
 
I have two Glock 17's that you really can't find anymore. I also have one of those WE Hi capa guns Chris mentioned. Chris picked mine up from Manny Bragg at a match. We figured the metal slide with the added weight was the way to go until Chris shot the metal slide versions a bunch and went back to the plastic slide gun.

I haven't shot mine very much. I bought the guns but never go the tarps and targets rigged up in the garage. I bought a bunch if BAM targets this winter then broke my ankle so I didn't get to shoot again. Next winter I'm gonna wear out those things.
 
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