I had the interesting opportunity to test this out last night when a friend invited me to an airsoft facility for a "CQB" game. A local team in nearby Springfield, Missouri, was hosting the event and invited the public to come in. The facility "SOGO Airsoft" is very impressive, with a good range of guns, gear, and the owner is a great guy. The game was 6 hours with a break for dinner, provided by the owner's charming wife. Rental guns were available of various sorts. I drew a full metal AR in an SBR configuration, Echo 1 brand. I understand this to be entry level but it worked quite well for me. The hosts setup some evenly matched teams for initial play, then attempted to conduct some scenarios built around fictional counter-terrorist action. Let me make a few comments based on this.
First the opportunity to work with replica gear is beneficial. Airsoft handily beats paintball in this respect. I have participated in paintball and can tell you it has very little to do with real training. Other than the paintballs being a better indicator someone is hit, there are no advantages to paintball over airsoft for training. Having a replica airsoft gun in hand with similar weight, sights, controls, and feel to a real firearm is worth a great deal. In my case I am used to optics, but had none so was back to using my irons. Good practice and review of basics. It certainly did not hamper me significantly, and I felt very good that I was making consistent hits with irons when rapidly engaging targets close in and with plenty of cover around. The gun felt like an AR, and this is a good thing for practice purposes. Mags were the right shape and locked in as with a real gun. I thus got to practice mag changes, and use the selector properly. SOGO Airsoft's rules did not require that I put the weapon on safe when moving back to my team's "safe area", but I did anyway just to keep practicing properly. One can train as one wants, focusing on skills you feel are important in such an open environment. Another advantage to replica weapons is that the other gear you use with real guns will work. Mag pouches, LBE, slings, optics, lights, etc. all will work with a quality replica. Train like you fight fits here better than it does with paintball or simple target shooting.
Second the environment of an actual airsoft "game" gives you the chance to shoot moving targets that shoot back; work on team tactics; work on your own ability to move while using cover and working your weapon; and develop your situational awareness. This sort of thing is quite valuable and not something you gain shooting at the range. Competition shooting helps, but pretty much is an individual activity. Airsoft can give you a group/team experience. Bring your buddies, your gear, your radios, and work together. It is nice to have that opportunity. The admins did attempt to do some scenarios. They could use some help in making realistic ones, but I did not interject. I tried to keep from being the know-it-all, so intentionally did not intervene to suggest tactics or weapons use. This was costly given many mistakes were made in the scenario events, but I hate it when people butt into my world and tell me what to do so I was not about to do this in their game.
Having said all that I was disappointed to see some of the same issues I saw with paintball, or I suppose any other "sport". At least one of the facility regulars was cheating. I had a clear center mass line on him at one point and engaged with two double-taps. He then shot me in the face, and I walked out. I did not hear him call "hit" or walk out. I really doubt I missed him at 15m. He also repeatedly shot visiting players at point blank range multiple times in the back. I am old and tough, so pain matters not to me. It does to a 13 year old kid. I was polite, but my patience can wear thin and were this to happen again would likely be in his face. Again I am old and tough...
It is unfortunate that some people begin to feel winning a "game" trumps other values in participating. This same fellow had been explaining earlier that any modification to their airsoft guns that gave them an edge was more important than keeping the guns realistic. He clearly had decided that his winning the game was more important than any learning to be gained from this very interesting sport. He is the sort of fellow that ruins a sport. I would hope that attitude does not prevail as we shooters have all seen this go to extremes in our sport's competition arenas. Eventually you end up with firearms that have little to do with practical shooting. I can envision airsoft shooters with giant backpacks containing 100,000 pellets spraying from a hose. Replica flamethrower perhaps?
Anyway, I suggest you try it if you can find players with character. It is a good way to train at reasonable cost. Of course some of these fellows had spent enough on their airsoft guns to buy real guns, but I hardly think that is necessary.
John
