Blue Gun Question

[Captains1911]

I'm thinking about buying a Glock 19 Blue Gun mostly to practice drawing, and also as a trainer for new shooters. I see that you can by them "weighted" so that they weigh the same as the real thing. My question is, does that weight also account for ammo in a loaded magazine, and if so, is it realistically concentrated in the grip, or is it just the weight of the unloaded gun? Just trying to decide if it's worth paying extra for the weighted option. Thanks.

 

[mrcylinder]

Good question

I have found out, no they don't. They say they are weighted to feel the same but I found out they do not distribute the weight the same as a fully loaded real version of what you would carry. Total weight, yes they are close. I have however and you can to, weigh the thing down in what ever manner you wish. I drilled and dug out the rubber and put pieces of wheel weight in the handle/barrel then sealed it up with 100% silicone. Some have stiffening ribs in them and finding a sweet spot to do it in would be a challenge. I was using the solid rubber ones as they were cheaper. You could use BBs etc....Just a suggestion you might consider if you can't find one to serve your purpose exactly, I appreciated the Safety First!!

 

[Dr. Sandman]

I would use a real Glock 19, and a real loaded mag, without one in the chamber. If you wanted to do dry fire stuff, you would have to get some inert/dummy ammo of some kind. Have you considered this? If so, why wouldn't you go this route? Or is this something that you want to pack and work on while on vacation?

 

[Captains1911]

I would use a real Glock 19, and a real loaded mag, without one in the chamber. If you wanted to do dry fire stuff, you would have to get some inert/dummy ammo of some kind. Have you considered this? If so, why wouldn't you go this route? Or is this something that you want to pack and work on while on vacation?

Because I don't want to practice drawing with a loaded firearm, and this is easier and SAFER than having to unload and reload every time. I wasn't asking about opinions on whether or not to use a blue gun, I was asking a specific question regarding the blue gun options.

 

[M-Cameron]

It seems like to get what you want, you would have to do a fair amount of modification to a blue gun.....

If I were you, I would buy a mag, Remove the spring and follower, and epoxy in some lead shot.... Then paint the mag yellow to mark it as a 'dummy' mag. And simply use that for drawing and dry fire practice.

 

[Captains1911]

It seems like to get what you want, you would have to do a fair amount of modification to a blue gun.....

If I were you, I would buy a mag, Remove the spring and follower, and epoxy in some lead shot.... Then paint the mag yellow to mark it as a 'dummy' mag. And simply use that for drawing and dry fire practice.

Thanks, but that would still require me to UNLOAD my gun every time I want to practice, which is what I'm trying to avoid.

 

[average_shooter]

I see you're trying to avoid unloading your carry pistol to practice, but for the most realistic draw practice I've had good luck with swapping the barrel for a training barrel. You can insert a loaded magazine for realistic weight distribution and there is absolutely zero chance of a round being chambered or fired.

 

[Frank Ettin]

Because I don't want to practice drawing with a loaded firearm, and this is easier and SAFER than having to unload and reload every time. I wasn't asking about opinions on whether or not to use a blue gun, I was asking a specific question regarding the blue gun options....

1. We make extensive use of "blue" inert training guns in our Basic Handgun classes, and as far as I can recall those we use are weighted and balanced to reasonably mimic a real loaded gun.
   
   
2. Drawing a "blue gun" will provide rather limited practice of your draw stroke because you will not be able to include a trigger press as part of the exercise. Thus you will be programing yourself to either draw without pressing the trigger or to draw and press on an inert trigger providing no feedback as to whether or not your trigger press was good. This might lead to a tendency to mash the trigger.
   
   
3. Safe dry practice with your actual carry gun, requiring diligent clearing and removal of ammunition from the area, is a significant hassle; but it is still one of the best and easiest ways to develop and maintain proficiency.
   
   
4. And by using inert training magazines one can safely practice not only one's draw stroke and trigger press, but also reloading.

 

[Captains1911]

1. We make extensive use of "blue" inert training guns in our Basic Handgun classes, and as far as I can recall those we use are weighted and balanced to reasonably mimic a real loaded gun.
   
   
2. Drawing a "blue gun" will provide rather limited practice of your draw stroke because you will not be able to include a trigger press as part of the exercise. Thus you will be programing yourself to either draw without pressing the trigger or to draw and press on an inert trigger providing no feedback as to whether or not your trigger press was good. This might lead to a tendency to mash the trigger.
   
   
3. Safe dry practice with your actual carry gun, requiring diligent clearing and removal of ammunition from the area, is a significant hassle; but it is still one of the best and easiest ways to develop and maintain proficiency.
   
   
4. And by using inert training magazines one can safely practice not only one's draw stroke and trigger press, but also reloading.

Thanks, there are some things there I hadn't thought of.

 

[Papadoc1701]

Try a 'green gas' air soft Glock. Has the weight, heft, and with air soft ammo all the properties of the real thing, even the looks. Since you will be carrying the real weapon loaded, you can find out real fast if your training is correct. With out doing any damage to yourself or others.

 

[Dr. Sandman]

Because I don't want to practice drawing with a loaded firearm, and this is easier and SAFER than having to unload and reload every time. I wasn't asking about opinions on whether or not to use a blue gun, I was asking a specific question regarding the blue gun options.

Whoa, there, gator! I'm just trying to help. I would imagine that you would never draw a loaded firearm in real life, anyway. After all, where would you get the ammo?

All joking aside, spend your money on something other than a blue gun.


ETA: What is the big deal with unloading your gun anyway? Especially with a weighted dummy mag? It is really not involved or difficult at all.

 

[Hypnogator]

For laser training with our MILO simulators, we use a red Glock with a blue weighted training magazine. The red Glock can actually chamber cartridges, but cannot fire them, as there is no firing pin or even a firing pin hole in the breach face. The trigger is modified to reset automatically so you can get multiple "firing pin" strikes just by repeatedly pulling the trigger, without having to reset the slide. That's what activates the simulator lasers.

Downsides: The ATF considers the training Glock to be a "gun" so it must be purchased under the same rules as you would a live Glock. Also, they're a lot more expensive than the blue guns. The last one I bought was $580.

 

[Blackstone]

Why are you worried about unloading your gun? You should be confident in your ability to handle it safely

 

[Al Thompson]

One of the better 40 dollar purchases I've made was a blue G19. I've found that teaching gross gunhandling skills with a blue gun to have much less stress on all involved.

As for the finer skills (trigger control, reloads), the yellow training barrels that replace the real barrel appear to be a good use of 15 bucks or so.

As for using a loaded magazine (real cartridges) in conjunction with dry fire,

BAD IDEA.


Sure as heck, when you reload that puppy and cycle the slide by habit, you'll get a bang (!) when you expected a "click".

Dry firing is an inherently dangerous activity and adding ammo into the mix is just begging for a hole in something. Kathy Jackson has a great read on how to safely dry fire here:

http://www.corneredcat.com/article/practice-time/dry-fire-safety/

 

[Captains1911]

Why are you worried about unloading your gun? You should be confident in your ability to handle it safely

I only chamber a defensive round of ammunition 3-4 times before I take it out of carry circulation. By having to unload and reload everytime I may want to practice a little I go through a lot of expensive and now hard to find defensive ammo.