Using Airsoft for Self Defense Training/Practice

[karlrehn]

A scan of an article I wrote back in 2002 for SWAT magazine can be found here
http://www.krtraining.com/KRTraining/Archive/SWAT-Karl1.pdf
It covers a lot of useful info about using Airsoft guns in training.

Running good FoF training requires a totally different skill set than teaching live fire marksmanship skills: scenario design, roleplayer scripting, debriefing, and more. Most of the bad FoF training I'm aware of is usually conducted with little/no planning, or is run by shooting instructors who think that because guns are involved, that skill in running live fire drills equates to FoF instructor skill (much in the same way that shooters assume that skill at live fire is all that's required to do well in FoF).

Airsoft guns are also useful in pure live fire skill development. There's a group of shooters from Japan that come over for the Steel Challenge every year. They practice all year round with Airsoft guns, and only get to shoot real guns and ammo during the week before the match when they arrive in California. One of the Japanese shooters won the match several years ago, beating Leatham, Jarrett and the rest. Several of them are regularly in the top 20. Ted Bonnet (IPSC GM/World champ) told me once that he dry fired 10 times at home for every shot he planned to fire at the range. Most shooters dramatically underestimate/undervalue the benefits of dry and Airsoft-based practice because it's just not as much fun as the big noise and smoke and recoil you get shooting live ammo.

Karl

 

[Shadow 7D]

What the Lt. told me when he was unlocking the hand cuff was that he bet that swat officer never would leave a weapon near a BG again, no mater how "down" they were. Non Lethal lets you screw up and only have welts to show for it.

I'm just glad nobody has brought up laser tag, er, MILES.

 

[jackdanson]

I think paint ball shooting fit in the same bill. That is a point shoot sport, so they have some skills at point shooting.

I used to be very into paintball. When I got into firearms I discovered I was a "natural" at point shooting.. I don't think it is a coincidence.

 

[conw]

I think the main problem with paintball is you use weapons totally different from weapons you'd use in a life or death encounter, and paintballs don't shoot through concealment like trees. This leads to people developing tactics (offensive and defensive) that really don't translate to real life. Then you have the problem of being able to lob paintballs, etc.

 

[JCisHe]

Paintballs splatter through trees and coverage like pallets...

They work really well actually and like Jackdanson said... they really help with point shooting because you don't have sights and have to get used to pointing in the direction you are looking towards and hitting what you are looking at.

Paintball is a good way. I haven't played airsoft but I hear they sting real good. I think the only benefit airsoft would have is that you have a real weapon (mock up) with actual ammo in magazines, etc...

That would seem to be a real advantage over paintball.

That's my .02

Regards,
Beau

 

[Hush]

Airsoft is a great, but often overlooked training medium. We use it here in MA for training with local PD's. Negative feedback from airsoft usually comes from inferior guns, and improper maintenance. They are finicky, but they do accurately represent the actual size, weight, operation, and short range ballistics of real steel firearms. They are also cheaper to run than sims/paintball. You can use them in any environment without risk of injury/damage. Sims usually require a special facility and an EMT present, with airsoft you can train in the local high-school, mall, or other area where you would have the highest likelyhood of engaging an active shooter or other suspect. Sure they are not perfect, but they have tremendous advantage over similar mediums.

And its damn fun too!!

 

[bobt]

A scan of an article I wrote back in 2002 for SWAT magazine can be found here
http://www.krtraining.com/KRTraining/Archive/SWAT-Karl1.pdf
It covers a lot of useful info about using Airsoft guns in training.

Running good FoF training requires a totally different skill set than teaching live fire marksmanship skills: scenario design, roleplayer scripting, debriefing, and more. Most of the bad FoF training I'm aware of is usually conducted with little/no planning, or is run by shooting instructors who think that because guns are involved, that skill in running live fire drills equates to FoF instructor skill (much in the same way that shooters assume that skill at live fire is all that's required to do well in FoF).

Airsoft guns are also useful in pure live fire skill development. There's a group of shooters from Japan that come over for the Steel Challenge every year. They practice all year round with Airsoft guns, and only get to shoot real guns and ammo during the week before the match when they arrive in California. One of the Japanese shooters won the match several years ago, beating Leatham, Jarrett and the rest. Several of them are regularly in the top 20. Ted Bonnet (IPSC GM/World champ) told me once that he dry fired 10 times at home for every shot he planned to fire at the range. Most shooters dramatically underestimate/undervalue the benefits of dry and Airsoft-based practice because it's just not as much fun as the big noise and smoke and recoil you get shooting live ammo.

Karl

You are talking about two different things.

Practicing dry firing is practicing your trigger technique. I dry fire at the TV while I'm watching it. I also shoot about 1K rnds a week of .22lr (well less right now because I'm running out of my reserve), I can hit targets at 100yrds like it's going out of style.

Using airsoft and paintball for FoF is a different matter.

Standard gear lacks the range and accuracy for a lot of larger situations they work a lot better for real close CQB.

IF you had heavier paintballs/bbs with the psi turned up and flatline barrels, that would work a lot better. One of downfalls of paintball is the feeding system, there is a hopper blocking part of your view and it's not magzine re-loadable. That's why I used a pump gun, no hopper and I would go down to the arena and annihilate all the guys who spray and pray, sneak up the left side and flank.

AIrsoft benefits from the fact that most of the nicer guns feed, function and fire the same as their real life counterparts. Again there is the range and accuracy thing, also the hit detection.

The benefits really come from cost, because it's cheaper than the alternatives and location ability. Also the low noise, airsoft you can do anywhere, paintball you can do anywhere if you don't caught. We used to use schools and business complexes in the middle of the night to battle it out.

Definitely better than nothing, but if you have the money, the more expensive alternatives will yield more results.

 

[t_durden]

Amen Hush
airsoft in new england is a prime example of how airsoft is an effective training tool. beyond simple manipulation and basic marksmanship principles, we regularly run training to further enhance our milsim games. Having a variety of instructors including a retired infantry major has helped foster a milsim environment dominating the entire region.
If a major can teach some basic squad level tactics to weekend warriors, imagine what could happen if it were full time officers or real operators who were doing the training.
you get almost all the lessons of real steel with practically none of the life-ending consequences.