View Full Version : Airsoft training in lieu of ammo shortage?
jenznat0r
10-06-2020, 07:26
What are your guys's thoughts on training with airsoft copies of your real firearm to conserve on ammo? I get the reflex and recoil factors are way different, but I found this on the internet and it's tempting just to train when you can't get to the range or at least to find projectiles that are still somewhat available right now. I'm big on training when you can. I used to be a USCCA member, but limited finances forced me to cancel my membership.
https://www.kyairsoft.com/guns/we-pistols-gbbp/we-g-series/g19/we-g19-gen-5-gbb-pistol-black-cnc-custom-marking.html
Thoughts? I get there is a thing called the Glock 44, but even .22 is hard to find at the moment. I don't think you can even find a Glock 44 right now. Maybe this is an alternative?
.455_Hunter
10-06-2020, 08:41
Any range time is better than no range time.
jenznat0r
10-06-2020, 08:45
It's either a airsoft copy, or buy the 22lr conversion kit perhaps down the road.
https://youtu.be/qQDfwyUgtjg
battlemidget
10-06-2020, 09:03
If you get into airsoft, I know there's wisdom in getting stuff that's 'close' to your real equipment for training but I say go have fun and get something ridiculous that you'll have fun with. Personally, I like paintball better than airsoft as a game. Particularly pump paintball, it's a slower game and alot of fun in the woods with friends.
Ammunition shortages aren?t really a thing if you?re well prepared. Just saying.
If one is conserving ammunition then maybe instead of a two hundred round range session then maybe maybe cut back to a hundred rounds to reduce wasting precious reserves.
My only airsoft experience was with my son?s cheap guns and nothing they offered in the way of performance or accuracy would have translated well to real world skills. Maybe the higher end stuff is better?
Depends on the kind of shooting I guess. If it's just standing on a static line and trying to hit bullseyes, I wouldn't bother. If it's some sort of force on force exercise or some type of time based, competition shooting, then yeah that would be a great way to plug the gap.
I am a fan. I have an airsoft glock 19 that is great for practicing draws to first shot, reloads, target transitions, and moving and shooting in structures. Not great for practicing multiple shots, but some work is better than nothing.
hollohas
10-16-2020, 18:09
I'm really getting into airsoft. I have a Sig P320, FN, Beretta 92 - all gas. AEG AR which is super fun and just got a new sniper rifle that is legit.
All but the sniper are exact copies of the real thing. The sniper is close enough to make for great practice. At least trigger pull, etc. The trigger is very nice.
I can practice drawing, sight picture, trigger control, moving, reloads, etc all in my basement with the same gear I use for the real things. And with blowback pistols, you even get decent practice with recoil control.
All in all, I think it's great practice. And it's even more fun when people are shooting back at you.
How loud are they? Would you feel comfortable shooting in your backyard more than a few shots?
kidicarus13
10-16-2020, 19:05
I'm really getting into airsoft. I have a Sig P320, FN, Beretta 92 - all gas. AEG AR which is super fun and just got a new sniper rifle that is legit.
All but the sniper are exact copies of the real thing. The sniper is close enough to make for great practice. At least trigger pull, etc. The trigger is very nice.
I can practice drawing, sight picture, trigger control, moving, reloads, etc all in my basement with the same gear I use for the real things. And with blowback pistols, you even get decent practice with recoil control.
All in all, I think it's great practice. And it's even more fun when people are shooting back at you.Makes me feel like it's circa 2023, near the end of Biden's first term, and this is all normal conversation.
How loud are they? Would you feel comfortable shooting in your backyard more than a few shots?
Not too bad. Have a co2 pistol and if shot in the basement you can barely hear it on first floor.
How loud are they? Would you feel comfortable shooting in your backyard more than a few shots?
Yeah, I would absolutely feel comfortable. My gas blowback is about as loud as an old school pump BB gun. I live in the suburbs and doubt the neighbors would notice or care.
hollohas
10-17-2020, 09:31
Not loud at all. Especially the AEG rifles, they don't sound like anything even close to shooting. They are electric motor driven and sound exactly as you'd expect something electric motor driven to sound.
The spring powered sniper is quieter than my .22 pellet rifle by A LOT. I was uncomfortable shooting the pellet rifle in the yard but I'm not worried at all about the airsoft sniper. I have a rabbit problem and have used the pellet gun to control those. Now I use the airsoft sniper. Eye shot a rabbit with the airsoft sniper and they just tip over dead. Lights out.
The gas powered pistols could be interpreted as shooting a bb gun by any neighbor paying attention. Not loud at all, but clearly the sound of shooting a CO2 gun, so I limit those outside.
hollohas
10-17-2020, 09:40
A note on the spring powered sniper rifles. Some models are legit and all airsoft fields have a minimum engagement distance of 100ft and power limitation for them to limit possible injuries. With proper parts and easy spring replacement, 700fps is certainly possible. However, that would be prohibited at fields. Most fields will have a limitation of around ,450fps depending on the weight of bb you're shooting.
The AEG rifles can be crazy too. Somewhere around 20 rounds per second is becoming pretty standard even with stock guns. Custom guns can have much faster ROF.
Why not dry fire your normal firearms? The gun doesn't have to go "BOOM" to learn how to do 99% of what is required to shoot properly. For example, when was the last time you shot a shot group in dry fire?
Why not dry fire your normal firearms? The gun doesn't have to go "BOOM" to learn how to do 99% of what is required to shoot properly. For example, when was the last time you shot a shot group in dry fire?
Force on force training, shooting in the backyard at transition targets, mag changes, etc.
SOF is looking at it since they would be able to train away from the range:
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/10/28/rangers-green-berets-showing-interest-new-nonlethal-m4-carbine-firm-says.html
battlemidget
10-29-2020, 09:52
dryfiremag has pistol mags that reset the trigger, and MantisX has that Blackbeard system that resets the hammer on ARs without modification. Cool Fire trainers are pretty cool.
Airsoft could fun with friends, but there's a silly crowd at public fields. I like paintball in the woods with friends, using pump markers. Not very 'training-like' but alot of fun.
How loud are they? Would you feel comfortable shooting in your backyard more than a few shots?
The model linked in the OP is on par with a pneumatic nail gun in terms of sound (louder than a suppressed .22).
Thank you. I was asking with the thought of pest control in mind.
There are some airsoft handguns that do a pretty good job of replicating everything about the original firearm that they can from operation to the weight and feel of the handgun. I think Glock has a couple licensed airsoft manufacturers that they work with. I don't see how using one of these would be a bad thing, you could even shoot them inside if you have a pole barn or some place where you don't care about marks on the walls.
Glock airsoft:
https://www.umarexusa.com/glock
Sig has their own airsoft line that replicates the real thing:
https://www.sigsauer.com/airsoft/
Otherwise simple dryfire for basic weapon manipulation drills or one of the laser trainers that has the insert that cycles the handgun to simulate firing would the next step up.
There are also the Glock training models.
https://us.glock.com/en/pistols/g17-p-gen5-fs-us
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.