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Air-soft practice for opencarry training?

FreeInAZ

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A while back I was seeing if anyone would be interested in match shooting etc... . In that conversation a wise beyond his years member (Michigander) brought up using air-softs for "emergency" draw & shoot drills. Also for defending against gun grabs drills. Would anyone here be interested in meeting up with others to drill? I ask because I suspect no matter how much one practices safe draw and shoot with a empty (safety checked) pistol, it still is not the same as having someone else with gun knowledge try to attack ( rubber knife / air-soft / moving - charging snatch) from "danger close" as in a parking lot / sidewalk / stairwell/ store scenario, etc.

Since pistol ammo availability and price is insane anyways, air-soft drills are even more appealing now. Short of simunition training - I think this is our best option at this time. We spend countless hours punching holes in "paper attackers", seriously how real world ready does that make us?

Your thoughts please....
 
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FreeInAZ

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Well yes, but it is usually only available to LE & is very expensive. We do not have plates & presses available to just print up a few Trillion when we feel like it. It would be fun though if we did - until the bill was do. Then we'd have to figure out a way to let the lenders recoup their funds. Maybe disarm the population so they can take what they want from them....hmmmm....nah it couldn't happen. :rolleyes:

On topic - any training is better than,: no training...just saying...;)
 

Michigander

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Evil creamsicle and I have bought and practiced with CO2 airsofts. While they aren't going to get the adrenalin rush of sims going, they do work some, and they do hurt considerably at times.

There is quite a lot to be said for the benefits of FOF drills, with or without going all the way to sims. Defintely a big hole in any practice regimen without it.
 

Michigander

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Now that I don't have to fly out the door and go to work, a couple more thoughts (rants...)

Most importantly, there is no such thing as a "gun" fight. All fights are fights, and deciding you are now safe because you have a gun is incredibly bad as mindsets go. A gun plays a small part of staying safe, much smaller than most people who carry would probably like to think. Knowing how to avoid conflicts through communication is very important, as is understanding how to fight as opposed to how to shoot. Both of these things should be well understood, and incorporated into FOF scenarios.

Stationary range practice is almost worthless in up close situations. FOF drill show you situations where not only will you be moving and needing to shoot from retention, you'll also need to be able to fire at strange angles from retention. Both are much easier to miss from when on the move while someone is attacking you. If you and any partners know how to fall, and have full martial arts padding, wear it and don't be afraid to get crazy, because practicing like you mean it is the best way to practice. Also remember to wear good gloves and a face shield, because getting shot in the hands happens relentlessly, and 400 fps worth of pellet can break the skin, take an eye out or shatter teeth.

One last note, don't allow any live weapons to be present during FOF practice sessions. There is no reason at all to have them when you are intentionally pointing gun facsimiles at one another, and it would be a suicidally stupid thing to risk instinctively going for that backup or other weapon you always have with you.
 

FreeInAZ

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Great post MI. With the exception of a few from this forum. We could all use force on force training and practice. Carrying a pistol is serious business. Not training for "combat" in my mind is like buying a top fuel dragster without having ever driven a car before. Could one just be a "natural" and be able to drive it without ending up being a burnt spot next to a phone pole? Maybe, but not likely. The same goes for carrying a pistol and expecting to be able to: defend pistol, draw, fire and hit (disable/dispatch) one or mulitiple attackers....again..maybe...but unlikely...without practicing.:confused:

Of course this does not apply to anyone who knows everything already and can be considered in their "own mind" an expert of everything. Abcdefghijklmnop_rstuvwxyz ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...:p
 
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Bikenut

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FoF with air soft is an interesting way to discover the steep learning curve afforded by having someone shooting back... even if it is with plastic pellets that only sting (a LOT!).

I find it interesting that no one has mentioned how air soft can be useful in learning how to safely clear your house using silhouette targets set up by someone other than yourself so you don't know where they are. You and your spouse can take turns setting targets and clearing...... And can even do the clearing working as a team.

I know... the present perspective is that no one should clear their house but should just hole up in some safe room but I ask, in all earnestness I ask, how many folks call the cops to come clear their house when they come home to an empty house from work, or come home from visiting? Or do folks just walk in dumb and happy with arms full of groceries on their way to the fridge for a cold one expecting the house to be just as empty and safe as it was when they left that morning? Y'all DO check each room and the basement (commonly called "clearing the house") when you get home.... right?

A word of warning.... air soft pellets can dent drywall so careful target placement and/or some kind of backdrop is necessary to prevent dimpled drywall, a repair/paint job, and an irritated spouse. Don't ask how I know.
 
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TheQ

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Lansing, Michigan
FoF with air soft is an interesting way to discover the steep learning curve afforded by having someone shooting back... even if it is with plastic pellets that only sting (a LOT!).

I find it interesting that no one has mentioned how air soft can be useful in learning how to safely clear your house using silhouette targets set up by someone other than yourself so you don't know where they are. You and your spouse can take turns setting targets and clearing...... And can even do the clearing working as a team.

I know... the present perspective is that no one should clear their house but should just hole up in some safe room but I ask, in all earnestness I ask, how many folks call the cops to come clear their house when they come home to an empty house from work, or come home from visiting? Or do folks just walk in dumb and happy with arms full of groceries on their way to the fridge for a cold one expecting the house to be just as empty and safe as it was when they left that morning? Y'all DO check each room and the basement (commonly called "clearing the house") when you get home.... right?

A word of warning.... air soft pellets can dent drywall so careful target placement and/or some kind of backdrop is necessary to prevent dimpled drywall, a repair/paint job, and an irritated spouse. Don't ask how I know.

Consider putting a friendly or unfriendly headshot on each target. Shoot a friendly, you lose.
 

Michigander

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To add to what bikenut said, two options are going around the house without pellets in a CO2 airsoft, or using much slower electric which shouldn't cause as much damage.
 

WalkingWolf

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Jul 31, 2011
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I used a airsoft for teaching my wife, handgun safety, I am not comfortable with using it to actually shoot another person even for training. It is a great tool for developing the skills that bring about accuracy with a firearm without the expense.
 
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Bikenut

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Just an aside.... I was amazed to discover that my air soft pistols would reach targets out to 25 yds. Not reliably accurate but dang! them plastic pellets will go a long ways!
 
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