Posted: 7/20/2007 8:24:58 PM EDT
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If you spend a little (~$100) you can get a gas powwered airsoft that has the weight and near balance of a real GLOCK. I haven't looked for other manufacturers duplicates. I don't just practice with airsoft but find it a very useful and safe way to introduce a newbie to gun handling, gun retention, drawing and target aquisition. Just make sure you aren't spotted from the street. Don't wanna get shot. 
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I have an Airsoft Glock 18. Feels a lot like my '17, but not exactly, because the '18 is a 3rd gen and the '17 is a 2nd gen. It comes apart and goes together just like the real thing, weighs very close (the loaded '17 is heavier than the loaded '18), and the trigger is pretty similar. Never used it for holster drills, but I guess you could. Seems like a good idea to me. |
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VERY good idea for dry fire practice (something we should all do more of). I have an exact copy of the .40 I use in competition and natuarally it fits my holster perfectly. Trigger is not that different than my SV (a 2011 or "1911 variant"). Lots of info on training/practice with an airsoft here: www.brianenos.com or www.ipsc.org |
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I'm glad to see airsoft getting more positive responses compared to even 2 years ago. I had an airsoft M4, and the second I picked up my new AR, I was already familiar with the basic operation of the gun. Many full-weight airsoft replicas are occasionally laying around when the rowdy friends come over. Had a navy friend ask me if a glock airsoft was real when he picked it up. Great training tools. |
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I have a gas airsoft copy of a Caspian 1911. The fact that it does actualy shoot a projectile is a big plus in my dryfire practice. There is no BSing yourself when you see the misses. Mine is accurate enough to keep em in a 4" circle at 15 feet. It"s also good for reload practice with the gas and balls in the mags. I'm not sure that a cheap Wally World spring cocker would do you as much good as a gas gun but it is better than nothing. I would do as much dry fire with your real gun as with the spring cocker, keep it 50/50. There is no substitute for dryfire practice. Gringop |
| Thanks for the replies guys. I should have been more detailed in what I was thinking about using it for. I don't think there is any replacement for dry firing the gun you actually carry. What I was thinking of using the Airsoft for is the actual act of drawing from concealment and / or clearing a room / house. I know I could just use my unloaded gun, but by using an Airsoft, if I need to set it down quick to deal with the baby, it is not a "real" gun sitting out in case someone stops by to see the new baby. I can see some other pluses to using it too. |
Why? Is there a disadvantage to using a replica over the real thing for this sort of practice? I am not trying to be standoff-ish, I am really interested in hearing differing thoughts, that's why I asked. I know some people may think it is silly, but I just figured there might be some use to it. In my previous reply, I mentioned setting the pistol down to deal with the baby and having someone come over. Looking back I can see how that would be easy enough to prevent, just reholster it. But I still think there are some pros to using one. Another one I can think of as being on the plus side is using a replica would be that much less holster wear put on the real thing. My guns are not safe queens by any means, but if you can prevent unnecessary wear why not? |
You have to pay at least $10 an hour every time you want to shoot because you have to go to the range and dry fire or airsoft is the only other way you can practice for CONCEALED CARRY; its not like you can just drive out someplace out of town & shoot - oh wait, YOU can do that because you live in East bum-f*** Alaska. Probably don't even bother to CCW up there; its not like you have any real cities. We were not talking about defending oneself from bear attacks. For everyone else, dry fire or some other draw & fire practice will save your ass. |
| Check out Western Arms for realistic airsoft- they even get Bill Wilson's recommendation (of Wilson Combat). |
And that is what I have always done too. I was just curious if anyone else used the repicas as a training tool and in what capacity. I can see a few pros and cons to doing so. I was just hoping for some other input to see if there was anything I had overlooked. Now with that being said, and in the spirit of trying to keep this thread at least a little bit informative, can anyone think of other Pros / Cons to using one for training purposes? Thanks to everyone for their input. |
the only thing I can see a problem with is if you forget that the real one is loaded and draw and pull the trigger expecting a airsoft pellet and you get a live round going off instead. Treading dangerous waters there. Always check to make sure any gun (airsoft or not) is unloaded and is the right tool you are using. I just wouldn't be comfortable having an airsoft that is an exact replica (READ: FAKE) of my real gun.... The one time I need it to use it to save my life, I would probably end up grabbing the airsoft gun. The trade off of this is just not worth it in my opinion. Just use the real gun, if you worry about the firing pin, use a snap cap. |
Very valid concern, and thanks for the constructive input. I too thought about this. I figured using a clear plastic replica should prevent the confusion. The drawback to clear plastic is the sights not being black. I guess you could always paint them and maybe the back edge of the replica so the sight picture matched the real thing too? I have talked to a few of the younger guys I work with that are into Airsoft and held some of the pistols they use. Without going into some of the high dollar stuff, so far everyone I have held felt like a toy. So I'll chalk up a couple more to the Cons list. |
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I bought a Walther CP99 for plinking years ago. It is realistic in feel and function (You can cock it for single-action and it has a functional decocker). My groups with my real pistols tightened up a great deal with the extra practice and without recoil/flash you really notice your flinch. The single-action is pretty smooth so you can work on holding a good sight picture. Plus it's a damn fun gun to pop paper and cans with. After I got my CCW I started doing drills with it. I figure any trigger time can't hurt and if you can't shoot fast/accurate with a pellet gun, forget doing it with a "real" gun. You can't practice follow-up shots doing dry fire and who's to say that you're hitting what you're aiming at?. In this time of rising ammo prices, you can't shoot much cheaper (except Airsoft, since you can reuse the pellets). I have a Glock 27 and a Kahr PM9 for carry, so there's no chance of mistaking one for the other. There's no downside in my mind. |