SIG SAUER PROFORCE M18 Airsoft Training Pistol
One of the challenges we face as shooters is finding enough time and resources to practice our skills. But going to the range can be costly and inconvenient. Ammunition prices are high and availability is low. Moreover, many ranges have restrictions on what we can do. A good example would be training in holster presentation, something that is not allowed by many ranges, especially drawing and presentation from concealment. These are important skills that we need to work on, but we may not have the opportunity to do so at the range.
Becoming skilled with firearms requires time and practice. It is not a simple task, but an art that needs to be cultivated. And as we all know, shooting is a skill that will deteriorate if not maintained. This is especially true with handguns. So then, what’s the answer? Well, one answer is to bring the range home to you and maximize your concealed carry firearm training by utilizing a laser training system. Another answer is to train at home with a replica air pistol. In this article, we will look at the latter.
Training with an Air Pistol
As with a laser training system, air pistols allow you to train, less expensively, more often and effectively. While neither are a replacement for live-fire firearm training, they’re a valuable adjunct to it. They’re also great tools for beginning shooters to learn the fundamentals. And one certainly cannot ignore the fun factor. They’re a heck of a lot of fun.
A wide range of air pistols are available today that are designed to closely replicate the dimensions, weight, handling characteristics, trigger pull and manual of arms of their firearm counterparts. Some of the air pistols even feature blowback action for added realism, giving you a slight sense of recoil and muzzle flip that’s invaluable in training. They allow you to hone your skills at home for a fraction of the cost of going to the range. And the skills you learn translate directly to the actual firearm that’s replicated.
Firearm manufacturers have entered the high-performance replica airgun market. SIG SAUER® is a notable example. SIG SAUER airguns are not licensed copies. They are made exclusively for SIG and engineered to the same standards as SIG SAUER firearms. They are matched to original model specs and utilize authentic materials and, where necessary, patented performance innovations.
Pyramyd™ Air and Umarex® Airguns are also excellent sources of replica airguns. They offer a wide array of replica guns.
Replica air pistols are a great tool for concealed carry training. Not only do air pistols allow you to train more affordably and conveniently, they also let you practice a lot of the concealed carry drills that you may not be able to practice at your local range. For example, the similar dimensions of many of the air pistols to their firearm counterparts make it easy to incorporate holster use into your training drills. They also allow you to train with your regular CCW holster.
Replica airguns are available with varying ammunition types — plastic airsoft pellets, lead pellets and steel BBs. Ammo type is an important consideration in range setup. Lead pellets will provide the greatest accuracy. Plastic airsoft pellets and BBs have acceptable accuracy at short range.
Safety
Safety must be paramount in all training. Training with airguns is no exception. They are not toys and must not be treated as such. The fact that replica airguns look like actual firearms helps to reinforce this point. All rules of firearm safety apply. Eye protection is essential for everyone on the range.
Since they are operated by CO2, they will function fully without ammo. This feature can be used for safety when training beginning shooters proper gun handling skills or be used in situations where BBs or pellets cannot be used or is not necessary or desirable to accomplish the training goals. Replica air pistols used for dry firing practice eliminate any need to rack the slide after every shot to reset the trigger and in so doing eliminate training scars.
When shooting BBs or pellets, a good target and backstop are essential. There are a number of commercial traps that are designed for BBs. Be aware that many airgun traps are designed for use with lead pellets, which deform and don’t pose the ricochet danger of steel BBs.
One trick is to fill your backstop with several inches of duct seal putty. The putty will catch the airgun rounds and prevent ricochet. It will also dampen the sound of impact. Duct seal putty is available at any hardware or home improvement store.
Frangible BBs are also an option. Pyramyd Air offers Air Venturi Dust Devil™ Frangible BBs. The Dust Devil BBs are designed to disintegrate into dust on impact with metal targets, greatly reducing ricochet hazard. It should be noted that some shooters have reported feeding issues with Dust Devil BBs in some air guns. You still need to take the same safety precautions with frangible BBs that you would with standard BBs, including the wearing of eye protection.
Airsoft guns provide a realistic simulation of shooting without the risk of injury or damage posed by traditional airguns. Airsoft pellets offer a significant advantage in terms of safety and affordability. A pack of 5,000 Airsoft pellets can be purchased for as low as $10. However, it is essential to buy high-quality pellets that will not fracture or split during shooting. Broken BBs can cause damage to the internal mechanisms of the Airsoft gun.
NRA Home Airgun Program
Building your own airgun range is easy and inexpensive to do. The National Rifle Association (NRA) Home Airgun Program is an excellent resource. It has complete information on constructing your own indoor or outdoor airgun range as well as numerous resources for anyone wanting to start and maintain an airgun program.
Sources
SIG SAUER
SigSauer.com
Umarex Airguns
UmarexUSA.com
Pyramyd Air
PyramydAir.com
NRA Home Airgun Program
HomeAirgun.NRA.org
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