KEVIN DAVIS
Tactical Survival Contributor
Officer.com
I completed a two day firearms instructor workshop for the state academy a couple of days ago. As part of the program I talk about different training modalities and the newest training technology. Invariably, when I talk about Airsoft and its possibilities for firearms and force on force training, I always generate a lot of interest.
Over the last couple of years I have used Airsoft many times in in-service training, and can heartily endorse it. Far from the BBs of our youth and even the plastic ones my brother and I shot at each other as kids, current green gas Airsoft pistols and electric Airsoft carbines and subguns offer much to police firearms and tactical training. Pistols are available in virtually all makes and models carried by law enforcement today, and many progressive agencies nationwide are looking into the use of Airsoft to enhance their officer safety and survival training.
Types of Airsoft
There are several different types of pistols and long guns available. Not suitable for serious training are the manual cocking (which require that the slide be manipulated between each shot) and the low cost battery operated electric pistols (which are inaccurate as well as cycling too slow for serious training). Green gas (ozone friendly Freon) pistols are the only ones that should be considered for police training, as well as the rechargeable electric long guns. These Airsoft arms use "hop-up" technology, which is a little bump in the barrel that produces a backspin on the BB. The backspin increases accuracy dramatically. Inside 30 feet these .20 gram BBs are exceedingly accurate. With velocities of up to 400 fps, they are not toys.
Training Value
So how can these "toys" be used in serious survival training? The answer lies in the low cost of the systems and BBs. Simunitions® cost between 40 and 50 cents per round, with conversion kits for pistols costing about $150.00 for drop in parts. This is the same price as standard parts for a standard Glock pistol. Unfortunately the Glock cannot be converted, thus the Simunition Glock is the same price as a real pistol. Airsoft pistols cost around $100.00, and rifles around $300.00 with the BBs costing less than $20 for a 4000 count bag. Airsoft will replace neither Simunition® nor paintball, and shouldn't. It can, however, offer trainers a heretofore unavailable option for training at a cost that allows hundreds, if not thousands, more repetitions.
My experience with marking cartridges goes back to around 1992. I had read an article about Code Eagle marking cartridges in SWAT magazine and ordered a T&E sample. Code Eagle was then only available in .38 special for revolvers. As one part of the test, I let my then-training sergeant shoot me in the back from a distance of about ten feet. Yes, I found out early that marking cartridges can and do hurt. Indeed this is one of the positive aspects of this type of training, i.e. a pain penalty if a suspect is able to get rounds on target. When Simunition® was developed and came out with conversion kits for our agency's Smith and Wesson 5906 pistols, we were one of the first departments in the country to try them out. I remember calling their company trainer at the time and asking what protective gear they recommended. His response was, "it depends on how tough you are." When I asked for clarification, the instructor told me that the Norwegian Jaegers (alpine troops) conducted training in running shorts, sandals and goggles. With the projectiles moving at 400 feet per second and capable of leaving lasting marks and scars, I freely admit I'm not that tough.
Simuntion? came out with face protection, and then upgraded to full-head protection, neck guards, and padded short sleeve shirts, body protectors and shorts. Role players have to be sure to wear long sleeves and trousers. Even then, the sim rounds are like magnets to skin (more than one role player has cursed me for the raised red welts they received).
Paintball offers a low cost option for force-on-force training, but pistols and rifles are not that accurate and oftentimes have to be "lobbed" in. While conducting force-on-force training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, I participated in training using paintball rifles. Even though the training was valuable, I must confess that I "played" paintball at a couple points more intent on "painting" my adversary than realistic training (note, this was only in one event of the otherwise excellent training).
Simunition® can permanently dent or damage interior walls of training locations, and paintballs can be a pain to clean up, as well as pose a fall risk if they splatter on linoleum or smooth floors.
Once again, this is not to say that both sim and paintball training is not worthwhile.
Enter Airsoft
After hearing about Airsoft on a firearms training forum, and purchasing a low cost green gas Airsoft pistol, I heard about a west coast civilian firearms trainer by the name of Rich Daniels, and a pistol training DVD he had produced that featured Airsoft. After making contact with Portland, Oregon-based Daniels, I learned that Rich's father is a retired Toledo police officer, and Rich is very much into sharing his wealth of knowledge about Airsoft with police officers. Rich sent me his first DVD, Defensive Handgun Drills 1-4. In the DVD, Rich uses Airsoft to replicate the live fire drills he first demonstrates. He further uses Airsoft to incorporate handgun training with empty hand striking in close quarters, combat scenarios, and force-on-force training with moving, aggressing suspects.
Airsoft Protective Gear
Impacts to unprotected skin can result in a small mark and sufficient sting similar to a bee sting. Goggles or protective eyewear are mandatory for anyone in the training environment. Daniels has adapted street hockey helmets for his programs with plastic meshing to protect the face and head from errant rounds (indeed Rich advises that the helmets are more to protect the trainee's heads from collision with the floor if they fall during dynamic training).
All that is necessary for body protection is a jacket made from decent material such as the work clothing made by Carhart (some trainers use sweat shirts). Body protectors designed for boxing or martial arts competition could also be used. Gloves, whether of the open-finger martial arts type or standard patrol gloves, are sufficient to protect the fingers and hands of trainees.
Low cost boxing or martial arts focus mitts can be used as the primary target for role players. The role player can hold the mitt off to the side or up against their body to provide a safe target area for drills that require multiple repetitions.
Force-on-force training is very similar to that using Simunition® or paintball. Indeed 21st Century Airsoft (see below) has developed quality marking cartridges for Airsoft.
Additionally, a "house of horrors" or similar interior Hogan's Alley-type course can be set up using mannequins, targets taped to walls, or cardboard boxes with the limits set only by your imagination. Hits can be documented by perforations in the paper or cardboard targets, or using Shoot-N-See® self-adhesive targets by Birchwood Casey. Due to the low cost and easy set-up, multiple scenarios can be run quickly for maximum training value. Clean-up is easy, using a broom or shop vac.
Final Shots
While at this year's ASLET convention in Albuquerque, I attended an excellent Airsoft program conducted by members of the Seattle Police Department. Seattle PD, after training with Rich Daniels, has put all their officers through an intensive and excellent Airsoft program, and although we only got to conduct only a portion of that training, it was an intense and highly worthwhile training experience.
Airsoft is not meant to replace live fire by any stretch, but dynamic and realistic training can be conducted with this technology that was not possible before, without high costs. This can provide training opportunities for agencies on a budget or with limited range access.
Check out the sources listed below and take a serious look at Airsoft technologies for yourself or your agency. Regardless of how many range visits your agency allows a year, it is never enough. Airsoft can provide the opportunity to hone and maintain firearms skills, and provide the chance for repetitions that weren't possible before. Not a toy, Airsoft can give you the survival advantage.
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