Airsoft for training: where to start?

[breakingcontact]

I've never shot an Airsoft gun in my life, I know basically nothing about them.

I am considering getting one to use for training on my regular handguns since SIRT is still sitting on their M&P model.

What are the decent brands/models?

How much do they cost to shoot in terms of recharging the cylinders?

Specifically I'm looking for an M&P fullsize.

 

[TheDan]

I haven't seen a good air soft M&P replica with realistic action and weight yet. It's likely to cost as much as an M&P22 if it's out there. Tag for the answer.

On the cylinders; I calculated it one time and found it was cheaper shooting a CO2 powered BB pistol than a .22lr. Can't remember by how much, tho.

 

[SIG_Fiend]

Here's what I know on gas-powered airsoft handguns

• Charging the mag typically gets you ~2 mags worth of shots. By 1.5 mags or towards the end of the 2nd mag, usually you'll notice performance dropping off.
• Powered by either hfc134 ("Japanese gas") or hfc22 ("Green gas"). Major difference is hfc134 is lower pressured and tends to always have silicone oil in it. Hfc22 may or may not have silicone oil. Hfc22 is also very similar if not the same as propane. Ultimately, lots of people have moved to using propane with various filler adapters, as it's far more economical. Just remember, you'll need to occasionally spray some silicone oil in the fill ports of the mag every 3 or 4 mags to be safe. This helps keep the seals from drying out and cracking.
• There are 2 main types of gas powered airsoft handguns. Gas blowback, which has a somewhat realistic operation and the slide (or bolt if it's an SMG/Rifle) will actually recoil in a realistic manner. There are also gas non-blowback, in which nothing recoils.
• Practicing with these guns, the mags are fragile. DO NOT drop the mags on hard surfaces if practicing things like mag changes. They will break very quickly, and a new mag is probably $30-50.
• With certain models, they can actually be so closely modeled after their real counterparts that some components from the real thing will fit the airsoft version. People have put real sights on airsoft Glocks, mag release buttons on some airsoft Glocks, and I think some of the M&P's can accept the real removable backstraps.
• Airsoft guns, pretty much all modern ones built in the last decade, have what's called "hop up". Basically it's usually a rubber grommet of sorts that sticks into a slot cut in the top of the barrel. When you fire a bb, the bb hits this rubber or silicone piece, causing the bb to backspin. Usually the amount this hop up piece sticks into the barrel is adjustable, varying the amount of backspin the bb gets. The whole point of this is in extending the distance which the gun shoots. With some of the better performing models out there, you can actually get as much as 50-75yds out of them, with a relatively flat trajectory.
• Most models from reputable manufacturers are very closely matched to the dimensions of their real versions. Usually this means much of your existing gear, like holsters, will work with airsoft versions of the same gun.
• If you're looking to do close range training, force on force style training, you should consider the velocity of the airsoft guns you might be using. With light clothing, a typical gas handgun might be around 250-300fps. With propane and some of the more powerful ones, you might actually be at 400-500fps. Safety is an issue with the higher velocity stuff is a very real concern, and may determine the surroundings where you train (no glass/windows or other easily damaged surroundings), and may even influence the thickness of clothing worn.

Some reputable retailers:

Evike.com - The Ultimate Airsoft Retailer & Distributor - Airsoft Guns, Rifles, Parts & Accessories, Tactical Gear - Airsoft Superstore
Airsoft GI - Airsoft and Tactical Gear Warehouse - the largest airsoft
</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-2"> <meta name="keywords" content="Airsoft, airsoft, AE Max Guns Other Weapons Magazines Tactical Gear Media (Magazines, DVDs, etc) Electric Guns Pistols/SMGs External Part

Here's a few M&P's:

Smith & Wesson Licensed M&P 9 Full Size Airsoft GBB Pistol by VFC, Airsoft Guns, Gas Airsoft Pistols, SoftAir / Cybergun - Evike.com Airsoft Superstore
Smith & Wesson Licensed M&P 9C Airsoft GBB Pistol by VFC, Airsoft Guns, Gas Airsoft Pistols, SoftAir / Cybergun - Evike.com Airsoft Superstore

Brands I would consider good quality:

• Tokyo Marui
• KSC / KWA
• Maruzen
• Marushin
• Western Arms (1911 aficionados will LOVE the stuff this company puts out!)
• KJ Works (KJW) (Not the best but, not bad for the cheaper prices)
• WE (Also kind of "cheap", but not horrible for the prices)

 

[TheDan]

Here's what I know on gas-powered airsoft handguns

Excellent brain dump. I feel like I learned more about airsoft in the 30sec it took to read your post than reading the rest of the internet. Thanks!

 

[Tejano Scott]

I know very little about airsoft. Do you still have to shoot them at a range? If so, I see no benefit. Does anyone make a 22lr conversion slide for the M&P? I know thy exist for a Glock. I'd be more inclined to go that direction. But I say that with almost zero knowledge of airsoft.

 

[jrbfishn]

Some places they consider them like BB guns. No go. Some don' have a specific ordinance banning them.
I have had some soldiers that do a lot of house to house clearing and carry hand guns use them for play and practice. All the safety items you really have to have are goggles to protect eyes.
Some parents get them for older kids too. Safer than BBs. Or like we did and shoot toothpicks out of a BB gun at each other.

And yes, they will stick.


Sent by a idjit coffeeholic

 

[TheDan]

I know very little about airsoft. Do you still have to shoot them at a range? If so, I see no benefit. Does anyone make a 22lr conversion slide for the M&P?

Yeah, technically you can't shoot any type of air gun in city limits but if you do it in your garage no one will know. If you have a private backyard or cool neighbors it's no big deal either. You can loosely hang a towel or blanket behind your target and it will take all the energy out of the plastic BBs when they hit the fabric.

I don't think there's a conversion slide, but the M&P22 is on sale at PSA for $260. Might as well get the dedicated .22 pistol

 

[Younggun]

Yeah, but force on force training with .22lr would be pretty intense.

 

[TheDan]

Ultimately, lots of people have moved to using propane with various filler adapters, as it's far more economical.

So with propane you're looking at about a third of a cent per shot including the BB?

Yeah, but force on force training with .22lr would be pretty intense.

Pussy. Let's practice disarms with our .22 pistols. You try to take mine first.

 

[vietboy1st]

Are you looking for M&P replica airsoft gun for training? This is a decent one here.
Tiger Tactical Airsoft

 

[Younggun]

So with propane you're looking at about a third of a cent per shot including the BB?


Pussy. Let's practice disarms with our .22 pistols. You try to take mine first.

Ok, but I'm gonna need you to sign a release in case you get hurt.

 

[SIG_Fiend]

So with propane you're looking at about a third of a cent per shot including the BB?


Pussy. Let's practice disarms with our .22 pistols. You try to take mine first.

I'm not sure what the cost works out to, but with propane, yep it's pretty cheap. A pack of say 4k of the 6mm plastic bbs is usually only ~$10-15, and you can reuse them quite a bit, depending on how hard of a surface they're impacting.

 

[TheDan]

The only drawback for propane I can think of is the stink they add to it.

I wonder which is better for some rainy day training. Laser or Airsoft?

 

[breakingcontact]

The only drawback for propane I can think of is the stink they add to it.

I wonder which is better for some rainy day training. Laser or Airsoft?

Not sure if I could get away with shooting in the back yard, so it would be in the garage. Closed up garage plus propane...no bueno.

 

[TheDan]

I don't think it puts out enough propane to do anything. If you're concerned about flammability you'll have to use the r134 based ones. I would be more concerned with asphyxiation than flammability, tho. Crack a door or open a window.

 

[jrbfishn]

Piezo electric sparker by the muzzle hooked to the trigger. Muzzle flash, no gas in the garrage. Problem solved.


Sent by a idjit coffeeholic

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

We shoot airsoft inside in my study. No big deal. Just have to have a catch for the BBs

 

[breakingcontact]

We shoot airsoft inside in my study. No big deal. Just have to have a catch for the BBs

What do you use for propellant?

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

I use the spring kind, no gas. About 300-350 FPS based on the box and interwebz comments.

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

I have a crappy target/ trap from Academy, but what works better is a cardboard box filled with old newspapers - I just tape targets on it.