Many Law Enforcement departments and Military units are turning to airsoft for an effective, low cost, and safe means of force-on-force training.
Airsoft Arms has assisted numerous military and police agencies nationwide in using airsoft guns for training.
Why Airsoft?
- Airsoft lets you Train Harder.
- Airsoft is Considerably Safer.
- Airsoft keeps your budget In Check.
Train Harder
Airsoft guns are extremely realistic replicas of their real life counterparts, and most even operate in an identical manner.
Low-impact projectiles allow your team to train anywhere - schools, businesses, airplanes, you name it. Training in real-life environments condition your team to deal with real life situations.
Inexpensive ammo lets you train more frequently and repeat drills dozens of time in each session with minimal budgetary impact.
Minimal protective equipment required, allowing your team to train with your actual duty gear and equipment.
Pinpoint accuracy in close quarter combat (~50 ft), while still out-shooting most competing platforms (e.g. paintball or Simunition™) in longer ranges in terms of accuracy and flat trajectory.
Durable metal construction designed to withstand unforgiving training conditions and environments.
Train Safer
Airsoft guns deliver very low impact energy (below 2 joules), only a fraction of the competition.
The entire platform is built from the ground up as a training tool, thus no internal parts (including magazines) are interchangeable with a real weapon. Therefore, it is impossible to chamber live ammunition in an airsoft gun.
Every airsoft gun comes with a visual indicator to prevent confusion with live firearms.
Train Cheaper
Airsoft guns offer a very attractive initial acquisition cost, with the lowest operating cost in the industry. Unbeatable total cost of ownership.
Low energy projectiles minimize liability to both trainees, instructors, by-standers, as well as property owners.
Proven technology and high durability means minimal down-times and very low maintenance costs for the life of the airsoft training weapon.
- Trajectory is not flat with visible and considerable bullet-drop.
- Ammunition is very sensitive to humidity and temperature, heavily affecting repeatability.
- Most airsoft rifles can be shipped as regular cargo either via ground or air shipments, where CO2 cylinders can only be ground shipped, and Simunition weapons must be shipped as firearms.
- Cost of donor weapon plus conversion kit.
5 Reasons to play Airsoft
5 Reasons to play Airsoft
1. Its Fun! Pretty obvious right? When else can you don 30+ pounds of gear and camo, grab a solid metal Airsoft gun with the latest accessories, and engage another group of likeminded people? MILSIM (Military Simulation) can be extremely invigorating, and is about as close to combat as you can get without the whole death thing. (Sorry paintballers, your guns are just too unrealistic) Plus, great friendships and camaraderie that isn't common in today's society can come out of the sport.
Airsoft can bring out the best in players especially when they get the rush of adrenaline. It's that same rush that comes right before a planned ambush is sprung. It's that feeling of your thumping chest when you're stacked 5 deep and about to clear a 4 bedroom house with known hostiles. It's that rush when a burst of 15 bb's zip past your ear.
That rush is addicting, and if you get hooked it's hard not to want more.
2. Its Great Exercise. No one can argue against this, and I'd say it's especially true when playing outdoors. If you get deep in to the woods then you know how fields can turn in to random muck and the only option is through.
Usually with indoor games the only weight you may gain is in sweat. But after 35m of murky field you'll easily gain 5 - 10lbs of water and mud. Oh, and don't forget those steep hills that everyone always fights over (Hamburger Hill at Splat Action comes to mind).
All that weight will really begin to tear you down after hours of constant climbing, crawling, standing, and diving. Muscles that you forgot you had will begin to swell and ache. The power boars will wear off, dehydration will kick in, and the walk back to the re-spawn will be a welcome break. Who needs P90X when you can just play Airsoft?
So I don't know about you, but after an intense day of playing all I'll want to do is sit in a hot tub and drink a beer.
3. Skill Sharpening "…research has shown that video game playing experience or playing a video game immediately before being tested can improve both reaction times and anticipation" (source) and that it can also improve vision up to 20% (source). That being said, we all know Airsoft and FPS video games have a lot in common and that a large portion Airsofters are also avid gamers. So it only seems natural for game players to want to test their reaction times and vision in life. It's funny, but I don't know how many times I’ve thought to myself during a game: "This is just like a video game…"
Not only does Airsoft work your reaction time, vision, and judgment, but it is also a great way to improve teamwork, problem solving, land navigation, memory, and mental/physical discipline. One could consider Airsoft a live action game of chess and the players that are the most successful are the ones that can think one move ahead of their opponent.
4. it’s the next best thing... I know I’m going to get immolated for this one, but it's the next best thing to being in the military. I can say this because I did serve for 4 years in the Marines as an AAV crewman and did see a wide variety of training on top of the invasion of Iraq. And Airsoft is simply the next best thing because if scenario games are administered correctly then they can be extremely true to life. Military, LE, and much of the private sector is starting to notice this as well and have begun implementing Airsoft in to scenario training.
So moms, if you don't want your boy going joining the military then let him get it out of his system early with Airsoft; if he still joins then rest assured he'll be conditioned for it ;).
5. it’s cheap! Now before jumping to any conclusions let me explain first. I say Airsoft is cheap in comparison to the other technologies out there (Simunition, MILES, and Paintball). Assuming that you're a regular player, enthusiast, trainer, or someone who just loves war games, Airsoft is your least expensive option. Even the initial investment isn't as bad as some would think. Simunition and MILES aside, Airsoft is still more cost effective than paintball. If you think about it all you really need for Airsoft is a basic AEG with a hi-cap magazine, some cheap woodland camo, eye protection, and bb's. Other than the gun, which might run between $150-$200, the rest of your Airsoft essentials can be found for less than $30 a piece.
An entry level Paintball gun will cost about the same as an entry level Airsoft AEG, but all the other essentials are usually considerably more. Quality Paintball rounds are considerably more expensive than quality Airsoft bb's. A pack of 2000 RPS Stinger Paintballs can range around $35-$40 a pack while 5000 .20g Airsoft bb's can run between $11-$15. Not only that, but Paintball players then have to purchase extra tanks if they want to play more than a couple of rounds (add $35 - $150 or more), get each tank filled for $5 - $10/per, and then hope they don't run out of C02 or HPA on the field.
All you need is an inexpensive Battery & Charger for Airsoft. And if your battery dies on the field all you have to do is charge it up again either by car adapter or electrical plug; no massive C02 tank necessary.
In the end Airsoft is one of the most practical, safe, and fun activities anyone could do with their free time. It's the evolution of MILSIM, ask anyone that plays with an organized group and they'll say the same thing.
Airsoft can bring out the best in players especially when they get the rush of adrenaline. It's that same rush that comes right before a planned ambush is sprung. It's that feeling of your thumping chest when you're stacked 5 deep and about to clear a 4 bedroom house with known hostiles. It's that rush when a burst of 15 bb's zip past your ear.
That rush is addicting, and if you get hooked it's hard not to want more.
2. Its Great Exercise. No one can argue against this, and I'd say it's especially true when playing outdoors. If you get deep in to the woods then you know how fields can turn in to random muck and the only option is through.
Usually with indoor games the only weight you may gain is in sweat. But after 35m of murky field you'll easily gain 5 - 10lbs of water and mud. Oh, and don't forget those steep hills that everyone always fights over (Hamburger Hill at Splat Action comes to mind).
All that weight will really begin to tear you down after hours of constant climbing, crawling, standing, and diving. Muscles that you forgot you had will begin to swell and ache. The power boars will wear off, dehydration will kick in, and the walk back to the re-spawn will be a welcome break. Who needs P90X when you can just play Airsoft?
So I don't know about you, but after an intense day of playing all I'll want to do is sit in a hot tub and drink a beer.
3. Skill Sharpening "…research has shown that video game playing experience or playing a video game immediately before being tested can improve both reaction times and anticipation" (source) and that it can also improve vision up to 20% (source). That being said, we all know Airsoft and FPS video games have a lot in common and that a large portion Airsofters are also avid gamers. So it only seems natural for game players to want to test their reaction times and vision in life. It's funny, but I don't know how many times I’ve thought to myself during a game: "This is just like a video game…"
Not only does Airsoft work your reaction time, vision, and judgment, but it is also a great way to improve teamwork, problem solving, land navigation, memory, and mental/physical discipline. One could consider Airsoft a live action game of chess and the players that are the most successful are the ones that can think one move ahead of their opponent.
4. it’s the next best thing... I know I’m going to get immolated for this one, but it's the next best thing to being in the military. I can say this because I did serve for 4 years in the Marines as an AAV crewman and did see a wide variety of training on top of the invasion of Iraq. And Airsoft is simply the next best thing because if scenario games are administered correctly then they can be extremely true to life. Military, LE, and much of the private sector is starting to notice this as well and have begun implementing Airsoft in to scenario training.
So moms, if you don't want your boy going joining the military then let him get it out of his system early with Airsoft; if he still joins then rest assured he'll be conditioned for it ;).
5. it’s cheap! Now before jumping to any conclusions let me explain first. I say Airsoft is cheap in comparison to the other technologies out there (Simunition, MILES, and Paintball). Assuming that you're a regular player, enthusiast, trainer, or someone who just loves war games, Airsoft is your least expensive option. Even the initial investment isn't as bad as some would think. Simunition and MILES aside, Airsoft is still more cost effective than paintball. If you think about it all you really need for Airsoft is a basic AEG with a hi-cap magazine, some cheap woodland camo, eye protection, and bb's. Other than the gun, which might run between $150-$200, the rest of your Airsoft essentials can be found for less than $30 a piece.
An entry level Paintball gun will cost about the same as an entry level Airsoft AEG, but all the other essentials are usually considerably more. Quality Paintball rounds are considerably more expensive than quality Airsoft bb's. A pack of 2000 RPS Stinger Paintballs can range around $35-$40 a pack while 5000 .20g Airsoft bb's can run between $11-$15. Not only that, but Paintball players then have to purchase extra tanks if they want to play more than a couple of rounds (add $35 - $150 or more), get each tank filled for $5 - $10/per, and then hope they don't run out of C02 or HPA on the field.
All you need is an inexpensive Battery & Charger for Airsoft. And if your battery dies on the field all you have to do is charge it up again either by car adapter or electrical plug; no massive C02 tank necessary.
In the end Airsoft is one of the most practical, safe, and fun activities anyone could do with their free time. It's the evolution of MILSIM, ask anyone that plays with an organized group and they'll say the same thing.
