Air soft. I just can't get there.

Airsoft is the latest "hot thing" to hit the firearms industry.

Oh and there has been quite a few hot things over the last few years.

*AR's in general...

*AR's with rails

*AR's with optics...then lasers and lights...

*Then there was a massive move to AR's that were piston driven (note this occured after the market was saturated with Direct Impingement AR's)

*Then the move was to get as light an AR as possible...

*Off came all the lights, lasers, full size optics and rails...to be replaced by single rail fore ends with places to attach short picantey rails for precision placement of those now small lights.

And now we have airsoft getting popular.  Only we've been here before.  If you remember there was a time when everyone was saying that using paintballs in training was the way to go.  Everyone flocked to the movement like flies to shit and that's exactly what the training was.  SHIT.  People were doing things that they would never dream of doing in actual combat, people were flying all over the place and suddenly with the rise in popularity people started looking for edges...over sized cans came into being, along with oversized paintball holders (don't know what else to call them).

Long story short, it turned into a joke.

The US Military and most (if not all) Law Enforcement Agencies are able to use either miles gear or simunitions.  So having said that I think this is being sold straight to the civilian shooter.  And that's the shame of it all.

If you've ever been to Europe or Japan then you'll see a BOOMING air soft industry.

The reason?

Extreme gun control.  They can't own a real AR so they buy fictional versions.  Oh they look like the real thing but in the end all they do is fire oversized BB's.

We have perverts in the US that go to Thailand for sex vacations...the Japanese have citizens that come to the US and other freedom loving countries for firearms vacations.

When at home they play with airsoft.  Other times they go to other places to get their hands on the real thing.

And then their is the price of good quality replica firearms...From the Air Soft Mega Store...

AIM Sports Tactical Ergonomic RIS Foregrip Vertical Grip w/ Pressure Pad Housing - For All RIS/Weaver Rails	1	$0.00
	420 FPS Classic Army Full Metal LWRC M6A2 Compact Carbine Airsoft AEG (Dark Bronze) - Electric Blowback - w/ Fully Licensed LWRC TrademarksOptions	1	$711.60	remove
	DBoys Airsoft 110rd M4 / M16 Metal Mid-Cap Magazine [Mid-Cap Mag] - For AGM, CA, DBoys, Echo 1, G&G, ICS, JG, KWA, and SRC M4/M16 AEGs	1	$0.00
	AIM Sports 4x32 Fiber Optic Advanced Combat Red/Green Dot Tactical Rifle Scope - 4x Magnification w/ Fiber Optic Sighting	1	$0.00
	Diamond Tactical OpSpec VIPER Single Point Bungee Sling Black [DT208B] - Weapon Retention System	1	$0.00
	Black Bear Airsoft RAIDER Tactical Steel Mesh Padded Lower Face Mask w/ Ear Protection - 550 FPS MISSION-RATED PROTECTION - Black	1	$0.00
	Tactical Assault Airsoft Paintball Law Enforcement Vest - DESERT TAN	1	$0.00
	Diamond Tactical Urban Assault Tactical 36" Deluxe Gun Bag w/ Heavy Duty Padding - Ultra High Grade 600D Rugged Construction - BLACK	1	$0.00

8 items in cart

Subtotal: $711.60

How many red blooded, worried about the economy Americans are going to plump down over 700 dollars for a weapon that doesn't even fire real bullets?  Put this down as a fashion trend...label it as a get rich quick scheme for those in the right spots...but for the average guy, better to save that money for ammo to the range.  

Sorry Haley.  Good idea but on this one, I think you're wrong. 

NOTE:

Haley put forward a couple of EXTREMELY important issues when it comes to getting the most out of this training.  Off the top of my head I remember him talking about training the way that you fight.  Using it to make up for training when you can't make it to the range.  To make sure that you're wearing the same gear and have the weapon set up the exact same way as you would when you're kicking in doors...and a few more I can't recall.  

But my main issue with all of this is that because of the very nature of air soft, good training, good tactics and basically good firearms discipline goes out the door.  IF YOU'RE EXTREMELY REGIMENTED THEN THIS COULD WORK.  But I don't see many being able to maintain the type of focus and discipline especially during force on force training when you know that pain really ain't coming out the end of the other guys barrel.  A little...a very little discomfort but not pain.  That's why simunitions are king, MILES is an ok alternative (especially for armored units) and airsoft just don't cut it.  Don't believe me?  Check out the vid below.  Oh and these are probably some of the most hardcore airsofters on the net.  These Brits have the kit, have expensive airsoft rifles but lousy tactics.  See for yourself!