Airsoft reload training

[sfpmb]

I like to dry fire. My wife would sometimes laugh and look up from her book at the soft thump of my magazines hitting the carpet. I was moving around our bedroom (don't say you haven't done it) going from target to target that was taped to the walls, while I changed magazines in between them. Although I was really working the motor skills to do reloads I did not have any good feed back if I paused long enough on the target before I moved and did the mag change, especially if I was trying to push it. Well I started using airsoft and did not really know how to incorporate it because of the broken feed lip problem when you drop a mag (I have replaced a few of them). I thought I would share how I do reloading drills using the airsoft in my garage.

reloading drills for airsoft

I think it fair to explain what benefit I think I get that is more than dry fire. When I react to the beep, I have to keep the sight there while I pull the trigger, or I start the mag change too early and pull the shot just off the target (which I have done in uspsa matches). I time the drills so I get objective feedback like, that was .35 sec slower than good runs. I get to then subjectively say one or more of the following, I was slow with my reaction, I fumbled the reload, did not get a good return to target grip, I did not get a sight picture and had to take a second shot. Frankly, with dry fire I could only rely on subjective feelings and could never tell the difference or knew if this or that reload was .10 faster or slower. I think the closest I got to that in dry fire was using a par timer. Even then it was a judgement call on whether I really could have got the shot off when I returned to the target.

Trying to be creative and also trying to get better. I have heard a few people say they don't reload train with airsoft. I think it can work and here is how I am doing it. Oh, when the kids go to bed, the mags still find there way to the carpet floor along with a few giggles from the audience.

Edited August 8, 2009 by sfpmb

[Rocket35]

Excellant setup Phil. We need to talk!

[Chris Keen]

Looks good, but why arent you doing draws from the holster too?

[sfpmb]

Looks good, but why arent you doing draws from the holster too?

I do but this was just a reload drill. A good friend and I talked about this recently at the range (we were doing draws and reloads). I wanted to break it down and just do the reload. I wanted to start feeling the subtle differences in my reload and how that affects my time. How I am training now, I am seperating alot of the core skills in addition to combining them. When I have done the draw, one shot, reload, one shot (even in dry fire), that is one more thing happening in a very short amount of time. At my skill now I cannot recognize the +- .10, was it in the draw or reload? If I want to just see that seperate skill, it gets kind off lost in all that for multiple skill drills. I am kind of doing alot of thinking about my training. I just made A class because of Area 1. I recognize areas of my shooting I could have done better. I think that is driving some of my training now.

[Rocket35]

I break down my draw and reloads training as well. It's good to combine them too. But to truly focus on improving one or the other it is best to break them down one step at a time.