Air soft or .22lr for training?

Cavere · Feb 10, 2013

I've been shooting with my m&p 9c every week now but it's getting a little costly. I want to get better with accuracy and am thinking about getting a beretta neos maybe a m&p .22 (I know that's another debate). But a friend brought up getting an airsoft for even cheaper shooting. Which would be a better route for improving my abilities?

There is a blowback version of the m&p would that be better than a standard airsoft?

Mike7.62 · Feb 10, 2013

IMO, airsoft is a waste of money. I would rather get a Ruger Mk I/II/III or other .22LR semi auto, and use .22LR for practice. It gives much more realistic training than any airsoft. It's a real pistol as opposed to a glorified toy. Sight picture, trigger and breath control, and above all repeatability and accuracy of the weapon itself are superior.

edited to add, if Smith has a .22LR version of the M&P, that would be the first choice of .22's to purchase.

Smith357 · Feb 10, 2013

if you have a place to shoot the .22 is the way to go. Ruger Mk II If you have to do it in the burbs or the city a quality pellet gun. Airsoft guns are a smoothbore and not accurate.

rwsmith · Feb 10, 2013

The best paintball equipment is...

... essentially toys made for people to shoot at each other. If you want to learn shooting, get a real gun. I'd consider a decent pellet gun before paintball for real shooting.

Onomea · Feb 10, 2013

I think it depends on what sort of training you want to do. If you are trying to improve your accuracy only, then the .22. If you are working on drawing and firing quickly and accurately, doing drills, I'd go with the airsoft because you can get the exact same model, size and weight, as whatever you carry.

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rimfired · Feb 10, 2013

Train with what you plan to carry and shoot.

Cavere · Feb 10, 2013

But is the m&p .22 trigger that similar to the 9c? I know people say to stick with one platform but I'm not positive I want to stick with just one for now.

I know the ruger mk l/ll/lll are popular especially the first two but honestly I just don't love them and the only one I've seen lately was a bicentennial mk l for $400.

Mike7.62 · Feb 11, 2013

I'll guarantee that the M&P .22 trigger is alot closer to the M&P 9mm than the airsoft version is.

If you don't like the M&P or the Ruger, go with another make. Browning and Sig make fine semi auto .22's also. I do think that the M&P .22 is the ticket though, or possibly investing in a Dillon Square Deal for 9mm. When the current hoopla in components blows over it will become reasonable to do so, and it is the only sure way that you can practice more for less using the exact same platform.

cowart · Feb 11, 2013

Cavere said:
I know the ruger mk l/ll/lll are popular especially the first two but honestly I just don't love them and the only one I've seen lately was a bicentennial mk l for $400.

There are several for sale on Gunbroker for a little less than $400

mtgianni · Feb 12, 2013

Take up relaoding. You can buy a reloader and components for the same cost as a 22 and not worry about trying to find ammo.

Cavere · Feb 13, 2013

I ended up buying a beretta neos with a 6" barrel. I felt the m&p .22 but it just felt pretty light to me. Plus the neos has some pretty cool features.

marlin.357 · Feb 13, 2013

There is a gas blowback (GBB) airsoft pistol made by WE (taiwan), the N&P is identical in size and appearance to the full-size M&P including the three sizes of backstraps, and with a magazine inserted is close in weight & balance. The reciprocating slide adds a little realism over a fixed slide gun, reasonably accurate out to 7 yds indoors, maybe farther, haven't checked. Several top IPSC competitors trained using only airsofts in countries where they couldn't own real firearms. Police & military train with airsofts. Plastic BB's & green gas are cheaper than .22's, and available, and you can practice at home any time you want.

But then again, it's just a toy, so it's worthless for training or practice.......

Air soft or .22lr for training?

Cavere

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Mike7.62

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Smith357

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rwsmith

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Onomea

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rimfired

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Cavere

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Mike7.62

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cowart

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mtgianni

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Cavere

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marlin.357

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