Maximizing Proficiency: The Crucial Role of Airsoft Guns in Self-Defense Training

In the realm of self-defense, the importance of continuous training cannot be overstated. The ability to use a firearm effectively in self-defense is undeniably a perishable skill, one that demands regular practice to maintain and enhance proficiency. However, the high costs associated with ammunition and range time can often deter enthusiasts and individuals seeking to hone their skills for self-defense purposes.

Discover the world of airsoft guns, a revolutionary alternative offering an affordable and easily accessible way to simulate shooting maneuvers and actions. This article delves into their significance in self-defense training, shedding light on their pivotal role in skill enhancement, enabling home-based practice, and fostering overall proficiency. These innovative tools not only serve as recreations of real-life scenarios but also play a crucial role in honing precision, reflexes, and strategic thinking. Uncover the benefits of integrating airsoft and paintball into your training regimen, revolutionizing your approach to self-defense with these dynamic and practical alternatives.

In the dynamic landscape of self-defense, replicating real-world scenarios is paramount, and airsoft  guns provide a practical means to achieve this. Their capacity to mimic the weight, handling, and recoil of actual firearms allows practitioners to hone their skills without the associated risks. Moreover, the interactive nature of airsoft engagements promotes strategic thinking, reflex development, and precision.

Shared From Sportsman's Warehouse YouTube Channel

Home-based practice takes center stage, breaking down barriers to training frequency. With these alternatives, enthusiasts can refine their techniques in the comfort of their surroundings, adapting to various scenarios and refining their response times. This adaptability extends beyond professionals to individuals seeking personal safety skills, broadening the accessibility of effective self-defense training.

In essence, airsoft guns and paintball guns transcend mere recreational tools, evolving into indispensable assets for those committed to enhancing their self-defense capabilities. As we unravel their multifaceted benefits, it becomes evident that these innovative alternatives are reshaping the landscape of skill development and proficiency in the realm of self-defense.

Caution: Prioritize safety when using airsoft guns for shooting practice. Always wear protective gear, use in designated areas, and treat them as real firearms to prevent accidents.

1. Cost-Effective Skill Enhancement

Ammunition costs can quickly add up, making frequent trips to the shooting range a financial burden for many enthusiasts. Air guns offer an economical solution, allowing individuals to engage in regular practice, for as little as a few cents per round, without burning a hole in their wallets.

The affordability of airsoft guns and airsoft ammunition makes it possible for enthusiasts to dedicate more time to refining their shooting techniques.  The guns themselves can be obtained for less than $200 for a Glock 19 from Umarex.  Even when adding up the costs of CO2 cartridges and airsoft ammunition combined, the cost is still only pennies per round. This financial advantage enables consistent training, ensuring that self-defense skills remain sharp and effective over time.

2. Accessibility: Practice Anytime, Anywhere

One of the primary advantages of incorporating airsoft guns into your training regimen is the ability to practice in the comfort of your own home. Unlike traditional firearms, these alternatives generate minimal noise and do not require live ammunition, making them suitable for home-based training.

This accessibility is particularly beneficial for individuals with busy schedules, as it eliminates the need to travel to a shooting range. Whether you have a spacious backyard or a dedicated indoor area, practicing with airsoft guns allows you to integrate self-defense training seamlessly into your daily routine.

3. Replicating Realistic Shooting Scenarios

While airsoft guns may not precisely replicate the recoil and noise of live firearms, they excel at simulating realistic shooting scenarios. The weight, feel, and handling of these alternatives closely resemble actual firearms, providing users with a valuable opportunity to practice drawing, aiming, and firing in a controlled environment.

By incorporating these realistic elements into your training, you enhance muscle memory and develop a fluidity in your movements. This is particularly relevant in high-stress situations where quick and accurate responses are critical for self-defense.

4. Tactical Decision-Making Skills

Self-defense extends beyond marksmanship skills; it requires sound tactical decision-making. Airsoft guns provide a platform for scenario-based training, allowing individuals to simulate various threat scenarios and practice making split-second decisions.

Creating scenarios that mimic real-life threats enhances situational awareness and decision-making skills. Whether you're facing multiple targets, navigating obstacles, or dealing with low-light conditions, these training tools empower you to develop a strategic mindset that is invaluable in self-defense situations.

5. Safe Training Environments

Safety is paramount in any form of firearms training. Airsoft guns offer a safer alternative, especially when training at home. Since these tools use non-lethal projectiles, the risk of accidental injury is significantly reduced.

This safety aspect is particularly advantageous for individuals new to firearms or those training in family environments. It allows for a gradual introduction to firearms handling without the anxiety associated with live ammunition, fostering a sense of confidence and competence in users.

Caution: Prioritize safety when using airsoft guns for shooting practice. Always wear protective gear, use in designated areas, and treat them as real firearms to prevent accidents.

6. Skill Transfer to Live Firearms

While air guns may not completely replicate the experience of firing live ammunition, the skills developed through their use can readily transfer to actual firearms. The muscle memory, hand-eye coordination, and overall familiarity with the mechanics of shooting translate seamlessly when transitioning to live firearms.

This bridge between training tools ensures a smoother adaptation to live-fire situations, reducing the learning curve and increasing the effectiveness of self-defense skills. As a result, enthusiasts find themselves better prepared to handle real-life threats confidently and competently.

7. Community and Team-Building Opportunities

Beyond individual training, airsoft also offers community and team-building opportunities. Participating in airsoft matches fosters camaraderie among enthusiasts, providing a dynamic and interactive platform to test and improve self-defense skills.

Team-based scenarios create an environment where individuals must communicate, strategize, and execute plans effectively. These experiences not only enhance self-defense skills but also contribute to a broader understanding of tactical teamwork, a valuable asset in various real-world situations.

Conclusion: Empowering Proficiency Through Innovation

In conclusion, the role and efficacy of airsoft guns in self-defense training cannot be overstated. These innovative alternatives offer a cost-effective, accessible, and safe means to hone skills critical for personal safety. By incorporating realistic scenarios and decision-making challenges, enthusiasts and individuals aspiring to use firearms for self-defense can maximize their proficiency without the constraints of traditional training methods.

Shared From the Combat Ready YouTube Channel

As technology advances and new training tools emerge, the synergy between innovation and self-defense becomes increasingly evident. Embracing the alternatives offered by airsoft guns not only addresses the financial barriers associated with traditional firearms training but also empowers individuals to cultivate and maintain the skills necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones effectively. Through consistent, realistic, and engaging practice, the journey toward self-defense proficiency becomes an attainable and enriching endeavor for all enthusiasts.

Mastering Instinctive Shooting Techniques: A Crucial Skill for Emergency Situations

In my last article, I started off the new year by helping you think of the important aspects of "Choosing the Right Firearms For Personal Defense..."  Now that you have hopefully had some opportunities to try out a few models and make a selection, it's now time to get down to the nuts and bolts of making your chosen firearm a useful tool for self defense.  In moments of crisis and emergency situations, individuals often find themselves facing high-stress environments that demand quick thinking and immediate action. For those trained in self-defense or law enforcement, mastering instinctive shooting techniques becomes a crucial skill to navigate these high-pressure scenarios effectively. In this article, we will explore the importance of training for emergency situations, delve into the concept of instinctive shooting, and discuss methods to maintain accuracy under stress.

The Importance of Training for Emergency Situations

Emergencies can strike at any time, and being prepared to respond swiftly can be a matter of life and death. Whether it's a home invasion, an active shooter situation, or any other crisis, the ability to react calmly and effectively is essential. This is where proper training plays a pivotal role.

Muscle Memory and Reflexes:

In emergency situations, individuals often experience an adrenaline rush, triggering the body's fight-or-flight response. Through regular training, individuals can develop muscle memory and reflexes that enable them to respond instinctively to threats. This level of preparedness can make the difference between fumbling under pressure and executing precise actions.

Reducing Decision-Making Time:

During high-stress situations, decision-making time is significantly reduced. Proper training allows individuals to make split-second decisions more efficiently, minimizing the risk of hesitation or indecision. Training helps in creating mental pathways that streamline the thought process, enabling faster and more accurate responses.

Visit My Amazon Affiliate Link for Dry Fire Training Systems

Emotional Control:

Emergency situations often evoke intense emotions, which can cloud judgment and hinder performance. Training not only builds physical skills but also helps individuals develop emotional control. This emotional resilience is crucial for maintaining focus and executing necessary actions even in the face of fear or anxiety.

Instinctive Shooting Techniques

Instinctive shooting, also known as point shooting or threat-focused shooting, is a shooting technique that relies on the shooter's natural instincts and reflexes rather than precise aiming through sights. In high-stress situations, the fine motor skills required for traditional sighted shooting may degrade, making instinctive shooting a valuable alternative. Here are some key aspects of instinctive shooting techniques:

Body Indexing:

Instinctive shooting involves aligning the body with the target rather than focusing on aligning the sights. By using the body as an index, shooters can quickly point the firearm at the threat without relying on a precise sight picture. This method capitalizes on the natural pointing ability of the human hand-eye coordination.

Target Focus:

Unlike traditional shooting, where shooters focus on aligning the sights with the target, instinctive shooting emphasizes maintaining focus on the threat. By training to keep the eyes on the target while bringing the firearm into the line of sight, individuals can engage threats more rapidly and maintain situational awareness.

Close Quarters Shooting:

Instinctive shooting is particularly effective in close-quarters engagements where there is limited time and space. In these situations, the speed of response is crucial, and instinctive shooting allows for rapid engagement without the need for precise sight alignment.

Peripheral Vision Utilization:

Traditional shooting often relies on a narrow focus through the sights, limiting peripheral vision. Instinctive shooting, on the other hand, encourages shooters to use their peripheral vision to maintain awareness of the surroundings while engaging the threat. This broader field of view is advantageous in dynamic and unpredictable emergency scenarios.

Maintaining Accuracy in Emergency Scenarios

While instinctive shooting techniques prioritize speed and quick target acquisition, maintaining accuracy remains paramount. Here are key considerations for ensuring accuracy in emergency scenarios:

Regular Training:

Consistent and focused training is the foundation of accuracy under stress. Regular practice of instinctive shooting techniques helps individuals refine their skills, build muscle memory, and reinforce the mental pathways required for effective responses. Training sessions should simulate realistic emergency scenarios to better prepare shooters for real-life situations.

Dry Fire Practice:

Dry fire practice, where shooters simulate firing without live ammunition, is a valuable tool for honing instinctive shooting skills. This allows individuals to focus on their technique, body positioning, and trigger control without the distractions of recoil or live rounds. Incorporating dry fire sessions into regular training routines enhances overall proficiency.

Visit My Amazon Affiliate Link for Dry Fire Training System

Stress Inoculation:

Introducing stressors during training, such as timed drills, simulated surprise scenarios, or physical exertion, helps individuals acclimate to the physiological and psychological effects of stress. By replicating elements of real emergencies, stress inoculation prepares shooters to maintain accuracy and composure in high-pressure situations.

Shot Placement Awareness:

While speed is crucial, shooters must also be mindful of shot placement. Training should emphasize hitting vital areas of the threat to incapacitate them effectively. This requires a balance between rapid target acquisition and maintaining the discipline to place shots accurately.

Visualizing Success:

Visualization techniques can enhance shooting performance under stress. By mentally rehearsing emergency scenarios and visualizing successful outcomes, individuals can condition their minds to respond effectively. Visualization complements physical training, reinforcing the neural pathways associated with accurate and rapid instinctive shooting.

Wrapping It All Up

In emergency situations, the ability to respond rapidly and accurately is a skill that can be developed through purposeful training and a commitment to mastering instinctive shooting techniques. Understanding the importance of training for high-stress scenarios, adopting instinctive shooting methods, and consistently honing these skills are essential for individuals in roles that require self-defense or law enforcement.

The fusion of mental preparedness, emotional resilience, and physical proficiency forms the foundation for effective response in emergencies. By embracing instinctive shooting techniques and maintaining accuracy under stress, individuals can enhance their overall readiness and contribute to creating safer environments for themselves and those around them. In a world where uncertainty is a constant, the value of being well-prepared for the unexpected cannot be overstated.

The CNN Spin on DC versus Heller

From time to time, I like to highlight what "the other side" is saying about the Second Amendment and gun ownership rights.  And this CNN video is about as "other side" as it gets when it comes to gun rights and the attitudes expressed by those who are ignorant about the reason for gun rights or just hate guns that much.

Although this video is from almost 7 years ago, it highlights what gun owners are up against when it comes to the interpretation of the right to keep and bear arms.  Leave it to CNN to inject their own interpretation into the wording and interpretation of the 2008 Supreme Court DC versus Heller ruling and even the wording of the Second Amendment itself.  It always seems that those who don't understand the Second Amendment or who have a blatant agenda to severely limit or even do away with gun ownership in this country, twist words and meaning to suit that agenda.

This Writer's Opinion: The Founding Fathers made it clear in their language when they wrote the Second Amendment that the citizenry had an absolutely individual right (and responsibility) to keep and bear arms.  The "militia" clause simply meant that all able-bodied citizens make up the militia, and "well regulated" simply means that these same citizens should be well trained in the use of firearms.  And according to several constitutional and second amendment scholars and lawyers, the founders agreed to this very opinion.  The Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting, as many today will often claim.  The Second Amendment is all about an individual right to self-defense, whether that defense is from a criminal or a tyrannical government entity.

The same opinions expressed by CNN in this video are still being expressed today.  It is important for all of us to be sure that we are aware of what is being said by both sides of the argument, and then being able to articulate facts and truth.  Stay active in Second Amendment issues.  Attend rallies, gun rights events, city council meetings, and town hall events with your representatives.  Don't be afraid to question them on their stances and express your opinions.  But most important of all, VOTE!  Supporting and electing good Second Amendment friendly candidates is crucial to our ability to maintain our rights and our heritage.

And in Other News...

SCOTUS Contemplating Case Regarding Unconstitutional Bans...:

I always get excitedly optimistic but at the same time a little worried when the Supreme Court decides to take up a gun rights case.  Given the current makeup of the Supreme Court, I lean more on the optimistic side in hopes that SCOTUS will again maintain the opinion that not only is the Second Amendment an individual right but also rule that it is a right that protects firearms and firearm accessories in common use, as the framers intended.  But these rulings can go either way, which will influence the way that states and municipalities make or modify their laws.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed in hopes that SCOTUS rules correctly on this matter.

You can find out more information about the Worman versus Healey case that is discussed in this video.  Click on the various "Main Document" links there to read the Amicus (friend of the court) briefs filed by the various organizations for this case.  You can also stay up on Second Amendment news and get some great gear reviews by subscribing to The Guns and Gadgets Channel.

Training

Trigger Finger Isolation Drill:

This week's drill is another good one from The Tactical Rifleman Channel.  Trigger finger placement has a huge influence on where the shots land.  Too far across the trigger, or too shallow, and your trigger finger could possibly throw your point-of-aim/point-of-impact relationship off and your shots will not go where they were intended.  As they show in the video, this drill is done very close to the target into a 1-inch by 1-inch square.  As you can see in the video, a slight error at this distance will be greatly magnified at farther distances.

This drill can be done in a dry fire environment using the LASR App software, but then should be done in the range under live fire to get a feel for actual recoil and trigger press from the pistol that you are carrying with or shooting in competition.  My competition pistol and my daily carry pistol are two different guns, so I practice this drill with both. Practice putting your trigger finger at different positions to find the best spot.  Once you have found the ideal trigger finger placement, practice over and over until you build up good muscle memory.

The link for the target used in this drill is here:  https://instructorzee.com/targets-%26-stuff.  This target can be programmed into the LASR App software as well so that you can see how the various trigger finger placements affect the actual point of impact on the target.  Then when you think you have found your proper trigger finger placement, go to the range and practice under live fire to confirm.



Shameless Commercial Plug:

For more information about the LASR App Training System that you can use to set up this drill in a dry fire environment, see my LASR App page and receive a discount when using my discount code.

To receive a 10% discount on Live Fire Drill Cards, a shooter's training log and some great training ideas visit Burnett LFDC!

Second Amendment News and Training Resources

With all of the news about gun legislation, gun control efforts, and other threats to our Second Amendment liberties, I wanted to take a moment to post about some excellent resources for getting up to date news about new laws, gun control efforts, and even some good gear reviews.  There are also some good training channels out there as well.  In fact, the reason I am featuring some of my favorite channels below is that they have a good mixture of news, training, and gear reviews.  Training and staying sharp is important these days, especially if you are trying to maintain your emergency preparedness and self-defense posture.  I highly recommend visiting the channels for these folks, like their videos, and subscribing to their channels.  The YouTube algorithms are such that liking and subscribing really helps these channels to stay visible and get traffic.  Below are the links to their channels, as well as some recent videos to help get a sense of their video style.

Please also visit some of my affiliate links on this page and in this blog as well.  These are good, patriotic vendors, and I would like to help them earn your business.
  

Guns & Gadgets:

The Daily Shooter:

Reid Henricks (Valor Ridge):

Alex Kinkaid (Three F Words):

Pat McNamara:

Back to The Fundamentals

When I see a student struggling with defensive pistol handling and marksmanship techniques, it is most often due to not practicing the fundamentals of basic pistol handling.  Either they don't know the fundamentals, or they are rushing through each of the phases of proper pistol handling to hastily get the gun up and on the target.  But this rushed and "unpurposeful" attempt at pistol presentation is leading to wasted movements and poor marksmanship.  Too many times, the student does not have the pistol presented in a good defensive posture, and then the shots tend to be scattered and not as effective as they could be.

The Pat McNamara video below is one of the best that I have found to illustrate the basics of pistol handling.  He breaks down the fundamentals of pistol handling into its most basic components.  Each of the pistol handling "phases" can be broken down into specific components, each of which is deliberate, has a proper form, and each of which has a very specific tactical purpose.  Slow is smooth, smooth is fast, and fast is deadly.  Hasty and hurried, especially in a gun-fight, will get you killed.

When watching this short video, all of the phases and techniques he describes are important, but specifically, I would like to draw attention to his comments on trigger finger placement.  Trigger finger placement has a HUGE influence on proper marksmanship.  I have tried this technique myself.  It works.  I too was a product of training where the pad of the finger (splitting the distal phalange, as Pat calls it) is the proper placement.  But after watching Pat's videos, talking to other competitive shooters, and actually practicing it myself, I have found that actually syncing the finger all the way in, usually until the finger joint is on the trigger, provides a great deal of advantage when it comes to making sure that there is no undue influence on the trigger that would cause shots to be off. 

Pistol grip, trigger finger placement, pistol presentation, and firing the shot are all indeed a matter of physics and proper tool usage.  Using physics and mechanical principles over wasted and forced movements will win for you every time.

So what can you do?  Practice, practice, practice!  And not all practice has to be done at the range.  Dry-fire practice is an excellent way to practice those movements, such as drawing from a holster, pistol presentation, trigger finger placement, and a smooth steady trigger squeeze.  Remember, slow is smooth, smooth is fast, and fast is deadly.  Performing that slow repetition, over and over again, will help you with what is referred to as "deep training" to help build muscle memory.  Then you can go to the range and put that deep training and practice into play, and then concentrate on marksmanship.  

For more on "Deep Training" techniques, by the way, read Tim Larkin's book, "When Violence is the Answer."  I have found the methods and techniques discussed in this book to be an anexceptional resource for all types of training, whether it is hand to hand, non-lethal tools employment, or basic firearms handling.

I will be posting some videos soon that will show how I have set up my own dry fire practice area, and how I get the most out of my practice time using slow and deliberate techniques to build up to that smooth and quick defensive pistol delivery.  So stay tuned!

To purchase the LASR App that I use in my own dry-fire practice, plus a lot of good dry fire training gear, visit Shooter Technology Group and use my discount code GONZO58.

To Receive a 10% discount on Live Fire Drill Cards, a shooter's training log and some great training ideas visit Burnett LFDC!

Be sure to visit Gonzo's Garage for more articles
and recommended products.

The Self Defense Sentinel

Wanted to share a 5-part video series on defensive awareness and other related strategies for staying safe.  Pat McNamara, who is a former Army Special Forces Delta Operator, did this video series.  He is a former Tier 1 operator and instructor – the best of the best, and now owns his own training and fitness company called TMACS (Tactics-Marksmanship-Adventure-Concepts-Security).

What struck me most about this video series, besides the excellent tips for staying safe, is that he repeats three key phrases over and over that should resonate with anyone who is concerned about their own safety and that of their loved ones:

“As the Agent in Charge of your own executive protection detail…”

YOU are the one in charge of your own safety.  Not the police.  The United States Supreme Court has ruled in a number of cases that the police have no duty whatsoever to protect you as an individual.  The job of the police is to enforce laws and investigate crimes.  In other words, they show up to draw the chalk line around the dead body.  So is the dead body going to be you and/or a loved one?  Or, is it going to be that of the violent criminal who came to do you harm?  You decide.  

And if you have little ones placed in your charge, then you better have the attitude that they deserve the top level of executive protection.  YOU are the agent in charge of that executive protection detail.  No one else is responsible for your safety or that of your loved ones.  And those little ones are counting on you to put foot to ass on their behalf if someone tries to harm them.

“Make it Habitual!”

Yes – awareness and self-defense are a combination of creating good habits and breaking bad ones.  Get training.  Practice techniques.  Build that muscle memory.  Wargame possible threat scenarios that might happen when you are at church, out shopping, at the park, or even at home.  

See my article on “The War-Gaming Sheepdog” for more information about this.  Think of how you will avoid being a target when you can.  And for the times when you have no way out, think of how you will destroy your attackers ahead of time, and then be ready to do it when the time comes.  Stay aware, and stay safe.

“We are so connected that we are disconnected…”

Can’t argue that smartphones and computers have made us so unaware of our own surroundings that we have become sitting ducks to violent attacks.  As Pat says in one of the videos, we humans cannot multi-task, even though we like to think that we can.  We can task-stack or task-switch, but we can only do one thing well at a time.

I’ll let the videos say the rest.  Enjoy!


Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

Paintball Guns as a Training and Self Defense Tactic

Let me just say up front:  Colorado law gives me criminal and civil immunity from prosecution should I decide to use deadly force in the event of a home invasion.  In a home invasion scenario, I will take full advantage of the legal protections afforded to me by law.  The main objective of any self-defense method is to stop the attack, and my philosophy is to stop the attack and protect my family by the most effective means available to me at the time.  For me, that method of self-defense includes having ready firearms, being trained to use them, and then employ them where needed. 

But not all people are comfortable having firearms in their homes, and not everyone is comfortable shooting firearms.  That is fine.  The methods that are right for me are not necessarily the methods that are right for others, and I respect that.  I wrote an article a while back on "Principles versus Tactics" to explain that you have to decide what you are willing to do in a particular situation, then for you to decide how you will accomplish that.

It is also important that I maintain my training and proficiency in my primary self-defense tool as well as a variety of other self-defense methods that I may need to employ to stop an attack.  It is not always time or cost effective to schedule trips to the range to expend live ammunition.  There are a variety of training methods out there that I use, including dry firing with the LASR App System, and using non-lethal projectile shooting tools such as paintball to help build the muscle memory involved in firearms operation, and that allows you to actually practice tactics with moving targets in a safe environment.

There are many other self-defense and training tools out there, but in my testing, I have found one in particular that I am writing about today offers both a good training tool and a good home defense tool, especially for folks who just aren't comfortable with having firearms in their homes.

Paintball as a Training Tool:

When it comes to training for tactics, having the ability to shoot at moving targets, and in return being shot at by moving targets offers more realism into actual scenarios that you may encounter.  This is a type of training often referred to as "force on force" training and is more effective at helping you to learn tactics and gun handling skills under pressure than simply shooting at static targets.  The type of training tools to achieve the desired proficiency outcomes is an important aspect to consider, however.  Whereas airsoft tends to use guns that emulate actual weapons functionality, such as forcing you to perform magazine changes, they offer little, in comparison to paintball, in the "pain" incentive to force you to be more tactfully minded to prevent from being shot.  While I have found airsoft to be a great training tool for indoor close quarters training, paintball offers a more fast-paced alternative to outdoor and longer range scenarios.  Since the incentive "not to get shot" is higher with paintball, the "stress inoculation" component obtained provides a more realistic force on force training as well.

Paintball as a Group Bonding Tool:

Putting on my prepper hat for a moment: Being able to train with your family, members of a team that you are prepping with, or even just the people you work with has its benefits also.  Paintball fields seem to be popping up all over the place.  Here in Colorado, "woodsball" is a very popular activity, as we have our beautiful mountains and forests in which to play games, and those areas offer a wide variety of terrains and scenarios.  Grab your bio-degradable paintball ammo and head for the hills!  Paintball has become very popular for families and groups to include as part of a camping trip, as well as for groups of co-workers to plan team-building events. 

Paintball as a Home Defense Tool:

In my recent testing, I have been quite impressed with the types of non-lethal self-defense paintball ammunition on the market today.  In addition to regular paintballs, you can also purchase pepper balls that contain pepper spray, hard rubber balls, PVC nylon balls, and even glass balls containing iron dust for use in paintball guns as a self-defense tool.  In my testing with various materials used as targets, I have seen the PVC Riot Balls, for example, cause enough damage on multiple thicknesses of heavy cardboard and drywall to be very plausible as a self-defense method.  I am awaiting a shipment from Bulls Breaker Balls in South Africa so that I can test their latest product, but my research so far indicates that that product has promise as a self-defense ammunition as well.

Paintball Gun Recommendations:

Hands down, the Tippmann A5 is my personal recommendation.  The Tippmann A5 is sort of the "Ruger 10/22" of the paintball gun world in that accessories, modifications, air supply variations, upgrades, and spare parts are so plentiful and widely marketed, that this gun can be personalized very easily.  This gun is extremely easy to work on and maintain, and there are a plethora of YouTube videos out there to give you advice and instruction.  I also prefer the Tippmann A5 simply because of the "Cyclone" feed system that has shown to be extremely reliable, and saves the expense of having to buy an add-on electric hopper, or some other feeding system, ta make the gun run consistently and reliably.  The Tippmann A5 also uses the larger 20+ oz CO2 and 3,000psi High-Pressure Air (HPA) supplies, which allows for larger capacities and more shots.  Reusable CO2 canisters are relatively inexpensive to purchase and fill, and fairly easy to find refill stations.  HPA refill equipment is becoming more readily available and inexpensive, and HPA is said to actually be better on paintball gun internals and more consistently shooting in a variety of environmental conditions (temperatures) than CO2.

My home-defense Tippmann A5 is modified with a buttstock, red dot sight, Vortex magazine conversion kit, and Flatline Barrel.  The magazine conversion is inexpensive and was very simple to install.  Instead of a hopper that is now in the way, I have the ability to load 20-round magazines with a variety of ammunition types.  I have the red dot sight set up for very close engagements, zeroed for 21 feet, a typical distance of encounter within my home.  I have the velocity set at around 300fps, which is enough velocity to be effective, but yet low enough to help prolong the life of the gun internal valves and o-rings.  The CO2 supply is a 24oz external cylinder that is screwed in, but not fully, so as to prevent leakages, but still be on the gun so that it can be quickly screwed in the remaining turn or two to fully charge the gun when needed.  The ready condition of this gun also includes a fully loaded magazine in the gun and four spare fully loaded magazines nearby. 

For those of you who prefer more of a "handgun" type of platform, there are two front-runners out there.  The Tippmann TiPX, and the Tiberius T8.1.  In fact, the Tippmann TiPX is used as the manufacturing model for the SALT Supply Pepper Gun, as those models are actually manufactured by Tippmann, and then sold as a self-defense weapon.  Both the Tippmann and Tiberius are .68 caliber paintball guns, an important factor when choosing a caliber for your paintball ammunition.  68 caliber is the most readily available when choosing actual self-defense rounds, and it has more capability as a self-defense caliber (in my humble opinion) than the smaller paintball calibers.  Both also use the smaller 12-gram CO2 cartridge for the air supply.  These cartridges are very inexpensive to buy in large quantities but have very limited capacity when shooting.  I recommend the handgun platform as a backup, but not as a primary defense tool.

My personal preference (for the handgun platform) is the Tiberius T8.1.  The main reason I chose the Tiberius model is because the CO2 cartridge and the paintball rounds are both contained within the magazine.  That means that will very magazine reload, you are getting a fresh CO2 canister as well as more ammunition.  These paintball pistols only fire 10 or so rounds per paintballs CO2 cartridge, so being able to quickly reload both ammunition and CO2 quickly is extremely important in a self-defense scenario.  I also chose the Tiberius model because it comes ready to go out of the box with the ability to load and shoot the new "First Strike" shaped paintball rounds, which come in both paint and solid self-defense rounds.

A Word on Airguns/Airsoft for Self Defense:

Airsoft guns are NOT self-defense tools.  Period.  They may offer a half-second distraction so that you can flee and go find another weapon, but they will not stop an attack.  There is a chance that brandishing that airsoft gun will give the bad guys pause, but they will soon see that orange tip and know that you do not have the ability to do them any harm at that particular moment. Other air guns, such as pellet guns, may have the ability to cause minor injury or a momentary distraction, but again (in my humble opinion), pellet guns just are not made to be self-defense tools.  There are varying opinions about that out there, certainly, the video below explains some ideas on the subject.

Wrapping It All UP!

I believe in firearms as the most effective defensive measure in the event of a home invasion. Period!  Violent criminals only understand one thing: Force.  Speed, surprise, violence of action, and a determination to win will help you prevail against evil.  I always have a firearm at the ready at various places in my home and am ready to employ the firearms as a defensive measure all the time, but I also have non-lethal tools such as pepper spray and paintball guns that I see as viable options in home defense scenarios.  

Not everyone is comfortable with having firearms in their homes and would like a non-lethal measure to stop or at least slow down an attack.  Paintball guns offer a viable self-defense alternative, in my opinion.  There are a variety of inexpensive and reliable paintball guns out there, including the Tippmann A5 and Tiberius T8.1 guns, that can easily be adapted and customized for home defense use.  But whatever tool or tactic you choose, you must be familiar with the operation and maintenance of that tool, be familiar with its capabilities, and above all practice using them in order to be effective.

Defensive Pistol Tactical Training Styles

Over the years, I have had the good fortune to train with a wide variety of firearms and tactical instructors, and have learned efficient and effective gun-handling techniques from each and every one of them.  The instructors that I have worked with and trained under include law enforcement, SWAT Team Leaders, NRA civilian instructors, a former Navy SEAL, and even a former Army Delta Operator.  Each has their own style, and each has preferences for things such as stance, grip, front-sight focusing techniques, ready positions, malfunction clearing, and how to rack a slide. 

While one Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team who instructed in one of my classes was a proponent of the over-hand method for racking a slide, the Delta guy was a big fan of the “pinch” method.  The SEAL taught us the high compressed ready position for moving about and looking for threats, while many of the Army guys I trained with were taught the SUL position.  Most all NRA civilian instructors that I know teach the “tap, rack, bang” method for dealing with malfunctions, while the SEAL taught us the SPIR (Slap, Pull, Inspect, Release), then assess for threats method.  Rob Pincus, a law enforcement, and Personal Defense Network instructor teaches a point shooting method for aiming at a target that does not involve front sight focus at all, while many other law enforcement and NRA instructors I have worked with insist on front-site focus all the time.  And the Israeli instructors seem to teach completely different methods for everything all together.

The great value of receiving training from people who all do things differently is that you get to experience different techniques and hear different perspectives about what worked for them and their teams.  But at the end of the day, you need to find out what works best for YOU, and what will make you a better shooter and (should the worst happen) a winning gun-fighter.  So a few tips that I have learned over the years that have helped me: 

1. Go into the training with an open mind and a willingness to perform to the techniques being taught.
   
   
2. Practice what is being taught and HOW it is being taught by that particular instructor.  
   
   
3. Try (at least for that moment) to forget what has been taught in previous classes, and be willing to learn a new way of doing things.
     
4. Then, be able to pull everything back together and reflect afterward on what you have learned from a variety of people to put together your own menu of options that you will put into your personal training routine.

These are perishable skills.  Each technique requires constant practice for the buildup of muscle memory needed in order to master them.  The problem is that when you go into training that teaches a different technique than you’ve already learned, you will have a tendency to use what you are already practiced in and familiar with.  So don’t take it personally when the new instructor corrects you into doing it the way that is being taught in THEIR class.  The purpose of learning new things is to find out what works for you and what doesn’t.  You actually have to cheerfully accept the discipline that comes with these corrections to practice the movements in order see if the tools they are teaching to you are things that you want to (or even can) put into your own toolbox.

  

There is no law that says that when you pick your techniques that you only have to pick ALL of the techniques from only ONE particular class or instructor.  In other words, just because you learned something that works best for you from one instructor, it does not mean that you have to use ALL of the techniques from THAT instructor and not any of the others.  For example, I prefer the SPIR malfunction clearing methods that I learned from the SEAL over the tap/rack/bang method that the NRA people teach.  I alternate between the “pinch” and “overhand” slide rack techniques, depending on the necessity of the situation and arthritis in my hands.  I practice both.  The holster draw that I learned from the Delta guy seems more efficient and more natural.  I am now practicing a slide release after reloading technique that an Israeli instructor teaches because that one makes more sense to me for shaving those precious fractions of a second off of a critical movement that will make a difference in competition or, heaven forbid, a gunfight.  Some of the Israeli gun handling techniques, while unusual from what I have already learned, are worth it to me to look at and practice because they make sense also.  

So the bottom line here is that you have a lot to choose from.  If your instructors are reputable and have actual real-world experience, then it is safe to say that what all of them are teaching you is based on some pretty sound principles and tactics.  Pick which of the techniques from each area (and from each instructor) that work best for you (stance, grip, malfunction clearing, aiming, racking a slide, etc).  Practice your chosen techniques until you have complete mastery and fully developed muscle memory for them.

I honestly hope that none of us should actually get into a gunfight.  But if (when?) we do end up in one, we will not suddenly be able to rise to the ability of super-star combat warrior gun-fighting techniques.  We will always fall back to our level of training.  So we must make sure that our training includes many different perspectives, we should practice each of them over and over, and then pick the one that works best.  Then, practice some more until it is second nature and our level of training makes our natural actions as highly perfected as possible.  Learn and practice a wide variety of skills from each area, but master to perfection the skills from each area that will serve you the best.  Whether it is in competitive shooting or an actual emergency scenario, using consistent and thoroughly practiced gun handling skills will help you win.  

As the saying goes: professionals don’t practice until they get it right.  They practice until they can’t get it wrong.

Training with LASR and SIRT Gear

When it comes to firearms, especially for us concealed carry practitioners, staying sharp requires constant practice to keep those skills and muscle memory in top form.  Constant practice takes trips to the range and lots of ammunition.  But there is a way for you to get much of the required practice that you need to keep your muscle memory and shooting skills in top form through a method called "dry firing."

There is a very sophisticated method for dry fire training available today known as the light Activated Shot Reporter (LASR) system.  The LASR system is used with many of the laser training aids and laser barrel inserts available for firearms today, and especially the SIRT pistols and AR-15 bolts by Next Level Training.   With these, you can not only get valuable muscle memory training and skills practice but also receive instant feedback on your shooting.

I'm an approved referral agent for the LASR App training system.  When you are ready to check out, click on the "Gift Card or Coupon Code" button at the bottom left of the page, then enter my code GONZO58 in the "Discount Code" box upon checkout as shown in the images below to receive a 10% discount on LASR and SIRT training equipment.

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Enter GONZO58 in the "Discount Code" box:

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VIDEO: Front Sight Focus...

Self defense is one thing that you will hear me preaching over and over.  And the use of firearms in your self defense repertoire is, in my opinion, the  most effective for what I am pretty sure we are about to face.  Being able to shoot effectively and accurately will save lives, as well as saving precious ammo.  Making every shot count will be a life saver!

Try these drills.  This method works! In all my years teaching firearms techniques, I have found that my students have the most difficulty with aiming because they really don't know where to put their focus.  Front sight focus is absolutely the key to having the ability to shoot consistently and accurately.

Your eyes have muscles and nerves that enable them to move and focus. Doing these drills builds muscle memory.  So don't be afraid to begin slowly.  By being slow and deliberate, you will do things the same way every time.   Doing these movements slowly and deliberately will cause your eye muscles to learn and "burn in" the desired motion and function.  This will allow you to begin speeding up these movements, and work up to acquiring your target more quickly.  You will find that by repetition,  you will be able to acquire targets more quickly, make defensive decisions more quickly, and shoot more accurately.

Shoot safely, be accurate!

Principles versus Tactics

In order to know what you want to do (or are willing to do) in a given situation, you need to know which aspects of your strategy for doing it are absolutely non-negotiable, and which aspects are subject to flexibility.  Which aspects are you not willing to compromise?  And which aspects will you have to adapt to your abilities, resources, and practicality?  Ask any "sheepdog" about their willingness to step up and help others, and he or she will tell you that there are just certain things in our lives that are non-negotiable. 

One of the important things I have learned in my recent tactical firearms skills training at Makhaira Group is the concept of principles versus tactics.  A principle, as our instructor drilled into us over and over, is something that you are absolutely not willing to negotiate.  It is the “what” of your belief system. Tactics, on the other hand, are the “how” of your strategy to adhere to that belief system, the specifics of which may vary from time to time, but they still enable you to adhere to your principles.  These are the “enabling objectives,” if you will.  

The fact that I must eat to survive is an example of a principle.  But when I go to the cafeteria to eat, I am free to pick and choose what specific items I want to eat at that particular time.  But there is no more appropriate a place to discuss principles and tactics, in my opinion, than in the realm of self-defense and the defense of your family and others.

prin·ci·ple

  /ˈprɪnsəpəl/ [prin-suh-puhl]

noun

an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct: a person of good moral principles.
 

a fundamental, primary, or general law or truth from which others are derived.

a fundamental doctrine or tenet; a distinctive ruling opinion.

principles, a personal or specific basis of conduct or management: to adhere to one's principles.

guiding sense of the requirements and obligations of right conduct.

tac·tic

   /ˈtæktɪk/ [tak-tik]

noun

a plan, procedure, or expedient for promoting a desired end or result.

Here’s an example of a self-defense principle and its accompanying tactics:

Principle:  I will provide multiple layers of protection for my home and family against criminal invasions.

Tactics: An alarm system, a big dog, strong door locking hardware, and firearms in the hands of a proficient home owner, are all things that I might employ to provide my home protection.

Explanation:  The fact that I will protect my home and my family from criminal invasion or attack is not open for discussion.  It is non-negotiable.  And I don’t care what any one else's opinion is about whether or not I should be doing this.  But how I do it is a matter of which tools I wish to employ, and may be based on my personal preferences and/or the opinions and experiences of others.  

Let’s take the above tactics one at a time:  

The alarm system:  What if I don’t want, or can’t afford the alarm hardware and the monthly fees?  What if I am renting and the home owner will not allow me to install an alarm system on the premises? I can get simple alarm-like devices that make a loud noise when a door or window is opened, and mimics an alarm system.  I can post alarm signs in my yard that warn potential intruders that I have an alarm system installed.  The criminals don’t know the difference.  Criminals will select the easiest targets.  If your home offers even a hint of being more difficult to break into, they will move on to an easier target.  That psychological effect in and of itself is yet another tactic that I can employ.

The dog: What if I am allergic to dogs or just don’t want the responsibility?  What if my present dog is a small dog and I don’t want a larger one?  I can still put large dog bowls in plain view.  Anyone who looks in my windows sees a set of large dog bowls, but has no idea whether or not I have a dog, or what kind it is.  I can also get a motion detecting device that lets out a loud dog bark if anyone approaches the house. Again: criminals will select the easiest targets.  If your home offers even a hint of being more difficult to break into, they will move on to an easier target.

Door hardware: Do I use a deadbolt that requires a key on both sides, or one with a key-less knob on the inside? Do I also augment that with a hidden chain lock?  I didn’t say how many or what brand.  You can put 15 deadbolts on each side of your doors if you want.  But honestly, this is one place not to skimp.  Get good locks, install longer screws in the hinges and strike plates, and keep the doors locked at all times.  This is a simple tactic to employ.

Firearms: I may choose to use a shotgun for home defense today, but decide to use an AR-15 tomorrow.  Someone else may choose a handgun for their home defense.  I choose to keep my home defense firearms loaded all the time, but the state you live in may not allow that.  Your tactics for deploying will then be different.  But in choosing that a firearm is part of my tactics, I also know that the choices are virtually unlimited.

There are still other tactics not mentioned here that I can choose, or I may choose not to employ some of the above. But the important thing here is that you know what principles you are not willing to negotiate, and what tactics you select to meet those principles.  Principles helped found our country, and tactics helped win the wars.  Stick to your principles and don’t allow others to force you to compromise.