I live in Japan no so I am no longer able to have a real pistol but I miss being able to train. I used to have a Tokarev and a 1911 wide grip and often plinked with them before I came here.

Does anyone here ever try training with an airsoft or bb gun? The weight and balance of some of them are about exactly the same as the real deal. The recoil is of course different but on some guns like any 9mm this is a minor issue.

Any drawbacks/benefits?

How about for quickdraw training?

I have a gas blowback 1911 and glock 17 and the both have the same kick as my Baretta (well not quite as bad but close.)

The accuracy is nowhere near as good though but if you are only going to 10m or so I dont see why it would be a huge different.

The trick though is to buy a top of the line gas block back and have it adjusted properly.

I am sure someone will follow suit with the complete opposite opinion as me though.

Brilliant if you're not training to actually shoot rounds (plastic BB does not = bullet). If you need something for training purposes, KWA is the way to go. I have their Mark II 1911 training pistol (and an m4 model from a few years back) and unless you read the engraving on the side you won't notice a difference from my old man's police service 1911. Any questions, just shoot, happy to help!

http://kwausa.com/

Unfortunately KWA's products would definitely not be allowed in Japan due to gun/airgun laws.

Also, I'm not talking about JUST shooting training but also quick draw, concealed carry, etc. training.

No experience shooting real handguns though I have a Umaerex SA 177 blow back BB gun (Glock lookalike). Feels very much like a real Glock 19, though the trigger is long at least compared to my rifles. Fun for what it is. Slide locks back when out of ammo as well. About 70-80 shots before C02 runs out. I would assume this would make it feel a bit like the real thing. Umarex also makes a SIG P226 lookalike in blow back.

Though I don't do any serious training or even serious shooting with it. But it might be worth looking at from a weight/feel standpoint.

Yes, air guns can be very useful in training pistol shooting. Same reason .22 is a good caliber for training, the round is so small that you notice mistakes you make (wrong grip, uneven trigger pull, etc) easier than with a heavy recoil gun. All of which translates back into real gun shooting, regardless of caliber.

I have an old Walther CP3 CO2-driven air gun I use for target pratice inside my flat, at about 8 meters (the widest part of my place, I stand in the kitchen and shoot at a target in a bookcase inside my bedroom, hehe). It shoots a .177 pellet round.

Well, I went out and bought myself a nice Tokyo Marui USP .40 electric airsoft gun. I opted for electric since it's basically free to operate - no need for CO2/gas and it's much quieter so I can use it in my apartment for short range training.

After doing a little plinking though I realized I have lost my skills completely. Yikes.

Just keep at it. Steady practice each day hones your skill

The one I use looks like this (only the metal is blued, not stainless):

As marksmanship practice? Not really.

Limited force-on-force CQB training? Yes.