Should you use Airsoft for realistic training?

Should you use Airsoft for training? This is a question that has literally been tearing the community apart since Airsoft came about. In today's video we talk about our recent attendance at Milsim West and what I think of Airsoft as a training tool.
Evike- www.evike.com/#a_aid=Garandthumb
00:00 Should you use Airsoft for training?
01:00 We talk about BB WARS
3:15 what is the worst part of Airsoft?
6:15 Airsoft is just fun
8:01 Should you use Airsoft for training? Comms
10:56 Fitness matters
12:35 Nightvision airsoft is amazing training
23:00 final thoughts of Airsoft for realistic training
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[@familymann454]

Remember kids: All training is larping but not all larping is training

[@MekaPaladin]

I... I love this. I'm using it, consider it borrowed.

[@xokelis0015]

I refuse to refer to "practice like we play" style training, as LARP-ing, because this is the image that pops into my head when someone says larping: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJDInKidhbCkfNk Airsoft is fun, and when taken seriously a lot of the muscle memory, and lessons gleaned from it are applicable to real combat - which makes it training.

[@pkccell7539]

@@xokelis0015 LIGHTING BOLT

[@jediknight129]

get both, larp like you train train like you larp ;)

[@Terribleguitarist89]

@@xokelis0015 In all fairness, I screamed Lightning Bolt once entering a room during MOUT training since cadre kept going on about throwing off ooda loops... it was that or making entry like Rip Taylor throwing confetti everywhere.

[@c7viper]

"It is okay to have fun" Everyone needs to remember this.

[@Spider-Too-Too]

The first rule of gun safety

[@sickjohnson]

Apparently not anymore in Chinada...banned.

[@dave3392]

Unless there's speedsofters. They ruin the fun.

[@justinbaker5749]

@@dave3392 Every time I've seen a video of a speed softer, they are either really chill or ultra-dickheads, there is seemingly no in between...

[@josephlinden1630]

No, I must make fun of people for using airsoft guns because they can shoot people and have fun….

[@panzerofthelake1623]

"You can be asleep and you can be assaulted" - Garand Thumb 2022

[@CommunistSpyware]

He can assault me whenever he want. No homo tho

[@mrkeogh]

"Not sure if advice or confession" 🤔

[@SickWheyfu]

Outside of milsims, this is true in real life also

[@Phoenix_Entertainment]

@@mrkeogh he said it brought up ptsd when blue Jean executed surrendering people in their sleep

[@petrikchamula1670]

no, uncle stop!!🙃

[@SCPlntrCll096]

Live fire on a range allows you to be familiar with the firearm. Airsoft events like these allows you to refine some useful aspects other than manipulating the firearm. Combine them both to get optimal results

[@salvadorbuschittari6870]

both are needed. If you only have one you will do nothing against someone who has both

[@Ultimatenightvision]

If you’ve ever been BB’d to death while taking a shit in the woods, go ahead and hit that subscribe button

[@americankid7782]

That’s a good one

[@jet3xi]

Steaming pile gives away your position.

[@AfromanKKK2]

I cant' sub, but I repect your pain

[@johnshue8082]

can't help but wonder, did this scenario help you shit faster and more completely? or did it make you constipated right away and into the next few days? asking for science.

[@Redman147]

Never been BB'd to death, but seeing as you have I'll just say... man that sucks xD

[@AdministrativeResults]

"Half a league, half a league, half a league onward. Into the valley of Larp rode the brave Guntubers."

[@lithium1770]

Sheesh

[@htg04]

oblique Ukraine reference

[@Excalibur01]

Where's the LNN coverage?

[@mattfuel1365]

Bruh I recently used this poem in literature during my gcses exams last week xd

[@mattfuel1365]

@Ben exactlyyyy, the easiest one

[@reeeeeeeam511]

Garand Thumb: using internal compass thermals Timmy: HES HACKING!

[@eliasbinde2629]

I think it's more of a relevant thing for countries like Germany where I live, we can't train with real firearms because they are you know, not allowed... It's definitely not great firearms training but it's definitely a great opportunity to learn cover, camouflage, communication, team strategies, properly wearing your stuff for a long time and stuff like that. Even for aiming it's not great regarding leading and bullet drop but it's not bad for practicing hand placement, keeping a weapon steady etc. So obviously if you have a more realistic option, do that, otherwise it's not bad.

[@GeorgeOrwell-yz6zx]

That is a really good way to look at it!!

[@stefanmn]

same here in the Netherlands, Airsoft even is under the gunlaws here

[@tanmaysamajder3358]

I agree with you completely. Last few months, I have been looking for a few short arms shooting in Berlin but the result is almost zero!

[@sonh788]

They are allowed . The laws make it hard for the poor but many rich Germans have it a "sporting " gun

[@eliasbinde2629]

@@sonh788 Oh yeah, i know, I'll do my hunting license next year so I can buy whatever i want... For most people tho it's not really an option to buy any real gun. [Oops it's already next year so we'll i meant fall of this year]

[@OperatorDrewski]

First MSW I went to: I dry-heaved the second night after patrolling with cadre with NODs for ~7 hours straight without stopping to hydrate and eat as much as I should've. The mixture of lack of energy intake + headache from mono tube PVS-14 really got me, even tho we only rucked maybe 2 miles and patrolled/fought through another 5 or 6. For us civvies, it's a real eye-opener that you can't really get anywhere else. Be fit, drink water or die, bring a light and tight kit, don't wear too much cold-weather on the move, have a good cold/wet sleeping setup, etc. I was tired as hell by day 3, but I sure did enjoy the hell outta it thanks to the MSW cadre teaching me many things!

[@falguy]

This was a super wet event, and we ended up walking a long way (30+ miles). I expected maybe 8 miles because that’s what we did at the prior Stavropol game, but this event absolutely killed me. I do not know if I could have made a 4th day if there was one, I was simply so burned out at the end of day 3.

[@OperatorDrewski]

@@falguy Yeah we had ZERO rain in the Centerville one I went to. I was luuuucky. We walked just over 25 miles I think. One morning we did a 9 mile recon. Was super fun and only got a little chilly if you were static at night, and a little damp in the mornings with dew. Not as cold/wet as this recent one.

[@Arifeen.]

Well Drewski, when your diet consists of cheetos and mountain dew thats what happens fella. Buddy played a few milsim games and thought he was a delta operator 😂😂😂

[@Donari]

well i didnt expect much from you..

[@blakepinnell4415]

Sounds like Milsim and a real-life battlefield according to vets I interviewed. (Oh, and can you please do more airsoft videos?)

[@AleksWorkshop]

Need more thermal airsoft gameplay

[@chewbecca3830]

need more money too. feel free to donate to me :3

[@__Gw]

That was pretty sick to see

[@boromirhimself7528]

Yes

[@callsigndobermanairsoft4209]

if aleks says it it must happen

[@michaelswagson4457]

Needs a mag warmer to make bbs more visible in thermal😊

[@paulmercer7448]

My National guard RSP unit has actually used Airsoft for a 2 week long JRTC like event. It was a 2 week long campaign which included urban fighting, trench warfare, changing position nightly which includes making a new fighting position nightly. Was truly my favorite experience I have ever been threw so far.

[@LateNightRewrites]

That sounds amazing. super jealous

[@teeceedee]

ofc bro , here in spain and europe we cant have real guns so we have all kjind of abandoned buildings and event creators , and i try to carry mi kit on as much as i can ( is not a full load 40kg kit ) . at least I dont use real plates on my plate carrier (there are training ones etc) . my loadout is a glock 17 and a small variant of an m4 . we have loads of fun we sweat a lot too .

[@scottmorgan2467]

I absolutely am all for airsoft for training and having fun doing it. My boss got me and a few other employees started and we have a nice little group of 5 and play on the boss’s back 30 which has both woods and flat open (kinda hilly terrain) yard. I just have to say that even though it’s not like real training for us who haven’t served (btw-thank you for your service and sacrifice), it has brought my situational awareness and general awareness up quite a few notches since we mostly do free-for-all battles and sometimes teams for assaulting the dilapidated barn. We just started using smoke bombs and grenades(green gas powered hold around 160 bbs spread in a 360* pattern when it lands).

[@RandomPerson-ob1hk]

What kind of business has bosses like that lol

[@juanquireyes6703]

@@RandomPerson-ob1hk Probably a small one, or maybe someone who works in defense

[@scottmorgan2467]

I’m a CNC machinist

[@kruiseorbruise]

Where can I apply bro😂😂😂 send me that link

[@Durandalski]

I played airsoft as a teenager and into my early twenties. Then I drifted away after I joined the military and real shooting and tactics became a part of my job. On a whim I re-visited my local airsoft field recently and quickly realized that while airsoft is primarily a game, there are some training points to be gleaned. I learned that the way I was trained to use cover and shoot around corners was highly effective, I often felt that I had a big advantage just based on how I worked my cover compared to the average airsofter. You get to feel the fatigue that comes from shouldering even a lightweight rifle for long periods of time, and carrying the weight of your gear when shooting and moving. Plus you get a lot of reps at using positional shooting and working angles in a practical environment. Now I kinda want to get some of my teammates to try it to see if any of our team tactics also apply.

[@arinthel]

Part of that also depends on how your group plays. The CTF stuff isn't, but some of the more hardcore groups also force you to get used to using realistic tactics.

[@drysoup3017]

Hey, maybe you could try to be like a sarge to your teammates y'know? "I NEED COVER OVER HERE!" Or just give out useful tips.

[@Skim_beeble7125]

They do

[@meatybtz]

Before airsoft there was paintball and the balls could seriously hurt. So on top of the usual training benefit and the physical exertion exposure.. the human brain responds differently to exposure to pain stimulus vs when it doesn't feel that threat. The old paintball group used to do night-beach landings from zodiac, attack fortified positions, defensive training. While the arms involved were of a larger differential to actual arms the psychological effects were, I feel, more effective. If the individual BB's could leave you with a 2-3" welt and even drop you from multiple painful impacts you'd get that psychological effect force into the equation where you REALLY don't want to be hit. But yeah, there was a 48h paintball match back in the day in an industrial plant, something like 100 players. It was.. shoot, 25 years ago?

[@50shadesofcerakote]

@@meatybtz Are you saying airsoft doesnt hurt..? Cause I cant tell you how many times Ive seen people bleeding at the end of the day, or even BBs embedded in skin, to the point where you cant see it, getting plucked out.

[@NWFishingSecrets]

When I lived in Germany we couldn't have real firearms. So I paintballed, shot competitive airgun matches, and started collecting airsoft guns. It let me start learning about firearms, basic marksmanship, and it felt like I was part of the firearms community. In 2008 I moved to the US, bought my first firearm when I turned 18 (Ruger 10/22), continued on to become a full time range safety officer, NRA firearms instructor, and finally chief RSO. Now I make KZbin fishing videos...😂 Anyways, I collect and shoot firearms till this day, and am glad I started with airsoft because it was the only "in" to the community I had at the time. Great video as usual.

[@ashtonsalazar271]

I would like to move to Germany one day, whats it like. And in your opinion is it worth it coming from the United States?

[@yodaddamilkman8422]

@@ashtonsalazar271 no, you give up all your rights and enjoy a nice 19% tax on everything

[@aerthax4936]

@@yodaddamilkman8422 That's straightup bullshit, germany is a great country to live in.

[@yodaddamilkman8422]

@@aerthax4936 not compared to the USA, I’m living here as well. It’s a pretty country and the roads are nice. That’s about it.

[@teasippingguy9316]

@@yodaddamilkman8422 Was genau stört dich denn so an Deutschland?

[@GIGroundNPound]

The fact that you just entertained the notion in the first place and attended is awesome man. Considering your pedigree and experience in the community, it was pretty cool seeing and hearing your thoughts while shooting BBs with friends in a "TACTIC-COOL" environment. Love your channel man, great stuff!

[@Tinylittledansonman]

Not sure what it is but the more tacticool they look usually the worse of a player they actually are. I remember me and my buddy absolutely wrecked these guys who had just come back from Iraq and they were beyond salty about it. They did well till me and my friend found them then they lost a 2 vs 10 fight against us and a couple of them just started raging out. What really put the salt in the wound was they were the ones who insisted on doing a mil/leo vs civs game. Just to lose to some drunken 16 year olds who were up all night smoking and drinking lol. I think thats why most airsoft fields stick with killhouse/paintball style set ups vs just open woodland like we played. Light guerilla tactics are just undefeatable in those environments, the guys who want to LARP really have no chance beyond LARPing their own deaths. Especially when the swampland and tropical thickets they find horrible and disgusting is the type of terrain we grew up playing on as children. Makes it not fun with the tacticool guys. I dont think they ever actually saw us during the fight either, they had all this heavy gear on in swampland and it was just like WTF are you doing? Maybe thats why the US got wrecked so bad in nam but it seems like we dont train well to fight in swampland. You can only really move down game trails without being ambush bait but they would be so loud on game trails you could hear them and just light up the thicket they were in. They also couldnt move fast and low enough to move through those thickets so there were only a couple they could use. My buddy who whooped them with me did go on to become a marine scout sniper or something like that though. Forget the actual term it was a while ago.

[@germanboi896]

00:00-01:00 feels like a very dramatic military trailer from a movie lol!

[@vincentcocchio3450]

I really appreciate all of these guntubers that branch into airsoft because it really helps grow the community and shine light onto a once very small hobby

[@OperatorJackYT]

*c:*

[@AwkwardYet]

LOL a few years ago pre 2020 it was unheard of

[@OperatorJackYT]

@@AwkwardYet *l m a o*

[@jessekenneally7318]

Mil SIM is definitely a bit different. Airsoft is definitely fun

[@boxelderinitiative3897]

Airsoft is cringe and the community is cancer

[@sectorseven07]

When I was in the military and for a few years thereafter I scoffed at airsoft. As I grew in my tactical journey I started to realize it's pretty much the only way to get realistic SUT training with guys as a civilian at an approachable price point. The problem is so much of it hinges on the honor and integrity of both sides, and the more pressure put on winning the game, the faster that honor goes out the window.

[@InfuzeDcyphR]

You're exactly right but easy solution, if other players don't have honor or integrity, it doesn't ruin the fact that you still got good training out of the experience. And it gives you a reason to shoot the opponent more until they start calling their hits. That makes it more fun. Just imagine the guys that cheat as threats in a real-life situations wearing body armor that brushed off your gunshot. Think of it like that, and you'll enjoy it more even with cheaters.

[@mattparis224]

I play airsoft as a hobby and it depends how you play it because i run and gun but if you play properly for practice it can be good

[@crypto4423]

That’s why paintball is better.

[@SupaSwope]

its funny how many people there are like you.

[@Watchdog_McCoy_5.7x28]

You won't have any rights left if you don't contact the senators trying to negotiate our rights away. They have the votes for Red Flags, so go watch Guns and Gadgets for the list of traitors to contact. The left is loud, and we must be louder!

[@1600bell1]

Only thing about airsoft people typically go for the AEG’s or battery internal instead of gas or propane it gives it more of a realistic feel most GBB are good training tools some say other wise but its all about having fun

[@davesiu680]

If you live in colder climate counties GBB does not perform well. Moreover it also costs more to operate compare to a AEG

[@svfutbol20]

Traded mine in, the bolt carrier group is shcokingly similar and even my real buffer/buffer springs were interchangeable, apart from the strength of the spring. The mag weight was almost identical too.

[@hunnerat-touaregi4439]

I've got better things to do than play airsoft bro. Do you.

[@SethAbercromby]

​@@davesiu680 You are generally very right, but it depends a little on how cold. For example above freezing you can use red gas rather than green gas. The heavier higher pressure gas compensates for the drop in effectiveness that you get with cold weather. Below freezing you can sometimes use black gas which is even heavier, but if you regularly need to buy red and black gas then it's gonna eat funds faster than if you could use green or blue 90% of the time. CO2s are more or less immune to cold, but those get quite expensive to shoot frequently as the capsules are high-powered but very low volume. Otherwise yeah AEGs are still super valid even if you miss out on the simulated recoil of a GBB, and a lot of people still use springers for their shotguns and snipers, which are as 'primitive' as it gets.

[@majestic._]

​@@hunnerat-touaregi4439bro did NOT WATCH THE VIDEO LMAO

[@kolbywilliams7234]

A CQB airsoft event sounds like an awesome learning opportunity for practicing movement in urban environments, which is something I think all gun owners should try to become familiar with considering that’s the most likely scenario for your average person.

[@okforsureguy6668]

"If your first time clearing a room is the first time you need to do it, you're going to die"

[@kolbywilliams7234]

@@okforsureguy6668 Absolutely. It’s one of the most dangerous things one can do. It really should be taught and practiced more, even with fake guns. I have done some simulations and was surprised at just how picky you can be in critiquing every little action, as well as the communication required to execute the maneuvers quickly and efficiently. It opens your eyes to just how easily you can die, and how it can happen in a variety of ways.

[@themurf7216]

Find your local CQB field!

[@darthtyranus378]

Thank you so much for bringing positivity to this sport. Airsofters are usually in a very awkward spot where we get hate from gun guys for not shooting real guns but also get hate from anti gun people for liking things that resemble guns.

[@Jake_Hamlin]

I've always thought of airsoft as a rich and expanded version of paintballing. Can see why people like airsoft events but money/equipment dictates the result/experience too much for me

[@Spider-Too-Too]

Boomers and fudds hate on air soft because they don’t like to run and they hate your post 1960 weapon style

[@ajseastrand]

Don’t forget every smarmy dweeb under the sun reminding you you can get trained for free if you just enlist ( no shit ). Luckily usually there are the 15 active duty/ recently retired people in your local air soft group telling you to ignore their dumb ass. It’s a really fun but expensive pastime that should blend seamlessly with firearms enthusiasm. It gets people out networking in the community making friends and getting asses off of couches. But there’s always going to be shit-birds trying to cut you down.

[@MagicMarvin33]

@@Jake_Hamlin I always thought paintball was way more expensive. You can get any camo from a army shop cheap and get a decent gun for not too much. Then BBs are cheap that's it once you have everything. Paintballs though are always more for less.

[@kevinc8955]

It’s literally just grownups playing toy soldier. It’s fun, but that’s all it really is.

[@carlsjolund2379]

“For those people who didn’t have night vision, it’s not fair since night vision is super expensive. But if you don’t have it you are gonna die to those who do have it” *Tarkov players:* “hey I know this one!”

[@denmanfite3156]

Brandon is like "Which button turns on NODs?"

[@RAB-om9jy]

I will add though,everybody gangsta till their lenses get shot out. Then that expensive kit gets even more expensive 👍

[@diablos58]

It's actually not as expensive as you think.

[@BaritoneMonkey]

"We own the night" Isn't that exactly why American special forces have been so dominant past couple decades? Though ofc near-peers also have NVGs now, so that's weakened some

[@unbreachableclanclashofcla2130]

Yes but our optics have evolved, as you see here, NVGs are 20th century tech. We are now rolling with combo NVGs/Thermal overlays… so imagine taking Thumbs two devices and merging them into one. So we see good detail up close and IR up close and white hot or black hot at distance. It’s still massively unfair. P.S. don’t tell the bad guys

[@williamrothrock6948]

This is an amazing analysis of training. Well done. I love after action reviews because they put everyone one the spot and no one was exempt. Keep it up Garand Thumb.

[@ShootersOnlypb]

Great to see the gear application pieces so in depth. Paintball has always been my fancy but events like this have peaked the interest.

[@jakefoley9539]

Speaking as someone who jumped right into "real steel" as a teenager and skipped over airsoft entirely, I am in full support of the airsoft community and their hobby. Any hobby that allows people to train, learn, practice and deepen their understanding and appreciation of firearms and tactics in a fun and safe way is cool in my book.

[@floriangramsch9036]

Dude u gotta understand Airsoft is just a game and just cause we do airsoft doesn’t mean we want to get into real steel

[@jakefoley9539]

@@floriangramsch9036 You're the first airsofter I've met who doesn't have an interest in real firearms. There's exceptions to everything.

[@floriangramsch9036]

@@jakefoley9539 oh I do but that doesn’t mean that I wanna get into it. I’m gonna quote a comment from me that explains it a bit better. Airsoft isn’t a step to realsteel… ,,IMPORTANT INFORMATION(not really adressed to gt): Airsoft is for Fun! What many Guntubers, like Trex Arms have to understand is that Airsoft is just a game. Yeah u can use some parts for training, but that doesn’t mean that Airsofters wanna get into the Real Steel world. Airsoft is Not a tool for you to help the real steel industry grow and to spread ur political/and,or ideological views. Airsoft is a unpolitical zone so that we all can get along and have fun together, like it should be. Also don’t compare Airsoft with paintball, we don’t like that 😂”

[@Samppadaaa]

That is why many many even agencies practice with airsoft. Even fbi. Our government are just adapting airsoft into the military training and for police. Airsoft is the only way to actually shoot other person without causing any injuries, but you still get that slight fear of getting shot at.

[@deathtoisrael8422]

Especially the GBBs, airsoft milsims with AEGs is just, dumb

[@sovelissfiremane]

I'm not quite in the same vein as you, but back when I was in college I took a Military Science course that was taught by a staff sergeant in the National Guard for a couple of semesters. He organized a game every couple of weeks and encouraged us to give it a try in our free time. Definitely one of the best decisions I've made as it's helped with both my social anxiety and losing weight.

[@DChrls]

One of the best ways I learned to lose weight is to eat 1/3 less at each meal. Another good piece of advice I got is, There is only one way to lose weight, eat fewer calories than you burn.

[@carlitosskater89]

@@DChrls it greatly helps to chew your food even more than normal, as that overall gives time to your stomach to send the signal to the brain that is already satiated.

[@MACE1-1]

LOL it didn't help in any other areas but those two....

[@supsoul7235]

good job guardian, treat yourself with some crayons.

[@thepalindromeadept9596]

just remeber to eat less crayons

[@icebox_Intruder]

"It reminded me of a real military training event, except that everyone wanted to be there." I haven't laughed that hard in a while.

[@dillonsnyder1172]

I used to do airsoft with a small group of friends before I joined the army, and it definitely helped with my ability to camouflage and be sneaky in the woods.

[@Jackaboy1476]

Served as a Combat Engineer and me and my buddies would do this on our own time, either airsoft or paintball. We'd use it indoors to practice breaching drills as well as advancing maneuvers. You get hit, you do push-ups. I can say it definitely improved my skillset.

[@okgroomer1966]

1st en bn 72nd MAC 06-11

[@Jackaboy1476]

@@okgroomer1966 2nd brigade 1st armor division STB C-co

[@christiancleofas7451]

push ups or breaching?

[@jazz322alllwaysswing]

most POG thing ive seen today

[@rcautoball]

​@@jazz322alllwaysswingLmao

[@AirsoftAlfonse]

6:59 excellent trigger discipline even in death.

[@MadAKMax]

Booger hook off the pew pew switch

[@LifeLibertyandPursuit]

When is your next event?

[@juliusstout3612]

Funniest part of the video

[@DeltaSays]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@OperatorDrewski]

a true gamer

[@miklawson211]

I came out of the Army and i was in a bad way mentally. I started Viking re-enactment and not long after that i discovered Airsoft Guns and that there were events where you were allowed to shoot people. I started going to skirmishes before discovering what we call Milsims. This is where i discovered how unfit i had become. I was a realistic and realised the limitations of Airsoft but i enjoyed being in the field again and made some good friends. The take aways, Weapons safety, fire and manouvere, field craft, patrolling skills. Building defence and attack. Ambush drills and as you say if your gear isn't up to scratch it will let you know. I live in the UK where as a rule we aren't allowed firearms but we are allowed on Military training bases that have small villages designed for CQB where we can practice breaching buildings and other cool stuff. Of course we have whiners who complain about being shot but i satisfy myself knowing in the real world they would be dead. One of the first things i learnt was Army training about room breaching is all well and good but no one was shooting back at us {no use of simunitions when i was in} as soon as i played airsoft i learnt that the guy {or girl} cowering in the corner of the room we were assaulting could still fire back and could take out the first few blokes through the door. Covid stopped all of that and my fitness has now fallen to the level of couch potato.

[@groggysword33]

Have you gotten back into it?

[@miklawson211]

@@groggysword33 Not yet and the increase in the cost of living hasn't helped me find spare cash. Shame really, i had some good laughs

[@camointhecity]

​@@miklawson211try a job where you earn commission and you have complete control over how much you earn with a bit of work, they pay better than salary jobs and earning for a milsim game is a good motivator to get that spare change👌

[@mightymqb4800]

Please get back on the field, we appreciate you guys joining us

[@DNH17]

This video is great because especially from around the mid of it you are very dense in your points and explanations and it makes it worth listening... other videos are not always like this. The topic is fun as simulation is a blast.

[@FollowingtheCliffNotes]

TREX brought a kid from Japan that has done nothing but dry fire with airsoft and his fundamentals translated over. Watch the video it’s insane how comfortable he got with a real gun.

[@somefuckstolemynick]

Agree, that kid was insanely good. _Roses are red,_ _Violets are blue,_ _There’s always an Asian,_ _Better than you._

[@rooknado]

I remember a video like that from back in the day! the kid was a competition and speed shooter, and did amazing with the real thing right off the bat!

[@chrisbreezy-ryanbarbosa4320]

@@somefuckstolemynick Well that may be true, but it had nothing to do with him being asian. Anybody from any country that plays airsoft that much would catch on quickly. Lets not act like shooting guns is some sort of rocket science. Its muscle memory and knowing what goes where, reload, how to handle recoil, clean barrel, etc. Very easy stuff in comparison to most professions...

[@somefuckstolemynick]

@@chrisbreezy-ryanbarbosa4320 whoosh

[@dpsnodgrass1215]

​@@chrisbreezy-ryanbarbosa4320 I think he probably mentioned that he's Asian because it spoke to how he likely didn't have access to firearms like we're blessed with while growing up in America 🤷‍♂️

[@ruthlessrubberducky5729]

I definitely see the advantage when it comes to CQB training. Paper targets don't shoot back and try to outmaneuver you. You get to fight real people and see how they fight you. I'd legitimately support room clearing and cqb airsoft games for soldiers.

[@joeb6750]

The problem with training in a non-controlled environment is that you get people who will gamify it. Toy gun fights don't play out quite the same. Don't get me wrong, sim rounds perform similar roles, but it's going to play airsoft is going for fun

[@mage9825]

@@joeb6750 I feel war is a game and everyone in the US military, especially the Special Forces gamify it. The only difference is Special Forces take winning and losing very seriously. They are kinda like the pro gamers.

[@OctaneGroup]

@@mage9825 well yes but in airsoft people have high rates of fire and basically infinite ammo, you probably need to get a group together for realistic training

[@TheMylittletony]

@@OctaneGroup true, but it's not impossible to get a group together for that.

[@mage9825]

@@OctaneGroup true, need real caps.

[@spartan1568]

thank you garand thumb for your service. sorry you have to deal with the ptsd from combat youve been in. but prayers go out for peace in your mind.

[@DanOnStilts]

7:00 that blank stare after the clip of Admin getting shot got me

[@Manuswitchcraft]

It's really nice and helpful for the airsoft community that professionals like you share their positive POV. Unlike many Airsoft KZbinrs that only make videos about cheaters and drama that just push people away from this amazing hobby. It is ok to have fun, thank you Mr thumb

[@docthorr]

Yeah, Airsoft KZbin community is adapting to its 13yo audience, sadly. In my country, it's banned under 18 and the community is much less drama driven. It's very nice indeed to see this kind of content.

[@Manuswitchcraft]

@@docthorr True, I live in Spain and although Airsoft isn't banned actually for under 18, the vast majority of fields don't allow minors to play.

[@docthorr]

@@Manuswitchcraft kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGHHcplmpZdrhNE If you want to watch non drama, cool milsim airsoft vid, this is one of the best channel I know. Eng subs available on most vids:)

[@mgproryh]

its important to support the channels that dont push for the drama then, and just the ones that show gameplay

[@docthorr]

@@mgproryh definitly

[@OhshitPositive]

Someone once told me "Nightvision turns what would have been a gunfight into a mass shooting" and that stuck with me.

[@MilitaryAV]

till you get strobed

[@Kevin-fj5oe]

yeah, i remember that video where someone with thermal kill like 20 people.

[@7784000]

And guns turn a fistfight into a shooting

[@OhshitPositive]

@@7784000 No they don't

[@BeemoDayZ]

@@7784000 people turn fights into shooting, take accountability for a gun isn’t a living object; stop being naive n slow

[@loganself2136]

I was a paintball/airsoft guy from like 11. still play airsoft and have been around guns my entire life. I am now 30 and still have both. Never had night vision haven’t been to an event that it was needed. Hopefully soon we will take a trip to one. There are some really good take aways from airsoft. There are also some bad take aways from it. I know it will mess you up shooting skeets. Takes me about a box to get back right with a shotgun and about a half a game to un do it. Also lct makes some good stuff and bayofang is a pain in the ass some times. This was a good video to talk about those short comings. Really appreciated the kinda cross over video thanks.

[@caio509]

That intro kicked ass, the production behind Garand Thumb is just amazing

[@sigxm5thumb]

Airsoft is great when you have people with similar skill sets and not just mowing down rentals with badass aegs

[@OperatorJackYT]

*Yes Sirrrrr*

[@Shakshuka69]

This is where gas blowback rifles with standard capacity mags come in

[@elijahhpp]

F rentals

[@boxelderinitiative3897]

@@granola661 airsoft has a bad reputation because it's a cringe community

[@granola661]

@@boxelderinitiative3897 yeah

[@Roxas13XIII]

I think the comment about "Everything is great except the airsoft itself" is fair. You can still learn how to cover your squad's back, learn what is and what isn't good CONCEALMENT (not cover) and find out if your kit actually works or not

[@GarandThumb]

Big facts

[@MitchJohnson0110]

concealment is big facts. A buddy of mine found out the hard way that Army UCP, in fact, does not blend in with anything. So much so that its an absolute liability

[@huntclanhunt9697]

Also reloading and manipulating equipment under pressure with adrenaline pumping.

[@Beanzmai]

@@GarandThumb What's the song you used at the start?

[@wannabecarguy]

I play paintball and I have the same opinion. Cover is an issue. But communication is also test in this environment. I prefer paintball only because the mark left on your gear is easy for everyone to see and know who got wasted.

[@anomallii983]

I am a veteran, and I absolutely love your content! I have been saying airsoft is good training for years, it lets you learn your kit and get used to where everything is at. Thank you so much for making the content.

[@MonBerry]

I go to the gym 3-4 times a week to lift. My first airsoft event with friends I thought I was going to be fit enough. Boy was I wrong and now I play airsoft for endurance training twice a week and its lot of fun.

[@SigmaEpsilon]

Would love to see a uncut version of all the footage from the event to learn more about this incredible experience.

[@pillarofdawn]

If you want to see more MSW footage check out JetDesertFox, SwampSniper, OperatorDrewski, and Airsoft Alfonse

[@Dinstyvmorsa8539]

Also check out Novritsch, one of the biggest. And Europe have some huge games with 1000-2000 people participating. Berget is a yearly Swedish event that brings over 1000 people yearly, spanning over 60hours. Germany and the UK has huge events aswell, can't remember what those are called though..

[@scrubble3145]

@@Dinstyvmorsa8539 germany has dark emergency, the last one was like one month ago

[@Jonah.the.moist.noodle]

As a person who has airsofted for 17yrs... I will say. Airsoft definitely gives you some skills and knowledge that would be extremely hard to get out of just flat range drills. In airsoft you truly do learn what works best for you personally as far as your kit goes, what needs to change, what brands are more rugged and reliable, with the best customer service as far as the civilian market goes. Not to mention, you really do learn how detrimental certain things are. Like hugging barriers/walls, siloetting in windows, not pying doors properly. You really do learn the severity of your mistakes in a very controlled and safe environment in a way flat range couldn't teach you.

[@MelodusDethicus]

Exactly. The people shitting on airsoft as a hobby and training aid are being completely dismissive of the practical fieldcraft that gets put to work. It's obviously not quite the same as the real deal in some regards, but it's enough of a simulation considering the capabilities of the equipment used as long as people maintain the awareness that it isn't necessarily a one-to-one comparison in all things. Some things need to be understood to be different regarding simulation and reality, but that's hardly an issue. It's like using paintball or a step up - simunition. There's a lot of overlap in how things are done in real life that I can't for the life of me understand the irrational dislike for these activities among some people. Hell, I've airsofted with a group of guys made up of active duty Rangers, military, and vets. Good bunch, and they knew what they were doing and were doing their best to share that knowledge with other folks relative to the confines of what airsoft can achieve.

[@Jonah.the.moist.noodle]

@@MelodusDethicus 100% most people who seem to dislike and hate on it, are ones that had a tiny few negative experiences with shit groups at one point and it soured it for them. OR they tend to be the ones that are like "I stop moving when I'm dead. One hit isn't enough to kill me" so they don't call their hits and then claim it's a childs game because it's so SoFaRfRoMrEAlIsTiC. Besides active or former service or police forces. I would go as far to say, that airsofters are more familiar with their equipment and have more hours of use with it than most flat range or normal civi. Because we "train" with it, we skirmish it in all weather conditions, we abuse it, we correct it. Not to mention, we play in all terrains, weather, and environments. We also learn some tactics and communication skills in it all as well. Whether that's just as much as trigger dicipline, light dicipline, or how to utilize the environment ans lighting conditions to your advantage. We also know how much a person truly siloetts on ridgelines ect. There are I would say as many practical applications as there are impractical applications to the sport. Not to mention! We learn to be aware of our surroundings, keeping our heads on a swivel, and also to get positive ID on the target before shooting (when color ID arm bands are not in use) to prevent team killing

[@corail53]

Bet if you joined up you would find out just how wrong you were doing everything you mentioned. Just being in airsoft doesn't get you skills that take actual instruction and training.

[@MelodusDethicus]

@@corail53 Imagine being such a dense ignoramous you completely miss the point. OBVIOUSLY, it's not the same. Any rational person knows that. There are however things that can be learned and ideas that can be applied, which is why Garand Thumb bothered with this video to begin with to explain that. Did you even watch the video?

[@loganthaasianboy]

@@MelodusDethicus damn, you utterly destroyed him

[@battlespectermedia]

Got my first legit airsoft gun this week. Like you said, lapping could be fun, and the rules are the rules. Lots of the basics are going to crossover very well. Ammo conservation, moving, communicating, etc. Very much looking forward to getting g started.

[@rhymontic]

That fire intro brings me back

[@The_Lone_Outlaw]

That intro was legitimately a fucking masterpiece! Props to those responsible. Would definitely like more of that stuff.

[@Eric-ed1zl]

But how is that song called tho?

[@zombiebear115tff9]

@@Eric-ed1zl The Grotto from Audiomachine

[@troylasseigne5227]

cant find it on spotify

[@user-kt9jq1ey9m]

In Japan, the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) use airsoft versions of type-89 rifles for training. Mainly the electric models are used because they weigh the same (without ammo) as the real gun. The reduction of accidents during training is an advantage, and it is a particularly useful training method under conditions where live ammunition is expensive or just not available. However, because JSDF lack experience in actual combat, and because their gun shooting training does not simulate "actual combat", I think it is still not exactly the same as training with real guns IMO. I respect them and the United States Forces Japan so much for protecting my country BTW.

[@XXNerdzillaXX]

I think it would be fun to take people like you to the range and share real steel with ya. I played airsoft when I was a young adult and then graduated to the real deal later on in life. It's so much fun slinging real rounds.

[@LoneWolfRanging]

Respect to JSDF for protecting my precious anime

[@blakepinnell4415]

A lot of European countries that fought in places like Afghanistan against terrorists use airsoft in cqb training.

[@superstreetking95]

that's why you have our military there to help fill in the gaps of combat experience from lessons we learned, how ever I do advise don't play with the wild-life.

[@achillesikillyezz8604]

thats the exact rpk I have i love it! its served me well and can't wait to keep using it

[@ragnapraxis4657]

6:50 The thousand-yard stare afterwards cracks me up everytime LOL

[@Gearparadummies]

Also, as a larper who had to run his own R&D on NODs and night movement, I learned not to carry the cellphone of death. The thing has like a dozen functions which use a IR strobe than can be seen even through NIR fabric. It happened to me in the last night event and I became a targeting beacon without even noticing until someone told me.

[@scottedwards3403]

I’ve sniped at airsoft milsims for years at night. Cellphones have ‘killed’ many people in my scope

[@NinjaofApathy]

Wait, literal cellphones are IR hot???

[@HerroYuy246]

@@NinjaofApathy face ID

[@scottedwards3403]

@@HerroYuy246 yep, Face ID is a freaking beacon man it’s hilarious

[@NinjaofApathy]

@@HerroYuy246 i had no idea, thanks. Would a Faraday bag stop that? I'd never carry a cellphone into that kinda situation unless I had it in a good Faraday bag, but now Im wondering about IR

[@S1apShoes]

What I think my take away from this video will be: airsoft is cringe My actual take away: thermals are OP af

[@RogueWraith909]

Give it a try sometime. It's good fun, great exercise and fairly cheap to do.

[@UtubeH8tr]

>thermals >cheap lol

[@Malikyte13]

@@UtubeH8tr Normal people don't use thermals in airsoft, so your point is moot. Not just the expense of the device itself, it's not particularly useful outside of specific situations (like the night ambush GT mentioned), and airsoft guns are notorious for cracking glass if a BB gets a direct hit on the lens. Nice meme bro.

[@UtubeH8tr]

@@Malikyte13 Can you break that down in detail for me?

[@somebawldy3789]

Hahaha i know exactly what you mean

[@Frozone.]

At 1:36 right now and for what Ive seen, I have to say your video editor is a god. One of the best colorgrading and sharpest videos Ive seen on youtube.

[@mattsnyder1071]

That intro was awesome!

[@coffeehobbee9045]

Another really valuable part of airsoft and MSW is learning how to lead and follow. Learning how to work with and lead others, especially those with varying levels of skill, is just as important as shooting drills and other individual soldiering tasks.

[@usonlyus7148]

that's not something Airsoft invented.. Basic leadership and combat tactics can be done without a pile of plastic

[@awoovement]

@@usonlyus7148 do you want people to learn or do you want them to hate you? 🤔

[@usonlyus7148]

@@awoovement The point is yes While Airsoft motivates people to practice Strategies doesn't meant that it is the only source to rely on.

[@floki2095]

Without adrenaline drills this means nothing

[@frogz62]

@@usonlyus7148 no one said it is

[@BIackoutPhantom]

Something I learned while playing against Milspec mojo at a local airsoft event that he hosted, was that there is genuinely functional ways to counter night vision . Granted we knew they were coming at us so it wasn't like we were just sitting around like those people at the base in this video but in a direct force on force application we learned that if you can flood the area that your fighting in with white light and have good use of strobes and white lights you can blind the shit out of the people with night vision and see the reflection on the lenses and just suppress the shit out of theme while you push them with strobes on.

[@Tankdacota11]

@Daniel Cook burn it down lol

[@memeticist]

@Daniel Cook Napalm for the win, always.

[@sovietrussia3632]

I love fighting those with photosensitive epilepsy, if I strobe a light they start dancing it is so chill.

[@samuelsnyder4601]

Yea, I also remember some guy getting pissed at his NVGs getting fried by someones 1000 lumen flashlight at Op34

[@sovietrussia3632]

@@samuelsnyder4601 it's almost like he should've accepted the risk of expensive equipment getting damaged in an environment filled with things that could damage it. He could've had that issue with any bright light or BB hitting the wrong spot.

[@JMark-zk5pj]

I've been a WW2 reenactor (tactical events) for 39 years, with armor assets as well, I would like to try this, looks fun.

[@FundedUnethically]

Intro was legends

[@tb3687]

There are some good take aways from air soft. Rough part for me is not being able to reach out with BBs. First time I played on a field years after my service, I was dragging ass. Realized after the second iteration I was wearing a vest with real plates and no one else was, big difference! Great points as always GT.

[@dessertsniper]

Have you ever heard of an R-hop? You might want to check it out. PITA to install but really extends the range of airsoft guns if done right.

[@denmanfite3156]

Work on fitness, don't replace gear.

[@gt7984]

@@dessertsniper Just get a Maple Leaf MR-Hop. Same performance, more consistent, less hassle.

[@T4nkcommander]

@@gt7984 Mr. Hop combined with a >3J rifle and you'll hit targets reliably up to 280ft, and targets at 300-330ft about 40% of the time.

[@grqfes]

@@denmanfite3156 bro he was literally hauling real kevlar vests on an airsoft event wdymean

[@pipravich4730]

for those whose wondering the intro song is called grotto - audiomachine the video is remarkable and all really love how serious and effort putting into this

[@blaytbear208]

KING

[@mbatur35]

Thank you man

[@pipravich4730]

@@mbatur35 the tune was abslote fire and underrated too

[@maxboswell7457]

Thank you so much man!!

[@wantdatcadpat44]

THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@JohnyMacGames]

MAN... that intro bro! The most EPIC of all intros!

[@Thrognir]

I absolutely love it. Perfect way to put it so it makes sense for everyone. With the weather part, I have some experience with hunting and have a saying that I learned, embrace the suck. Thank you man for the vid.

[@mikerochburhns.102]

Airsoft battles with your boys around the neighborhood. Jumping into people's backyards, hiding in trees. Airsoft was good to me in my youth and it's the reason I'm so invested in firearms. Stellar video man.

[@NA-tr9yn]

Big natural toes

[@ottovonbearsmark8876]

I’ve never gotten the chance to go to any of the big professional events like this, but I have gone out in woods with anywhere from 3 to 20 of the boys and done airsoft that way a ton. Bigger stuff like unit cohesion or night vision or map reading, we obviously didn’t learn much of, but you definitely start to learn how to move and communicate quietly when it’s just you and like one other guy getting hunted down by like 8 of your buddies, and you start to understand at least the bare basics of something like SLLS trying to find people through a few acres of forest. And even though my “gear” consisted of cargo pants, a dark green sweatshirt, and some mag pouches, you start to figure out how to set your self up so at least stuff won’t fall off when you sprint. So basically everything during airsoft that isn’t the actual shooting is pretty applicable.

[@cosmicbilly]

Milsim west isnt a professional event. Literally anyone could join.

[@mathiaspierce9204]

@@cosmicbilly literally is not needed here and he knows that

[@ottovonbearsmark8876]

@@cosmicbilly I didn’t mean everyone participating is a professional, I mean the people who organize it are professional.

[@cosmicbilly]

@@ottovonbearsmark8876 lol that kind of goes without saying yeah? Literally all legit events are technically professional. Lol you called it a "professional event" and made it sound like only professionals were allowed to participate.

[@ottovonbearsmark8876]

@@cosmicbilly that was my point, I have never been to a ‘legit’ event. I have only ever gone into the woods with my buddies behind one of our houses. I was intentionally referring to all legit events as professional.

[@travisstanley4228]

Grate content 👌 thanks for sharing

[@skycreeper11youtube6]

The beginning was like a movie trailer! Inconseveablely epic

[@TheBubbaMan]

I used to train with several LEO types and we used airsoft for the force on force stuff. All of it was CQB, house and room clearing. That worked well. And several of them would go to larger events. All of them were urban based (usually disused industrial plants) rather than the rural setting you were in. But it was valuable training. You did just have to be cognizant of the training scars, like the one you mentioned and another I always thought about was that it could confuse your subconscious on the difference between cover and concealment.

[@jonathanwilson1605]

Ive played with a couple seals at my local field and they smoked my whole squad

[@amalekited]

@@jonathanwilson1605 what do they do differently than the average squad?

[@ExtremeTeamAz]

​@@amalekited they enlisted in the navy seals program beforehand

[@johnakridge2916]

@@amalekited they play in teams and coordination watching every area and clear rooms the way they should be cleared. If not cqb than they will definitely also use good tactics in forest areas. Its easy stuff you just gotta get a squad with you to join in on it and not complain.

[@benchgoblin]

@@amalekited watch green mountain rangers, half of them or more were previous military or pmc

[@TheBrigandBob]

I've been training with airsoft at home since the pandemic kicked off and ammo started becoming harder to get a hold of and more expensive. Conserves ammo for when I really need it, and when I do make it to the range for live drills, I SEE the difference that training has made. With airsoft I can train EVERY DAY, but even more importantly, I can train in ways I normally just wouldn't be able to. I don't have access to a shoot house, but by setting up multiple target traps in my house, I can practice room clearing, dynamic room entry and transitioning across multiple targets when entering a room WHILE moving and shooting, AND I can see my hits, and work to improve. I can't emphasize enough what a huge difference and game changer an airsoft rifle was for me, and how much it helped me significantly improve my close range shooting techique.

[@OneNationUnderGod.45]

You just gave me a great idea, thank you.

[@TheBrigandBob]

@@OneNationUnderGod.45 I still practice emergency reloads with an actual rifle, because airsoft is terrible for practicing reloads, but when it comes to things like praciticing your foot work while shooting, tranistioning targets, room entry and clearing, all of that fun stuff, airsoft is hard to beat, and I can do it every day with next to zero cost.

[@decespugliatorenucleare3780]

​@@TheBrigandBob the only problem of practicing at home is those fucking plastic shrapnel so fast they can fuck up furniture. I left targets in my garage only, so that I won't worry

[@kevinfitzpatrick5949]

@@TheBrigandBob Any recommendations for airsoft rifles?

[@hughmac13]

Did the pandemic keep military personnel like yourself from training or deployment so that you had to train in your home? I would have thought that units who need to drill at things like CQB would have remained on deployment and thereby afford personnel the ability to continue training on the job, as it were.

[@docreggiefirefox4811]

Love this episode....cool....I am one of the pioneers bb players in our country and became super into it that I hosted games together with friends and became game master or game planner ...hosting 2 to 3 days mil sim and record of 340 players in one game and also had a mountainous mil-sim game out in the province which turn out to have a storm and what we did is to buy all the ponchos in the market nearby and microwave shrink film to protect our airsoft guns and had a substantial 160 players who went to the mountain game site even there is a storm passing by.

[@paulis7319]

In pilot training, we call the push-to-talk button the "brain disconnect switch." Uhhhhhhhh

[@millennialmongoose3392]

That intro was hands down better than 90% of movie trailers.

[@TheRealRocky777]

Do you know the name of the song in the intro?

[@millennialmongoose3392]

@@TheRealRocky777 I unfortunately do not but it is pretty dope though

[@dobrzan5810]

​@@TheRealRocky777 i got you. "The Grotto" Audiomachine

[@JFK762]

​@@dobrzan5810thanks dude

[@troylasseigne5227]

cant find the song on spotify

[@Hugh_Jaynus]

After all these years of airsoft jokes, Papa Garand finally makes it cool

[@ShannonVannatter]

Excellent info. Thank you for describing the experience, as well as what gear worked or failed. My son and I enjoy playing with airsoft. It doesn't take the place of a real gun, but it is super fun and much cheaper.

[@LiterallyThatGuyPal]

Planning on doing airsoft with some friends in the gun club. We’re running through what we’d wear now. As a history nut I’m going WW1 British SAS, my buddy pointed out that I will stand out, i told him that’s the point

[@Brandon-du6kn]

There is no such thing as “WW1 British SAS” because the SAS didn’t exist during WW1.

[@bogumir5866]

tf is "WW1 british SAS"? man that started existing in 1941 AFTER the WW1

[@TannerHinzeFitness]

"history nut" lol

[@ShaddyzZz]

Afaik SAS became a thing during WW2. You could do a WW2 SAS kit and that would be cool. It's just that these events usually use current time gear. I've went to a few of these events in Sweden, which also has one of the biggest if not the biggest airsoft "milsim" event, Berget Event. It's a 3 day event where you have people from all around the world coming to join. I saw some Israeli guys wearing WW2 para trooper kits kind of, while most of us ran Crye Precision clothes and carriers. It's a bit weird, but so is also going to the forest with 1500 people from all around the world go play war for 72 hours. But hey, it's a lot of fun.

[@RP-ue9wy]

​@@TannerHinzeFitness was a solid trolling

[@doorcharge0]

Gotta be honest, as someone who's not military (atleat not for another year) I've learned a lot about general skill and practice through airsoft. Whether it's pistol/rifle transition, reloads, gear layout, squad operations and even LRRP (of moms garage) Ive found it to be great. It has its downsides, but it's also fun

[@AwkwardYet]

It gets no realer than simunition after airsoft. Honestly it might just be the best low cost training tool out there

[@doorcharge0]

@@AwkwardYet besides nerf...

[@MavHunter20XX]

@@doorcharge0 It's nerf or nothing

[@vermin9190]

@@doorcharge0 dont knock the NERF-STER MAN lol what am i saying

[@Spider-Too-Too]

what i learn the most is communication with my teammates.

[@deadman123x]

For those who don’t know tho, Gas Blowback and HPA guns launch the bbs on the trigger pull, meanwhile AEGs (Electric) launch them on the wind of the gear, so with the gas/tank powered guns you can track and impact your target quite a bit closer to a real gun.

[@marcoantoniomagallon4632]

I was pretty surprised to learn that a supposed top-tier milsim event wouldn’t enforce a GBB-only rule. Realistic magazine capacities, louder sound, better range/impact power, are just some of the things that would make engagements play out more authentically.

[@thermobaric]

@@marcoantoniomagallon4632 GBBRs price a lot of people out though. Not everyone can/wants to drop $400/500+ on a GBBR plus another $300 on mags. Plus the weight of a load of GBBR mags can be punishing for people not accustomed to it. Then there's general maintenance of seals etc and having to maintenance on mags that just decide to crap out. I can understand why some people just can't be bothered.

[@RogueWraith909]

@@marcoantoniomagallon4632 The range of a GBBR is not necessarily longer than an AEG nor do they have more "impact power", BOTH are restricted by FPS site rules which keep things safe. GBBR's are loud and higher maintenance but have you heard an AEG with a sound hog and a badly shimmed gearbox? They're pretty noisy plus you have alot of gear whine to deal with. Capacity of mags is not that different, I've seen GBBR's with higher cap mags and run my AEG's with mid-caps or low-caps (150 round or less, spring driven, instead of 300 round high caps that I have to keep winding).

[@jimbobmcdougal6983]

@@marcoantoniomagallon4632 I’m not positive but I thought MSW did have mag capacity limits. I know some milsim events do but a midcap nowadays averages at like 190rds which is nuts

[@jimbobmcdougal6983]

@@thermobaric I was gonna buy more gas mags for my GBBR Scar-l but with this inflation they’re roughly 45 bucks a pop. Shit is insane. The only reason I don’t field it is because I need more mags but I’m not spending that kind of money on 7 mags.

[@svfutbol20]

Purchased my exact firearm loadout based on my airsoft loadout when I was younger. Defenitely helps

[@jaydengarland8410]

i will say garand thumb knows how to do intros, just watching this one sent some chills down my spine.

[@fosatech]

As the "bleeding edge" of the civilian gun world keeps moving towards things like thermal, drones, NVG's, comms, SIGINT, and the light fighter mentality as a whole, I think airsoft events like these will become amazing proving and testing grounds for all of the COTS equipment that people are currently experimenting with. Speaking of which, seeing some direction finding and SIGINT equipment be used in an event like this would be pretty sweet 😏

[@NinjaofApathy]

I'm thinking about finding a good ham radio handheld and learning the math behind sigint. Looking for some good knowledge sources.

[@TheNapalmFTW]

@@NinjaofApathy the math isn't really important. But with SDRs you can easily build a DF

[@TheNapalmFTW]

And people need to lose the boefangs

[@MichaelDavis-mk4me]

Artillery, aircraft and vehicles aren't a thing in airsoft, most of these technologies' potential is wasted by the lack of any sort of long ranged weapons. Drones spotting infantry and calling artillery is basically the most effective strategy in the Ukrainian war.

[@NinjaofApathy]

@@TheNapalmFTW I'll look that up. Any resources you can point me towards?

[@aceofspadesguy4913]

I hadn’t realized how much I’d gotten used to my airsoft M4 until I was practicing with my AR and how unaccustomed I’d gotten to recoil. There’s no simulating a real weapon. Additionally, I think one of the other most dangerous things airsoft teaches, or rather fails to teach, is the difference between cover and concealment. If you’re behind a thick bush, chances are you’re safe from the BBs, whereas in real life you’re probably gonna die. Most fields use plywood to create cover, whereas with a real rifle you’re going to get shot through that easily. Best application of airsoft is learning how to work with teams, learning small unit tactics, hand signals, etc. If shit ever hit the fan the first people I’m going to is my airsoft team because I can trust them and we can already work as a team. There is a step that has to be taken to train for real steel but practicing certain things can make that step smaller.

[@MichaelDavis-mk4me]

@NorseBishop Depends which game we are talking about. But most games, like Squad and Hell Let Loose, teach you that buildings can stop artillery and tank fire.

[@artemthetrain14]

@NorseBishop For all the hate Siege gets, it gets this right :)

[@nervousdog6907]

While I agree on the weapons simulation part I think you're wrong about concealment. A good airsoft rifle, especially snipers can still rip you through bushes and leaves easily. At my field things like rpg's can kill people behind cover and clear whole rooms because It's just plain fun. Also I think the best thing I've learned from airsoft is the extreme advantage of being properly camouflaged. Ghillies are cool but I've seen dude's, well more like I didn't see them wearing plain old multicam BDU's and a boonie with some locally gathered fauna tucked into it. And even the military uses dry-wall style kill houses for lots of simulations. You have to use your imagination! Haven't you ever seen spongebob? Maybe we should tell all the recruits to take those blank firing attachments off their M4's and use live ammo when they're training against each other because a real bullet would go through you that easily, unlike a blank LOL. Better yet just let them use blanks without the attachment and I'm sure they'll still find a way to injure somebody. If you know what a BFA is and ever used one before, you're certifiably based.

[@argonzeit]

I would liken airsoft to real steel training to go carting and driving a real car. Just because one is smaller scale or not as effective doesn't mean you won't get anything from it. It may not transfer 1 to 1. I used to do airsoft a lot back in the day, I would go to the indoor fields because it trains you how to move rooms, corner, check over your shoulder, and the biggest thing I think is target acquisition. Since you're almost always getting new teammates every time you go, in different outfits, learning how to identify someone NOT on your team is crucial. Those split second decisions to shoot or not I think is a valuable skill. Sure, it's a WAY muted down because even if it was a teammate you didn't kill them, but at least it trains that skill. I'd love to have find a team to group up with and go. I miss airsoft. It's basically playing Call of Duty or Battlefield in real life, and if you go hard like I do it's a great way in staying fit. Oh yeah, while not a main point and it can create good or bad habits depending on how you look at it. Having a real analog to pain is a great way to learn how to hide behind concealment or cover, if your butts sticking out, or elbow, head peaking over, or something. Getting a better and more precise picture of how your body is positioned.

[@stillenacht8518]

The truth is people REALLY don't think to just shoot through light cover most of the time, and military and law enforcement are typically trained deliberately to avoid doing it. Engaging targets you can't see or identify is frowned on, to put it mildly. But. Doesn't mean there aren't assholes like us out there who will shoot someone through whatever. Just means it isn't as common as one would assume or expect.

[@tb9606]

This intro is better than a movie!!

[@b11480]

That intro was awesome 👍

[@LoudlabsNYC]

Mike, more of your airsoft footage please! 😎

[@dwrabauke]

Yes please.

[@slammedc2003]

Training scars are the problem with all simulated events, even military controlled events. The actual fear of being killed just isn't there and the actual mental and physical fatigue and cortisol/adrenaline roller coaster isn't there either. However, when training and committing to form drills and movement/land nav tactics/comms than it can be good for the muscle memory required for actual combat and self defense. EDIT: being retired US Navy, wet and cold was the best way to operate, because we knew the enemy was way worse off than us and gave us a huge advantage!

[@scalereality4840]

Airsoft is excellent training for CQB, when done right the adrenaline is through the roof so it is a perfect way of getting used to adrenaline rush when you're in a real situation.

[@boguslav9502]

​@@scalereality4840 Nothing gets anywhere close to actual combat. Lets not kid ourselves. Its the same difference between boxing drills, sparing, and actual fighting. Drills and sparing are both essential to fighting. However only actual fighting brings experience in fighting. Civ Div has a great comment on this. Training is meant to keep you alive, but you are only battle ready once you have fought in battles. (this has been a rule for literally humanities entire existance)

[@christopherpakney8542]

I've trained with simunition before and it hurts quite a bit more than airsoft. I had one round embedded in my hand from an AR at 5 feet. I agree, it can produce training scars, but this also has a good training point, just because I am hit and it hurts, I'm not out of the fight. When we trained, if you were a good guy, you pressed on even if shot in the scenario. Also, you learn to stop sticking your head out and use more effective cover and movement.

[@PresagePatriot]

Seriously one of the best intros.

[@staceyallen9959]

The music in the intro is amazing 😂

[@EpsteinNooseSolutions781]

Wow that’s hilarious. I went to high school with your camera guy and he was super into airsoft lmao. It didn’t click until you said his last name. Tell that man Trevor from Mr. Smyth’s class said what up. 😂

[@Arnuld15Governator]

I think if you want to get close to realistic training with airsoft, stick with GBB's (Gas Blowback) and maybe EBB's (Electric Blowback) and limit your magazines to realistic values. In that case when you run dry, you can practice your reloads on the field and get a feel to reload under stress/pressure when under fire. I know it's no substitute for the real thing, but as far as not getting killed in a real firefight while having some semblance of realism on the field imho that is the way to go. As someone who has played airsoft since I was 15, the one thing that bothered me is when everyone treated their electric automatic airsoft guns like pocket LMG's going full auto. Until I can afford a decent quality GBB I have dropped airsoft for the time being. The other thing is that I don't like giving my money to China for any sort of hobbies if I can avoid it.

[@MrDK0010]

Check out the Dynamic Action System rifles by GBLS... if you have the money.

[@MrDK0010]

@UCiP71kuxrw9VPiKdKI3hl_w Hello racist. Taiwanese may be Chinese, but Japanese aren't.

[@Boopboob]

Try to get your hands on a TM MWS, if second hand it's kinda affordable, magazine excluded ( those are quite a pain in the ass to find for cheap, except if you buy those of guys who think theirs are broken but simply need to change the joint )

[@antimedic4441]

Buy from Taiwan, a ton of great airsoft companies there, and you won’t be giving money to china

[@KBoon]

You don't need to spend a grand for a half decent GBB rifle. WE or KWA are decent platforms to begin with in the $300 range, what gets expensive are the spare mags.

[@quickscoperk]

Its cool to see a one of my favorite gun youtubers talk about my favorite sport

[@ISniffRats]

I never knew you were a Washingtonian! That's super awesome, love your videos!

[@machine5302]

7:44 "everyone wanted to be there and no one was sad, unlike NTC" I laughed so hard I think I pulled a hammy.

[@VX300]

I still think JRTC is worse than NTC, and I will die on this hill.

[@okgroomer1966]

@@VX300 I tend to agree, f*ck that humidity. I was wet 24/7

[@LateNightRewrites]

Yikes, better go see the medic for your prescription of "drink water"

[@grgygantz6760]

Change your socks

[@Marty32]

Canada is Canada when it comes to firearms so that should bring things into context about availability and opportunities to shoot etc. When I was younger I could only shoot guns with my dad and that was *only* at the range (in terms of his license). I took up airsoft because with how similar the controls are, and manipulation etc, I used airsoft as a dry fire training kinda thing. When I would go back to the range, I noticed my comfort levels and things like manipulating charging handles, reloads etc were a lot smoother. Fast forward in life, I own firearms and I shoot when I can. When I’m not at the range, I use my airsoft guns for dry practice runs. When I play airsoft, I can manipulate the gun around corners and I’ve learned proper foot placement techniques, clearing rooms, and when I reload I take the time to actually hit the bolt catch or charge the charging handle to make it a little more realistic etc (all while keeping in mind things like a wooden wall is concealment, not cover). Joining the CAF soon after I was considered one of the best shooters in my reserve unit (not saying much but you know). Airsoft is definitely a subset of the entire gun / tactical community and should be seen as such.

[@Azurexstar]

Yeah it just sucks that Bill C-21 is gonna try to kill airsoft, BB, paintball, replicas, etc. :(

[@Marty32]

@@Azurexstar oh yeah I forgot about that. I think because I didn’t want to think about it haha

[@ThatHoserCanadian]

Just shoot your restricted and prohibs in the woods. Who need ranges?

[@dan3458]

That was you not saying much?

[@theonetheonly9730]

@@Azurexstar as far as I know c-21 has been stopped for now "Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms), was introduced in the House of Commons on February 16, 2021. There was debate, but second reading was not completed and it died when the 43rd Parliament was dissolved on August 15, 2021." But the new bill put forward by Trudeau on banning handguns is also called "bill c-21" so you never know,I haven't seen anything airsoft related in the new c-21

[@flybum300]

Squad can be an excellent game to get really good with squad comms and command comms, as well as proximity comms. Either coordinating fireteams within your squad, yelling at the guy next to you to watch a corner of a building or point out what rock he just took an RPG from, or telling other squad leaders in command chat what the plan is. It comes naturally. 10/10 would recommend.

[@SYNTH_M4N]

The problem with airsoft is that the bullets don't penetrate thin cover which trains people subconsciously to hide behind insufficient cover.

[@sev8304]

This is when we teach them about the power of the M67

[@jayjunior2023]

Next step is air gun wars. We do those instead it's much more on realistic side. Steel bb's is no joke so we wear REAL gear. Real amour and clothing/helmets masks etc

[@matthewwhite876]

Concealment is always better than nothing.

[@RobertJMorris]

I remember training in 1992 at C.A.C. in Petawawa, Canada. Night vision was still in it's first or second introduction phase and less easy to come by in large. However, during a recce excursion, I had my first glimpse of our enemy bivowak (through N.V.) and smoking was a lot more popular in those days. I could see little domes of light illuminate above and around every trench and shellscrape that had an active smoker in the process of taking a puff (even if visually blocked by cover). We literally drew up our detailed attack plans based on the locations of the smokers. (NOTE: At the time, I had personally switched to chewing tobacco for sun-down operations. ) It was wild. We were even able to determine the enemy's 'stand-to' status, by determining when shift changes were or weren't taking place, which allowed us to manipulate said status and eventually catch them off guard by not presenting a problem until we essentially became a real problem. It was glorious. Memories are Garand ;P

[@mathiaspierce9204]

Gen 3 I would imagine the NVGs tech was I believed produced late or mid 70s

[@RobertJMorris]

@@mathiaspierce9204 probably exactly what we used in the reserves, lol. would've matched our radios. haha

[@user-jd7gh2ef4s]

In civil life: 🚬ing stinks, reduces your fitness and your life span, and is easy way to waste a huge amount of 💵💵💵 In war: 🚬ers significantly reduces chances of survival, and everyone around them, because you can smell and 👁👁 them easily.

[@RobertJMorris]

@@user-jd7gh2ef4s exactly. Which is why I mentioned that I stuck to chewing tobacco for night ops. The enemy forces thought they were being clever, smoking (against orders) at the bottoms of their trenches where the ambient light was undetectable by eyes, only detectable by our night vision. we only had the one N.V. unit, and were lucky to even have that since the reserves got all of the reg force handmedowns! (this was 1992 remember). The enemy force did not have night vision at all. Unfortunately we could not build a detailed plan by nose alone, but you are right, you can smell that shit a mile away in the right wind and you can see the cherry from a cigarette from a km away on a clear, dark night when the loser takes a puff (you might even see his friends if he's standing in a group). in 1992 cigarettes were already cheap and even less expensive when purchased from military commissary. I can't remember what we called the field stores that would come out on occasion with smokes and crap, but I called it the "Dart Cart".

[@samrowland2816]

For the love of god can we introduce Guntubers to GBBRS. Realistic magazine capacity, a reciprocating bolt that locks back on empty, a proper mechanical trigger, requires chambering of the first round, some light recoil. It's about as close to real manual of arms as you can get in airsoft.

[@michaelyu4116]

also gas canisters that run out in half a magazine, very prone to faliure, prone to gas seal damage, bad cold weather performance. etc.

[@nickdibartolo2692]

The production value on that into was wildly impressive

[@gurunglee787]

Damn.. intro was 🔥🔥🔥.