Blue guns (gun replica)

[Sylvain]

I was wondering if anyone use "blue guns" (or "red guns" or other brands) to practice gun retention and draws from a holster.
I hear that its a big no-no for many people to use a empty firerarm to do that even if you checked it 50 times.
I was looking to get one but its very expensive for a simple piece of molded plastic.

Any thoughts on that?

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Yes. Without question this is a smart idea.

You buy it one and use it for a very long time.

Remember, in the gun world, buy it right and buy it once.

 

[shooter521]

I was wondering if anyone use "blue guns" (or "red guns" or other brands) to practice gun retention and draws from a holster.

Yes.

I was looking to get one but its very expensive for a simple piece of molded plastic. Any thoughts on that?

What's your carry gun? Blackhawk(!) makes gray and orange training replicas for Glock 17/22, Beretta 92, SIG P226 and S&W J-Frame that can be had for around $25.00 from LAPG. I have an orange G17 and have been really pleased with it (quality is good and dimensions are exact).

Alternatively, you could look into getting an inert "training barrel" (Blade-Tech) to use in your carry piece, or go with an Airsoft replica instead.

HTH!

 

[JoshuaW]

I have considered it, but snap-caps seem to work. Its definitely a worth while investment though.

 

[redneckmedic]

I have messed with them several times, haven't bought one, and discussed training course exercises with some of the Advertisers here using this method. Keep up the good work, only 11 more posts and you can put that gun back up for sale

 

[Sylvain]

Alternatively, you could look into getting an inert "training barrel" (Blade-Tech) to use in your carry piece HTH!

Yes I thought about the inert barrel, it sounds better than a blue gun as you have the same weight and feel as the real gun.
Plus you can work the slide, practice trigger pull and such.

 

[Fenway]

They are a great training tool!

 

[cedartop]

I use a blue gun a lot, but not for drawing and the like. They are really good for scenario type training, disarms, demonstrations. As an example, I am going to a CQB instructor school for Suarez next week. We will be using blue guns for this, as there will be a lot of pointing at others, with the blue gun there are no doubts.

 

[rhino]

Unless you have unusual circumstances, I don't think they have much utility for practicing your draws. There are a variety of ways to utilize your gun while practicing draws and presentations that won't result in undue risk to yourself or anyone else.

For retention training and practice, however, I think inert training replicas are mandatory. I would not use anything other than an inert piece of plastic for that application.

I was wondering if anyone use "blue guns" (or "red guns" or other brands) to practice gun retention and draws from a holster.
I hear that its a big no-no for many people to use a empty firerarm to do that even if you checked it 50 times.
I was looking to get one but its very expensive for a simple piece of molded plastic.

Any thoughts on that?

 

[NIFT]

I use a blue gun a lot, but not for drawing and the like. They are really good for scenario type training, disarms, demonstrations. As an example, I am going to a CQB instructor school for Suarez next week. We will be using blue guns for this, as there will be a lot of pointing at others, with the blue gun there are no doubts.

Agree! Blue guns are great training tools. I encourage people to develop a "safety reflex"--an obsession with basic gun safety ingrained to the point that it is repulsive to sweep or point a gun at another or to violate any other basic safety rule.

 

[GTM]

This may be a dumb question, but are blue guns also the same weight as their real counterparts or are blue guns only the same dimensions?

 

[indyjoe]

This may be a dumb question, but are blue guns also the same weight as their real counterparts or are blue guns only the same dimensions?

Most good quality blue guns are very close to the weight and balance of the real thing.

 

[Sylvain]

This may be a dumb question, but are blue guns also the same weight as their real counterparts or are blue guns only the same dimensions?

Not all blue guns.
They have some "heavy" models who are the same weight as the real gun.
They are a bit more expensive than the mormal models.

Blue guns also make inert magazines with the weight of a loaded magazine if you want to practice with your carry piece empty and still have the same weight as when its loaded.

 

[cosermann]

Depending on what you're practicing, practice barrels can be an option so consider. Something like this:

5.11 Tactical Training Barrel
Training Barrel :: Training Accessories :: Blade-Tech Industries
Blade-Tech Training Barrels
Gun Training Barrels | Blade Tech

 

[amhenry]

I prefer to use a training barrel when I'm practicing alone so that I have the same feel [my M&P grip insert is stippled] as well as the ability to manipulate the slide and trigger.

For any kind of combatives, retention drills or disarm drills, I would definitely recommend a blue gun, just because they're durable and safe.

 

[Regionnus Rattis]

I use blue guns if I am practicing any action that involves pointing the weapon at someone or something other than a target. If I am practicing drawing my weapon from its holster, I am at my practice range drawing on a target.

 

[indyjoe]

Once nice thing about the practice barrel route is you can integrate dry firing, absolutely safely.

 

[junglerogue]

If the blue gun is >$50, you might look into airsoft as an alternative. Spray paint it orange and it will still fit in your holster and such. Weight is the only iffy thing. We used red guns during the firearms retention/defensive tactics portion. I think every OC or CC member on this forum should go through some kind of training regarding that. You would HATE to get shot with your own firearm, after being disarmed.
With airsoft, you could at least have a subtle reminder (being shot with a 0.6 plastic bb) that you would develop some sort of Freudian response.

 

[rhino]

This may be a dumb question, but are blue guns also the same weight as their real counterparts or are blue guns only the same dimensions?

As mentioned, it varies.

The closest in terms of appearance and weight are the actual Blue Guns made by Rings. They don't seem to be as heavy as the real thing, but they are definitely more substantial than some of the others. By comparison, the Blackhawk inert training replicas are significantly lighter in weight. Rings also has the most detailed molding to the point where you can read the roll marks on the slide and the stamping of the brand name on the sights of their Springfield 1911 copies.

For retention and similar training, the weight doesn't matter that much in my opinion. I'm more interested in safety and durability.

 

[TopDog]

I have never used a blue gun. But I do use a Bennie Cooley Safety Magazines. They are blue plastic weighted just like a loaded magazine, it locks into the gun just like a real magazine but will not lock the slide back.

I don't know how the blue guns compare in weight to a real loaded gun. But these are great for safely doing magazine drills and other training with a real gun.

CRTC, Inc. - Products - Safety Magazines