A scan of an article I wrote back in 2002 for SWAT magazine can be found here
http://www.krtraining.com/KRTraining/Archive/SWAT-Karl1.pdf
It covers a lot of useful info about using Airsoft guns in training.
Running good FoF training requires a totally different skill set than teaching live fire marksmanship skills: scenario design, roleplayer scripting, debriefing, and more. Most of the bad FoF training I'm aware of is usually conducted with little/no planning, or is run by shooting instructors who think that because guns are involved, that skill in running live fire drills equates to FoF instructor skill (much in the same way that shooters assume that skill at live fire is all that's required to do well in FoF).
Airsoft guns are also useful in pure live fire skill development. There's a group of shooters from Japan that come over for the Steel Challenge every year. They practice all year round with Airsoft guns, and only get to shoot real guns and ammo during the week before the match when they arrive in California. One of the Japanese shooters won the match several years ago, beating Leatham, Jarrett and the rest. Several of them are regularly in the top 20. Ted Bonnet (IPSC GM/World champ) told me once that he dry fired 10 times at home for every shot he planned to fire at the range. Most shooters dramatically underestimate/undervalue the benefits of dry and Airsoft-based practice because it's just not as much fun as the big noise and smoke and recoil you get shooting live ammo.
Karl
http://www.krtraining.com/KRTraining/Archive/SWAT-Karl1.pdf
It covers a lot of useful info about using Airsoft guns in training.
Running good FoF training requires a totally different skill set than teaching live fire marksmanship skills: scenario design, roleplayer scripting, debriefing, and more. Most of the bad FoF training I'm aware of is usually conducted with little/no planning, or is run by shooting instructors who think that because guns are involved, that skill in running live fire drills equates to FoF instructor skill (much in the same way that shooters assume that skill at live fire is all that's required to do well in FoF).
Airsoft guns are also useful in pure live fire skill development. There's a group of shooters from Japan that come over for the Steel Challenge every year. They practice all year round with Airsoft guns, and only get to shoot real guns and ammo during the week before the match when they arrive in California. One of the Japanese shooters won the match several years ago, beating Leatham, Jarrett and the rest. Several of them are regularly in the top 20. Ted Bonnet (IPSC GM/World champ) told me once that he dry fired 10 times at home for every shot he planned to fire at the range. Most shooters dramatically underestimate/undervalue the benefits of dry and Airsoft-based practice because it's just not as much fun as the big noise and smoke and recoil you get shooting live ammo.
Karl