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Changes to AirSim for Squad Tactics & CQB Classes

I have made a decision to no longer rent out the MVT AirSim rifles at class. This requires that students bring your own rifles. There are a number of reasons for this, and partly it is due to how ragged the rentals are becoming and problems with maintenance and broken magazines.

Let me remind you that at this time, there are no open enrolment Squad Tactics or CQB classes available at MVT. There are in fact no classes at all for 2023, because we have changed the way classes are scheduled and now it is via the MVT Training Club as part of MVT forum membership. How this works is explained on the forum.

Not only do we ask that you bring your own AirSim rifle to training, but we have also made a decision to go with electric AirSim rifles over our current stable of gas blowback rifles. The reasons for this are as given:

Max Velocity Tactical offers force on force team and leadership training in various forms, utilizing AirSim professional training rifles. Force on Force training is an essential part of the holistic tactical training progression, alongside live fire weapon manipulation and tactical live fire ranges. Together, these aspects make up the progression that builds the totality of the warrior mindset.

AirSim rifles offer excellent range and accuracy when used for both outdoors and CQB training environments. The use of AirSim offers both excellent training results along with significant savings vs. other simunition options, thus making training affordable and realistic.

Students must bring their own AirSim training rifle to any MVT class that requires use of them, such as Squad Tactics and Close Quarter Battle. This has exponential training and cost benefits: after an initial modest investment, the student will posses a high quality training rifle, similar to manipulate to their live fire rifle, which can not only be used at MVT classes, but also offers an economical way to conduct force on target / force on force training back home, particularly in non-permissive environments, or where the convenience of additional safety and low profile, and the lack of live fire suitable training areas / backstops, make this a worthwhile option.

MVT allows utilization of gas blowback and electric AirSim rifles, so long as they are a copy of a battle rifle such as an AR15 or AK. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, but after several years experience with AirSim rifles, we recommend using an electric rifle for greater reliability, versus the greater manipulation benefits of the gas blow back versions. The electric rifles are not such a good replica of a live fire rifle, for example they don’t lock the bolt to the rear on a combat reload and similar, but overall they are more reliable and don’t need green gas.

  • Electric rifles are more reliable even though they are not an exact replica of a live fire rifle.
  • The GBB rifles are a better replica of a live fire rifle.
  • For the purposes of achieving what we need to achieve at Squad tactics, the electric AirSim works well.
  • Electric AirSim is not constrained by COLD, and thus can be used at any time of the year. GBB rifles tend to freeze up (green gas = propane) in cold temperatures, particularly when rapid fired.
  • Magazines for GBB rifles are expensive (@ $50 per mag) and we need you to have 6 minimum. Electric AirSim mags are cheap.
  • It has been estimated that to get into an electric AirSim rifle with 6 mags would be around $300. 4 days rental of a GBB magazine = $50 per day = $200, plus you get your own rifle at home for any training you wish to do.
  • You need to load the electric AirSim magazines with no more than 40 BB’s to be realistic ( same as the GBB mags).

Utilizing an example of a private training group who invested in Lancer Tactical electric AirSim rifles with additional magazines and reliable speed loaders, all for less than $300 per rifle, shows how economical this can be. The electric rifles are more reliable, do not have gas seals that will wear out, and do not require green gas. Just BB’s and recharging the battery. I ran a whole mobile class just using these rifles.

Last February, for the Texas class, we had to cancel the planned AirSim training due to unseasonal cold. This would not have effected AirSim rifles.

Examples of the types of training class that employ AirSim training rifles:

  • Force on Force Team Tactics.
  • Close Quarter Battle.
  • Combat Leader Course.
  • Combat immersion patrol-scenario special events.
  • Use as an alternative to live fire, allowing the use of live OPFOR (enemy role players):
    • Mobile classes where live fire noise/ backstops are non-permissive.
    • Use in place of, or to augment, live-fire to gain the benefits of moving outside of fixed live fire training areas and employing a live OPFOR.
  • Personal / home training using AirSim as a useful training tool.
  • Training kids in SUT.

AirSim Rifle Guidelines

MVT AirSim classes utilize professional training rifles with velocity of approx +/- 400 fps. Students are required to bring their own rifles. Guidelines are:

  • Gas Blow Back (GBB) or electric AirSim (Airsoft).
  • Replicas only of AR15, AK or similar battle rifle. Nothing bizarre.
  • FPS +/- approx 380 – 400 fps.
  • 6 magazines minimum.
  • Magazine limit: 40 BBs.
  • Semi-auto fire only allowed.