Question: What skills from paintball transfer to personal protection with a firearm?

[Miscue]

A "student" asked me this. I had to think about it a bit and said... no, paintball doesn't teach you anything. Maybe in some small way, but really it does not have anything to do with firearms or defense training. Then I backpedaled a bit and said... but I could see it having some value. "How's that?" "Let me get back to you on that." I didn't have an answer ready.

I think I've decided that... it's not worth mentioning what parallels there may be - it creates confusion when so many things do not apply. I'll leave it as: It's useful as a physical activity... that's about it.

[Miscue]

Here are the skills that transfer IMO.

Being able to crawl the snake
Talking smack to the ref
Overshooting little kids
Wiping
Being super agg
Wearing a bandana

Yeah... I think you're right about this.

[DevilMan]

Saying that no skills or ideas transfer over is like saying that because you know how to bake a cake don't mean you know anything about reloading. Or because you know how to tie your shoes don't mean that you can learn how to make a double slipknot knot.

My point is.. there are plenty of things that transfer over... some in very distinct, others only in reference, but being able to put logic and rational from what you KNOW into circumstances that you may know nothing about is what makes you human. You don't have to know that a 3 X 3 X 3 chunk of concrete with X in density weighs 194 lbs. But you can relate it around that if you drop a 3 X 3 X 3 chunk of concrete on your head off of the tailgate that it's gonna hurt... for a very short time granted.

Learning proper handling and safety with a PB gun is no different than learning with a real gun. The PROPER way is what you are learning. Sure the projectile of the real gun is more "dangerous" in a way, but both demand respect.

You shoot yourself in the hand with a PB gun that you thought was unloaded and it'll smart you. If you aren't smart enough to relay that over to "I wonder if this gun is loaded?" and unload it into the palm of your hand then I feel sorry for ya...

If you can't relay various life experiences over into other aspects of your life then I don't know how one could make it too far in it.

DM

[Shirow]

Yeah... I think you're right about this.

I know, I have sent my HK USP .45 to be powdercoated gloss white and gloss red, do you know anyone who makes leopard print grips for it?

[Daze]

Also, as in paintball, your level of familiarity with your weapon of choice will save your life as much as any other factor in any given situation. Repeated drills at the range with the same gun will improve your accuracy and consistency. Pick a gun. Know it. Get accurate with it. Then get fast with it. Then get fast and accurate. Don't shoot your toe off.

Just so you know, I'm going to quote you very, very often to the twerps at the local field.

[dre1919]

Easily, the most transferrable skill is shooting 30 shots when one or two would do the job. Of course, I'm also kidding too.

In all seriousness though, I would say maybe some aspects of MILSIM or Woodsball might provide some skills. Speedball though wouldn't provide much if anything IMO.

[Magmerc]

I know the point shooting / reflex thing has already been covered, but to add my two cents a paintball gun and a rifle or handgun are two totally different things. That said, when I shoot in pistol competitions I only use sights on far shots, steel, or targets with body armor / hostages. I've practiced with it enough (and its a longslide) that close shots are just point and shoot. And in the open gun class, at the rates of fire open gunners shoot the red dot in their sights bounce like crazy and can barely be used, except a little bit on the first shot. "Find the dot find the dot find the dot..."

Beyond that, I've only noticed two things I've learned from paintball that can actually transfer to shooting competively. The mindset (right word?) of being safe and aware of whats around you and whether or not the guns loaded, round in the chamber, on safe, don't break the 180, et cetera. And being able to use cover in IDPA, though those people ALWAYS find a reason to hit you with a penalty. Beyond that, paintball and firearms don't mix. And you don't want to go into a shooting match thinking paintball, or vice versa.

[Dover]

reball was just awesome today, roasted people with a classic Automag (drop shots ftw) and i have a LOT to learn when using a paintball pistol...

i tend to go kamikaze and rush in alone instead of communicating and using team-mates

[38super]

[QUOTE=MagmercAnd in the open gun class, at the rates of fire open gunners shoot the red dot in their sights bounce like crazy and can barely be used, except a little bit on the first shot. "Find the dot find the dot find the dot..."
[/QUOTE]
I watch my dot on every single shot I fire from arm's length distance out to 50 yards. There is no problem tracking the dot in recoil or on transitions if you use the correct techniques, and you can shoot just as fast seeing this visual feedback as you can not seeing it (and missing as a result).

Thread hijack over....

[behemoth]

I watch my dot on every single shot I fire from arm's length distance out to 50 yards. There is no problem tracking the dot in recoil or on transitions if you use the correct techniques, and you can shoot just as fast seeing this visual feedback as you can not seeing it (and missing as a result).

Thread hijack over....

WIth a name like 38 super and talking about dots.... Lets see that race gun.

[38super]

WIth a name like 38 super and talking about dots.... Lets see that race gun.

Sure thing.

http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee1/relliott_photos/?action=view&current=12-29-09_lastgroup.jpg

http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee1/relliott_photos/?action=view&current=100_0423.jpg

[spece108]

I've tried to ask this question a few times and have always gotten a muddled response. But since you displayed your beautiful toys....

As a design vehicle do you find any advantage to your CZ based guns over the 1911 ( guessing sti frame?).

Can you get a higher grip with the web of your hand a touch higher to bring recoil more in line, less muzzle rise?

Does going to the heavier caliber negate this at all? Ie, do you like the 1911 frame better for 40 or 45?

Do ploymer frames flex enough to help even slightly or is it just a bit of bumper, recoil sink effect?

Last, trigger geometry. Pivot versus straight, does hand position matter with the choice? Do you prefer one over the other?

Sorry, lots o questions

[38super]

Tanfoglio gun is a little better for pure ergonomics, though the STI (2011) has new grip available that address this manufactured by SVI. They just cost too much and add too much weight for my taste.

Tanfo frames and slides are currently made from castings and then surface hardened, whereas STI's are cut from forged billet. Durability is key in a high round count sport like IPSC/USPSA, so the STI gets the nod there

Both guns shoot exceedingly well....better than me. I can shoot as well with ether gun, but the Tanflglio is now my back-up and the STI my primary.

I like steel framed guns a lot but the STI is modular with polymer grip insert and Ive got it balanced and weighted to my taste. Both guns soak recoil about the same. Honestly, I have NEVER noticed any flexing in the frame. The Tanfo sits a little lower in the hand for what should amount to a little better control of the recoil arc, but again, the timer tells me the story that both guns in my hands shoot the same split/transition times.

.40 caliber isn't competitive in this division, but if I was shooting standard right now it would be with either an STI framed custom gun or a Tanfo set up with a good set of adjustable (Bomar style) sights. I LOVE .45 ACP but it's just too expensive now and too hard to get brass. Also gives up some mag capacity to .40 S&W, so .40 it would be. I would likely shoot a bullet of 185 or 200 grains....preferring the 200.

Triggers: I love the pivoting trigger when set up properly, however, since I do my own lock work I have both guns set up exactly to personal taste so I can go back and forth between them with no issues. The pivoting trigger has been heavily worked to shorten the take-up and reset as well as move the whole trigger reach (sear engagement point) back closer to the frame. I can't say now which I prefer...as they both pull at about 20 oz and have quick, positive resets so they can let me shoot as fast as I can see the sights settle.

I've tried to ask this question a few times and have always gotten a muddled response. But since you displayed your beautiful toys....

As a design vehicle do you find any advantage to your CZ based guns over the 1911 ( guessing sti frame?).

Can you get a higher grip with the web of your hand a touch higher to bring recoil more in line, less muzzle rise?

Does going to the heavier caliber negate this at all? Ie, do you like the 1911 frame better for 40 or 45?

Do ploymer frames flex enough to help even slightly or is it just a bit of bumper, recoil sink effect?

Last, trigger geometry. Pivot versus straight, does hand position matter with the choice? Do you prefer one over the other?

Sorry, lots o questions

[behemoth]

Those are some beautiful guns.

I wish there was a following around here. My buddy from Canada grew up in a club that was big into idpa and ipsc, and as such got into it.

I wish I could just stumble into it here.

[38super]

Those are some beautiful guns.

I wish there was a following around here. My buddy from Canada grew up in a club that was big into idpa and ipsc, and as such got into it.

I wish I could just stumble into it here.

I don't know where you are but USPSA has probably/definitely got better saturation nationally than we do here with IPSC in Canada. You might be closer to a participating club than you know.