Practicing form, trigger pull, timing, sight picture, and muscle memory with airguns is becoming more common for many reasons. The ability to eliminate a long, and possibly expensive drive to the range because your backyard or basement is sufficient as one, is one way to save. Another is the preservation of hearing because the noise level of most airguns, particularly Co2 pistols, is much less than that of a firearm. But the focus for this blog is the financial savings one can take advantage of by utilizing airguns for trigger time.
Comparing Apples to Apples
| Expenses When Training With Firearms | Expenses When Training With Airguns |
| Firearm | Airgun |
| Ammunition | Ammunition |
| Ear Protection or Hearing Aids | N/A |
| Eye pro | Eye Pro |
| Fuel | N/A |
| Range Fees | N/A |
How Much Does 1,500 Rounds Cost?
One of the most beneficial things about the airgun offerings is the realistic replicas of production firearms like the Magnum Research Desert Eagle L6 Co2 Blowback BB Pistol. If you happen to have a Magnum Research Desert Eagle it would be easy to spend hundreds of dollars in ammunition alone. How much do you think you would spend sending 1,500 rounds down range? You can send 1,500 Umarex Steel bbs down range for around eight bucks, plus the cost of the Air Venturi Co2, this is exactly why practicing with airguns is becoming more popular.
Aside from the ammo there are many more expenses, fuel to get back and forth to the range, depending on what you drive, that can add up quickly! What about range fees, most shooting ranges charge either a membership fee or per hour. If you’re paying per hour, yikes!
Save Time and Money
When you’re able to create your own range, as expensive or inexpensive as you’d like, you’ll save time and money. You can pick up the Air Venturi Quiet Pellet Trap for your basement range or make your own using the Air Venturi Quiet Pellet Trap Impact Putty.
You can get creative and challenge yourself/selves with inexpensive targets like the Dirty Bird Shotboard 12”x18”. Invite a friend over, give each shooter their own “Dart Board” and keep track of points. If you’re at all competitive, it should make you want to shoot better, paying close attention to your form, trigger pull, and sight acquisition.
Do Without the Noise
A few things you won’t experience when practicing with an air pistol vs a firearm is the full recoil or the ear piercing noise. Like the Magnum Research, most replicas have a realistic feel as far as grip sizing, and the blow back action, giving a similarity to the recoil when shooting your handgun.
If you have an endless bank account, you know how to get free ammo, and noise or neighbors aren’t an issue, then yes it is best to practice with the firearm you hope to become expert with. When any of those are an issue there is a less expensive option to keep your trigger finger and your grip warm between range trips.
We can’t give you an exact amount of money you could save by practicing with airguns rather than firearms because each individuals’ expenses will vary. It could be up to thousands of dollars. One thing we can tell you is that you’ll save money, time, and have the ability to practice more frequently with an air pistol like the Springfield Armory TRP 1911 or the Limited Edition Duke Colt 7.5” Pellet Revolver. For every firearm, there is generally an airgun twin to support a shooters’ desire to improve.
