Since I am going to (at some unknown time in the future as of now) get some CQB (Close Quarters Battle, in my case, room clearing and home defense) I decided to start seeing what it was like to do some sort-of realistic training.
I went to an iCombat laser tag match. They use a pretty realistic AR 15 type rifle, the magazine runs dry and has to be changed, you have to work the bolt after a mag change (I would change mags before empty, hopefully) it has a safety and a fire mode select, single, burst, or full auto. Not exactly like an AR, but close.
The weight is slightly heavier than my 10.5 inch AR pistol.
The match took place in a tall building, with a few jeeps inside, and some big crates and other cover, with a 20 x 20 tent in the middle. It was dark, with the lighting being "spots" rather than floods.
2 teams, of 10. My team had two "veterans" who played in tournaments on a regular basis. The opposing team had 5 guys from a tournament team. We got destroyed.
The better you knew the playing field, the better you were going to do. The opposing team cheated, by calling out positions after they were killed. Also by sprinting right out of the starting gate (you start in 2 rooms on opposite sides of the field.) they could just kill all of us as we came out of the door late.
The opposing team wore black, and you couldn't see them, you had to pick them out by their shadows, typically. Sometimes they would show up against a wooden surface, but it was dark. We wore ACU, and stood out like beacons in the black, with any light on us.
I found a great spot by the third round, and did pretty well, but comms were non existent and it was a real problem. Other members on my team consistently got in the way of my shots, even when I was standing in the open.
The "claw" overhand grip right behind the front sight is great for standing there shooting targets, but SUCKS for CQB. You can't manipulate the weapon the way you want to, to get your head and body behind cover while leaning and looking through the red dot with your left or right eye. I got the most "kills" in a row standing behind a brick wall, on my tip-toes, leaning out to my left by arching my back, looking through the scope with my left eye and the stock pressed against my neck and my front (left) hand on the magwell. That's just how I had to contort to get the shot, and make it so I couldn't be shot in return.
I placed third consistently, which wasn't too bad for my first time.
You have to really "work" cover, moving back and forth and backing away and then moving to new cover, otherwise people you had already shot would call out your position, and then their buddy would come whack you toot sweet.
It was expensive. I could buy two AR mags for the cost of ONE hour. So I am going to switch to airsoft, we have the midwests largest airsoft field right outside town, and I can do a walk-in on a Sunday for 15 bucks and play as long as I want. But it's tiring. Holding an AR up for the shot for 10 minutes... I was surprised. I think it's the intensity that makes the difference, wearing me out faster than normal.
Overall, the iCombat was pretty good CQB practice, but suffers from a rifle that doesn't EXACTLY function like my AR, so I don't want to train in bad habits, and a poor team setup, with no "levels" to divide great players from beginners, so it can be discouraging.
I will check out the airsoft, if I can get an EXACT functioning AR (I can, I have looked it up) I can use my mag pouches, and even change some parts back and forth between the airsoft gun (made by colt) and my AR. Then, I would consider it more accurate and realistic training, with a 400 fps BB reminding me to use cover effectively and not be a hero.
I went to an iCombat laser tag match. They use a pretty realistic AR 15 type rifle, the magazine runs dry and has to be changed, you have to work the bolt after a mag change (I would change mags before empty, hopefully) it has a safety and a fire mode select, single, burst, or full auto. Not exactly like an AR, but close.
The weight is slightly heavier than my 10.5 inch AR pistol.
The match took place in a tall building, with a few jeeps inside, and some big crates and other cover, with a 20 x 20 tent in the middle. It was dark, with the lighting being "spots" rather than floods.
2 teams, of 10. My team had two "veterans" who played in tournaments on a regular basis. The opposing team had 5 guys from a tournament team. We got destroyed.
The better you knew the playing field, the better you were going to do. The opposing team cheated, by calling out positions after they were killed. Also by sprinting right out of the starting gate (you start in 2 rooms on opposite sides of the field.) they could just kill all of us as we came out of the door late.
The opposing team wore black, and you couldn't see them, you had to pick them out by their shadows, typically. Sometimes they would show up against a wooden surface, but it was dark. We wore ACU, and stood out like beacons in the black, with any light on us.
I found a great spot by the third round, and did pretty well, but comms were non existent and it was a real problem. Other members on my team consistently got in the way of my shots, even when I was standing in the open.
The "claw" overhand grip right behind the front sight is great for standing there shooting targets, but SUCKS for CQB. You can't manipulate the weapon the way you want to, to get your head and body behind cover while leaning and looking through the red dot with your left or right eye. I got the most "kills" in a row standing behind a brick wall, on my tip-toes, leaning out to my left by arching my back, looking through the scope with my left eye and the stock pressed against my neck and my front (left) hand on the magwell. That's just how I had to contort to get the shot, and make it so I couldn't be shot in return.
I placed third consistently, which wasn't too bad for my first time.
You have to really "work" cover, moving back and forth and backing away and then moving to new cover, otherwise people you had already shot would call out your position, and then their buddy would come whack you toot sweet.
It was expensive. I could buy two AR mags for the cost of ONE hour. So I am going to switch to airsoft, we have the midwests largest airsoft field right outside town, and I can do a walk-in on a Sunday for 15 bucks and play as long as I want. But it's tiring. Holding an AR up for the shot for 10 minutes... I was surprised. I think it's the intensity that makes the difference, wearing me out faster than normal.
Overall, the iCombat was pretty good CQB practice, but suffers from a rifle that doesn't EXACTLY function like my AR, so I don't want to train in bad habits, and a poor team setup, with no "levels" to divide great players from beginners, so it can be discouraging.
I will check out the airsoft, if I can get an EXACT functioning AR (I can, I have looked it up) I can use my mag pouches, and even change some parts back and forth between the airsoft gun (made by colt) and my AR. Then, I would consider it more accurate and realistic training, with a 400 fps BB reminding me to use cover effectively and not be a hero.
) I used pie plates set on poles to simulate steel. I only loaded 5 in the mag just to show a slide lock reload on camera.
