Simunitions and Reality-Based Training: Simulating what cannot be Replicated
Known by the companies that produce them, Simunitions or UTMs, or by their colloquially gifted name “Blue Guns”, reality-based training firearms for Law Enforcement and Military training exercises have been in constant use for the past several decades. Their high prices and strict guidelines have unfortunately led them to sometimes be scarcely used among the end users that actually need them the most. But this doesn’t mean they don’t have any training value. In fact, these are some of the best trainers around when it comes to trying to replicate actually working with firearms in a defensive capacity.
Infantry Marine, based in the Midwest. Specifically interested in small arms history, development, and usage within the MENA region and Central Asia. To that end, I run Silah Report, a website dedicated to analyzing small arms history and news out of MENA and Central Asia.Please feel free to get in touch with me about something I can add to a post, an error I've made, or if you just want to talk guns. I can be reached at miles@tfb.tv
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Beauty trigger dicipline at 1:45...
Miles this is a great article. We often focus on firearms, ammunition, and accessories. However, when it comes time to use those firearms in self-defense they key to success is not what we can accomplish on a static range. The realities of an armed and committed adversary can be shocking, even to firearms enthusiasts, during force-on-force training. I've been blessed to have access to force-on-force training for over 15 years, and have learned immense lessons and real-life strategies in confronting a motivated, and armed adversary. When I rush, or let fundamentals break down, the "pain compliance" is a very good tool to motivate!
Simunition is a very good training system, because it reinforces the rules of building searches, use of light, communication, alternate shooting positions, and of course accurate shots under stress and in a very short time period. Simunition's drawbacks are the price (especially the ammunition), the noticeable decrease at accuracy at distances beyond 15 yards or so, and the inevitable ammunition failure (barrel clogged, marking tip breaks off, FTF, FTE, double-feeds, etc.). Having a weapon failure can be good training, especially in force-on-force scenarios, but if it happens too often the value of training derails - and the failures become costly at around $1.00 per round.
UTM is much more reliable with feeding than Simunition, but once again is very expensive in firearms and ammunition, and their ammunition is proprietary as it uses a rim fire cartridge to prevent live ammunition. FTX is similar but uses a center fire. UTM does offer a mobile training experience, which be worth the money for a local shooting range to host and have customers go through. If popular enough they might even be able to run a few courses a year so shooters can build on previous lessons.
Regardless, force-on-force training should be sought out by all those who truly want to prepare themselves for the violent encounter.