Simunition suggestions

4

4S50

Inactive
I am putting together a proposal for a simunitions program for my small, fiscally challenged department. The cost of the guns, ammo, and instructor certification is easy enough to find out and project, but I am interested in what others are using for safety gear. I realize that a redman suit and full helmet and face coverage is probably the "recommended" safety gear, and PDT makes some good looking equipment, but.... I am sure that some are using much less. I am thinking face, eye, neck protection, gloves, issued vest and suggest a cup.
Those of you who use simunitions in your departments please let me know what is working for you.
Thanks, Greg
 
Full face and neck coverage a must. Recommend double eye-pro: the face shield from the helmet backed up by safety glasses. Cup is also a good idea.

FWIW, but I've been to quite a few Sims exercises where IMHO the players padded up too much. Pain is a positive motivator to use good tactics. If no pain is felt, then some exercises can rapidly disintegrate into a game with little learning taking place.

Also scenarios should be scripted very carefully with learning in mind. If the good guys use good tactics they should not necessarily be "shot." If they screw up, the OPFOR should pepper them good.

Just my .02.

Denny
 
I agree, you should not over pad. Full helmet,neck protection, gloves,and cup. Long sleeve sweatshirt with a t-shirt underneath is all that should be needed, just enough protection so that the simms do not break the skin.

You want the pain factor to be there so the participants will not want to get hit, or it will just turn into a hosefest game and not very beneficial training.
 
Good thought on the cup...I know of a guy that had a fractured testicle from a simunitions round. He swelled up tremendously, from what I heard and he was in unbearable pain. He said he felt like his entire body was going to split in two. Wear a cup and a face shield. A neck gaiter isn't a bad idea either.

I know of a few departments that use simunitions. Some have barrels and magazines you use to convert existing guns to simunitions. Some use dedicated simunition weapons, they're Glocks that have blue frames and regular slides. The dedicated weapons function more reliably. However, the conversion kits make you practice your tap, rack, bang more often, which isn't a bad idea.
 
Thanks guys. Full helmet? I had not thought of that. I agree about overpadding and would naturally probably lean toward too little rather than too much. I am still hoping to hear from some other LEOs regarding what the safety gear standard is for their department training, and why.
 
Yep, full helmet. What if a mistake is made by the GG and the only shoot available is the back of his head. Some lessons just have to be taught but without the inherit danger. ;)
 
Add lightweight gloves to the material mentioned. I've got a sim scar on my LH second finger from getting hit in the hand by a 9mm sim. Pealed the skin back very nicely :o

Another reason to minimize padding is that heat stress can be a real danger if training in the summer. We wore paintball head/face/neck protection, but had 1" foam padding on the body. The padding held the heat in very well and we came very close to having heat injuries when the temps got above 80. :eek:
 
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