Force-on-force is one of the most realistic ways to train yourself for a defensive firearms encounter.
Force-on-force training allows you to deal with a living, reactive human target that might be fighting back and potentially shooting back. It’s an adrenaline-filled encounter that mirrors real-life conflicts in a way that no square range ever could.
The first problem with force-on-force training is finding a safe way to shoot each other. Of course, we can’t use real guns for force-on-force training, so what do we do?
Simunition was previously seen as the go-to option, but they changed their policy to only allow law enforcement and military users to purchase their products. They also tend to be very expensive.
This has created a need for affordable and widely available solutions to keep force-on-force training accessible to all who want to improve their defensive skills. And that’s where companies like Umarex and their T4E series of paintball markers come in.
Umarex T4E Training Markers
The Umarex T4E series of paintball markers are available at affordable price points. They chamber a common .43 caliber paintball, and anyone can buy one. They’re not limited to law enforcement and military forces. They’re also a bit safer and don’t require specialized training to instruct and use safely.
Anytime you’re throwing a projectile at a few hundred feet per second, there is an element of danger, but .43 caliber paint or dust balls are easy to mitigate.
Umarex licenses firearm designs to replicate guns from Glock, Walther, HK, S&W, and more. These guns replicate real firearms to simulate the controls, look, and feel of a real gun to improve training potential. They even work with standard duty holsters that an agency or individual would be using.
As mentioned, the T4E markers use common .43 caliber paintballs. There are also powder, rubber, steel, and pepper balls. For force-on-force training, we’ll stick to paint or powder balls. Rubber balls are a reusable option for training against static targets. Standard 12-gram C02 cartridges propel the paintballs.
Finally, my favorite feature of the Umarex T4E series is that no real firearms are ever involved. No conversions of real guns, no real ammo can be used, and it remains a safe option. It’s perfect, especially for the average civilian looking to up their training.
Running the Umarex T4E Guns
I first encountered these guns while training with Safariland and Rich Graham of Full Spectrum Warrior in Central Florida.
We beat the hell out of them. We used them in not just force-on-force but in retention training and wrestling over guns. We cleared rooms with them, practiced shooting in crowd drills, and more. They were used extensively, and I was impressed.
Later, I purchased two of the Umarex T4E handguns. The price was good enough that I couldn’t just buy one. My overall intention is to use the guns for training force-on-force with friends and my family. It’s affordable, safe, and perfect for upping my level of training.
The T4E markers are realistically heavy and impressively well-made. They seem to replicate the PPQ perfectly, including the controls, ergonomics, and even the rail. The manual of arms is identical, and you have a slide that locks to the rear, an ambi slide lock, a magazine release, and more.
While the guns look and feel like real guns, there are a few notable differences. I’m using PPQ models, and a real PPQ can hold 15 to 17 rounds. The paintball variant can only hold eight rounds per magazine because it’s a single-stack magazine that also houses your C02 cartridge.
Additionally, the triggers feel mushy, the sights are plastic, and the magazines don’t glide in as smoothly as real mags in real guns. These are small things, but worth noting.
Performance
Right off the bat, the T4E does a lot right. The slide reciprocates with each shot, so you have to focus on tracking your sights and working with a realistic sight picture.
The marker has recoil, too. It’s not as much as a real gun, but it might surprise you. The surprisingly loud report is not as loud as a gun — I’d say it’s hearing-safe — but it’s loud enough to be an attention-getter.
The marker has a very limited range compared to a real gun. With a full C02, the marker can accurately throw a paintball at about 20 yards. It’s a real powerhouse within 15 yards. As the C02 degrades, the range drops, and so does the gun’s ability to cycle.
You typically get full power and range for 15 shots, and the system is useable for up to 20 or so shots. After that, it will often fail to cycle. You can get a little tap-rack-bang training in for the last few shots.
I used both a standard ALS holster and a GLS holster, and the Walther T4E markers worked without complaint. They fit perfectly, were easy to draw, and engaged the positive retention devices of each holster.
My goal was to use the T4E markers for force-on-force training, but that’s not the only use for them. They can be an at-home training option when you can’t reach the range. They can be used in the backyard and provide more feedback than dry fire.
They are quiet and safe enough to use without putting anyone in danger. At $.09 per shot, they are a cheaper at-home training option with real feedback.
Training benefits of the T4E Markers
The most obvious training benefit is realism. You are shooting at someone who is shooting back at you, who’s moving, and who doesn’t want to get shot. That realism will drive a bit of adrenaline, stress you out, and allow you to see how your body and mind respond under pressure.
Stress inoculation is always a fantastic training effect. I love competition because it stresses me out and makes me work under pressure. Another huge training benefit comes from diagnosing your issues under pressure. You can see where you might fall apart in a real violent situation.
I recommend recording these sessions and watching yourself on camera. You can see where you flubbed, failed, and goofed up. Then, you can take that data and begin to work it into your standard range training to rectify those weaknesses.
Does It Hurt?
The paintballs are moving at about 270 feet per second. That’s pretty fast, and they are pretty big. Yeah, it hurts. It leaves a welt and a stain. A direct shot to the knuckles can break the skin. You have to wear a mask if you plan to use these guns for force-on-force training.
These things can take your eye out, Ralphie!
The Umarex T4E markers offer an affordable force-on-force training option that’s reliable, realistic, easy to use, and a whole lot of fun. It allows you to ratchet up your training to realistic levels in a safe, controlled environment. What more can you ask for for less than $200?
