[Greg_Dunn]

My thoughts are that airsoft guns allow you to train with a familiar looking/feeling platform which is good for muscle memory.

Use the safety rules and solid proven tactics and it is a low cost training tool.
Don't train with "gamers/airsofters" to keep from developing bad tactics that will get you or someone else dead in real life.

But if you must, you can test out new things and it is better to get stung by plastic to see that it doesn't work.