To save money on ammo, or be able to practice at home, or save wear, or shoot plates at close range or use a shoot house, or other reason.
Do you have a “training rifle” that is a pistol caliber, .22lr, or Airsoft?
I have .22 trainers for just about everything.
A .22 Smith and Wesson 43c J-frame.
A Glock 19 frame with an Advantage Arms .22 conversion kit.
A Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 AR.
A CZ-455 Tacticool .22 bolt gun.
A nice .22 AR that is an analog for my BCM RECCE build.
I also have a suppressed 9mm AR that is a real hoot on steel plates. Much fun doing man on man shoots against the suppressed CZ Scorpion 9mm.
It’s nice to take the kids to the range and not burn through 500 bucks worth of ammo.
I have a M&P 15-22 and a airsoft M9a1 to augment my real gun training. I use them regularly.
Also have an Advantage Arms Kit on my G19 and M&P 15-22. Plan on getting one of the .22 M&P pistols and the Colt Rail Gun .22 when I get back to the mainland.
Airsoft can be of value, but I really don’t think it’s worth the investment over dry fire unless you’re doing force on force. In which case it can be pretty valuable.
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For force on force and low tech kill house we use airsoft stuff. Better than not engaging in that kind of training at all.
Airsoft was my gateway to the military and real firearms. Gas blowback airsoft guns are neat because they mimic the operation of the slide/bolt cycling when fired. Like said above, it’s good for shooting at interactive targets. For just plain shooting, I find it lacking the feedback you get from ammo, trigger feel, and accurate to about 40ft.
I built a 22LR AR to practice some precision stuff, to work on shooting fundamentals, and for shooting cheap ammo. It has been a great tool, but it’s nowhere near the same setup as my “fighting” rifles.
Other than that, a lot of dry fire and buy ammo when it’s cheap.
Colt AR6450 & AR6951 (9mm Carbines) and S&W M&P15-22. (The AR6951 and M&P15-22 are both equipped with Aimpoint PRO’s like most of my other AR’s). Haven’t tried Airsoft but that sounds like a good idea (since I don’t make it to the Range as often as I used to).
I’ve been using a 22lr bolt action as a PRS training rifle for most of this year (along with shooting some rimfire PRS matches). It’s a ton of fun and has turned out to be a valuable training tool, though it is not a replacement for shooting a centerfire. If I negelect shooting the centerfire rifle for too long it shows, no matter how much I’ve been playing with the rimfire. A 223 bolt action PRS trainer is probably a good supplement between the rimfire and 6mm/6.5mm match gun, and I’m considering putting one together this winter.
I’ve also used a 22lr AR (CMMG dedicated upper) and 22lr handguns as training tools in the past, and still own one of each that I shoot on occasion. 22s are always a good time, and a great way to introduce folks to shooting.
I don’t have a pistol caliber carbine at the moment, but I’ve considered getting one. I’ve wondered if it might be a convenient way to practice with a carbine on close-up steel, something I won’t be doing with a 5.56. Plus 9mm is still about 2/3 the price of even the cheapest m193.
I use a .22LR AR rifle and .22LR AR pistol to teach my son how to shoot at an indoor range, as well as a Glock .22 conversion (and Browning Buckmark). They’re always good for practicing the fundamentals.
Absolutely! Nothing like a suppressed .22 to help teach a new shooter. Low noise, low recoil, and they can more easily focus on marksmanship.
I can’t recall ever bringing tools like that to the range, and not have a new or junior shooter walk away when a big grin. 
Recently built a 9mm AR for this purpose to save a little on ammo and my steel from close in hits by 223.
9mm AR is one of the next priorities on my list. Recoil control is about the only thing a .22 won’t help with.
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It is on my list to do all three, just haven’t got around to it yet. This thread just might light a fire under my ass.
I have accumulated multiple guns and training aids over time. The important things to remember are that you are making contributions (no matter how small) to your knowledge wealth and you have to recognize the differences and limitations of your training aids.
I started my wife off with a simple Time Crisis gun game while properly illustrating fundamental techniques. We moved into cheap spring Airsoft. Then 22LR Advantage Arms Glock conversion. She is completely comfortable shooting 9mm now.
I have a M&P 15-22 that functions like a normal AR, an AR-9 that mostly functions the same (no lock on empty, Glock mags, etc.). For my off range time I have a SIRT AR bolt and pistol. I have no excuse to not train since I can always have some tool to work on skills.
Spending a lot of $$ sucks, but like any major tool, if you get one at a time it’s not too bad. If you have kids or people to teach, the value increases a lot. I have kids that will use the same training tools. I always plan on shooting, so $500 for the rest of my shooting years isn’t bad if I spend wisely.
I have two customized Ruger 10-22 rifles. I also have suppressor that I use. With 22LR ammo cheap and available at least for now, this is a great and inexpensive way for me to practice and hone my shooting skills.
I have both. I wanted to practice engagements in small confined spaces , clearing rooms, since this seemed like the most likely encounter a civi would have with their weapon ( at least where I live.) Airsoft is nice for around my home and in my back yard. (draw practice , weapon light deployment.) .22 is great for training at the range without breaking the bank on ammo.
Absolutely. CMMG 22LR drop-in bolt for AR-15; Advantage Arms 22LR upper (with same sight setup) for Glock.
I think standalone 22LR weapons have their purpose as well, but getting training on the same firing controls, grip, cheek weld, etc as those of your primary weapons is quite valuable.
Dedicated .22LR AR, and as I’m a 1911 guy, I guess my Ruger Mk.III 22/45 bull bbl, qualifies as a “1911 trainer.” 