TexasCHLforum.com

Not sure this is the right section for this, since it's a pretty random question.

Anyway, I've managed to scare up some ammo recently, but it's still not enough to shoot in any volume (especially vexing, since this was going to be the year that I got more serious about IDPA and started shooting 3-gun). Normally, I'd start shooting more .22 to keep in practice, but even that's disappeared recently.

So, I'm trying to come up with alternatives. I picked up an airsoft pistol to shoot in my garage in order to supplement my dry-fire practice, so I can run at least some drills to keep in shape for the few IDPA matches that my ammo supply will allow me to shoot. Now, I'm starting to think about doing the same for the other shooting disciplines as well. More specifically, I'm looking to supplement the practical pistol shooting I can do now, adding some rifle drills (ideally, both precision shooting and more dynamic "practical" carbine-type stuff); I'm assuming that shotgun is pretty much out of the question.

So, just looking for some general equipment recommendations. What's a good air rifle to practice with? Would I get better pistol training using something more elaborate than a cheap airsoft gun from Academy? Please chime in on logistical issues too - I'm assuming that I can buy or build a pellet trap to set up in my garage to practice at ranges out to 5-7 yards or so. I guess I have to a range to work at longer distances than that - I've never done that before, am I correct in assuming that most ranges are okay with that? Anything else I'm not thinking of?

Discuss.