WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PAINTBALL AND AIRSOFT?
Both Airsoft and Paintball games typically involve trying to eliminate the other team in formats such as “elimination”, “capture the flag”, etc.
With both Airsoft and Paintball matches, a player is typically required to respawn (return to their base) when shot by another player.
Airsoft uses 6mm plastic or biodegradable bb pellets that do not break on impact like a paintball. Airsoft requires the player to yell "HIT!" when shot and there are referees on site to monitor that everyone is calling their hits and with many players using GoPro type video cameras cheaters in airsoft are much less common. Those found to be cheating will be warned and further infractions will result in being ejected. Paintballs mark an opponent with paint so, you immediately know when you shoot another player.
Pros to Airsoft
Airsoft games are not messy.
BB’s are very inexpensive since they are just small plastic balls.
The experience feels much more realistic because the guns look like firearms used in real military combat.
Cons to Airsoft
Airsoft requires an honor system to know when someone is hit. With many players having GoPro Cameras we see that most players call their hits or they risk being embossed by a video of them cheating. There are also referees on the battle field to help monitor hits.
Paintball uses 50 caliber balls of paint that are made to break on impact, leaving a visible trace of paint when a player is hit.
Pros to Paintball
The paint clearly marks when a player is hit, so you know with 100% accuracy when you’re out.
The balls are large enough and heavy enough to ensure an accurate trajectory, allowing them to be tracked easily as they fly.
Cons to Paintball
Paintballs are much larger than airsoft pellets, measuring about .68” in diameter and weighing about 3.5grams – that’s about 17 times the weight of a .20g airsoft pellet. Because of this larger size and heftier weight, paintball guns usually fire at about 290-300 FPS.
This is significantly slower than the velocity of an airsoft pellet, but because of the much larger size, a paintball has much more inertia and delivers much more force on impact. Airsoft pellets sting when contacting bare skin and create a small welt, where a paintball will leave a larger bruise. A 3.5g paintball fired at 290 FPS would deliver over 13 joules of energy on impact – almost 13 times that of an airsoft pellet!
Players typically will get dirtier from paint and dirt when playing paintball. (Paintballs do not stain clothing)
Paintballs are more expensive when purchasing additional ammo.
The equipment is not as realistic in appearance compared to airsoft.
Both Airsoft and Paintball
Being hit at close range or on bare skin in either will leave a welt, but paintball is more likely to give you large, painful welts Paintball is more of a strong impact, breaking and splattering all over you and possibly leaving bruises – while airsoft is more a sting and leaves small welts.
With the proper equipment NEITHER should be painful, but occasionally a BB or Paintball gets past the protective gear.
Both Airsoft and Paintball are a lot of fun.
We specialize in Airsoft, but welcome Paintballers for private parties or special events. We do NOT stock Paintball equipment at this time.
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