What Hurts More: Airsoft or Paintball?

It's a dilemma many of us face when choosing an outdoor battle sport: which will cause more pain and injury, Airsoft or Paintball? While the adrenaline rush-inducing act of shooting projectiles at each other is always fun, safety should always come first. To put your mind at ease, let's examine the differences between Airsoft and Paintball and find out which is safer.

Airsoft Basics

Airsoft is a recreational sport that simulates a real warlike situation. It's similar to Paintball, with the key difference being that Airsoft is ordinarily performed with 6mm plastic pellets instead of Paintball's larger plastic balls. Most Airsoft pellets are non-lethal, meaning they're relatively safer than Paintballs.

Since Airsoft is typically played with low energy pellets, the game relies heavily on the honor system. It's up to the players to act responsibly and call themselves out when they are hit in order to enhance the safety and fun of the game. However, all players should always wear appropriate protective equipment, such as masks, gloves and body armor.

Paintball Primer

Paintball is a sport in which two opposing teams eliminate their opponents by hitting them with pellets loaded with paint. Its intense and fun, however, it's advisable to wear the most protective of gear in order to limit the chances of injury. Paintballs are generally larger in size and contain a thicker paint-like liquid than Airsoft pellets. The impact can be quite painful; the splatter from the Paintballs can cause long-lasting staining and the much more slippery surface of the Paintballs can also make them more difficult to clean off.

Paintball gear is usually more advanced and often costs more money. Furthermore, Paintball fields are often more organized and have specific rules and regulations. Safety is usually taken a little more seriously in Paintball as opposed to Airsoft.

Which Hurts More?

Given the difference in size and density of the projectiles, Paintball is usually thought to be the more painful of the two. Paintball pellets are also slightly heavier, making them more likely to cause bruising and other types of skin injuries. Airsoft pellets are more likely to cause minor redness and skin irritations that dissipate quickly.

Having said that, the amount of force with which the pellets are shot differs from field to field and even from game to game. For instance, many Paintball fields have regulations on the size of the pellet that can be used which can compromise the safety of the game. On the other hand, some fields strictly enforce the use of low-powered pellet guns to enhance safety. The same is true for Airsoft fields; Airsoft guns can be configured to shoot at higher or lower velocities depending on the preferences of the field.

Brief Recap

In the end, both Airsoft and Paintball can be very entertaining and relatively safe when the appropriate protective gear and the rules of the particular field are followed. Ultimately, Airsoft is usually less painful because of the sheer size of the pellets, but Paintball can be more intense and should not be taken lightly. Decide on which battle sport you want to play and take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety!