Our team found that most of the newbies are confused to get the proper answer of Airsoft vs paintball.
Since paintball vs airsoft is an ongoing debate ever since the games were developed because of the similarity.
They are somehow similar because both are firearm games, still, there is some major difference, we will try our best to close this debate by clearing the differences, hopefully, you will get your answers.
Without further wasting time let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
Airsoft vs Paintball
Before we start an in-depth analysis of airsoft vs paintball, first we have to know about the basics of both games, let’s start from the definitions.
First played in Japan in the 1970s
First played in New Hampshire in 1981
Now let’s get to the depth of Airsoft vs paintball
Age differences of airsoft vs paintball
If we consider it generally we can see the majority of the fields allow 10+ years old players.
If we conclude generally the majority of fields allow 10+ years old players, at the professional level a player must 18+ old.
Equipment differences of Paintball vs Airsoft
The equipment of paintball is totally different from airsoft, paintball equipment come with stylish and look, however, airsoft equipment comes with realistic firearms look.
you will find major differences for sure
let’s discuss some major equipment in detail
Paintball Mask vs Airsoft Mask
Though you have varieties to select a professional one for you, still you will get a realistic feeling with scarry maks.
In airsoft you will have few choices because most of the players get their work done with ordinary goggles, they only need a mask when they have to play in a congested field where they can be shoot from very near.
Paintball Mask: paintball masks are more stylish with lots of modern features and ultra-durable in terms of built quality, Mask is mandatory in paintball, without mask most of the fields will not allow you to enter in the field.
You have a vast variety to choose a paintball mask, different masks come with different styles, features, build quality, and comfort level, even you can get a paintball mask for glasses as well.
Note: Please select an antifog paintball mask and thanks me later, remember your vision is the most important factor in the field.
Airsoft vs Paintball Guns
Some of the airsoft guns have an orange cover at the tip to differentiate from actual firearm guns.
In airsoft, You have a large variety of guns which is more like real firearms with different features shapes, and built qualities.
Also, you can get airsoft guns powered with batteries, gas, springs, and electric power (AEGs).
Airsoft guns have a magazine loaded with pellets to shoot the opponents.
the magazine has the capability to hold 400-2500 pellets which is amazing means you don’t need to reload faster.
In paintball you also have large varieties of guns but not more than airsoft, paintball guns are powered with CO2 tanks or compressed air.
Airsoft gun comes with a large hopper in which we have to load some paintballs to shoot a particular object.
The paintball marker is able to hold 50-200 paintballs in the hopper.
Reloading of airsoft is a bit difficult and time taken process there for its magazine capacity is tremendous.
Also, paintball Ammos are heavy as compared to pellets, if we carry lots of ammo in the field we may compromise our movements in the field.
Reloading of paintball is extremely easy just you have to throw the paintballs in the hopper that’s it, even most of the players reload their guns during the match.
Also, pellets are not visible in the air because of their small size and high fps, most of the players do not have superpowers to see the small pellets in the air.
Also, due to the low fps and late size paintballs may turn away in the air.
Moreover, they are somehow visible in the air.
Most of the players prefer guns with ordinary springs or batteries in order to reduce the ongoing cost.
Gas-powered guns will cost you again and again and, remember they are not environmentally friendly as well.
Another major reason for being costly is, you have to purchase a hopper and paintball tank (CO2 or compressed air tank), to store some gas for emergency use.
Ammos
- Ammos of airsoft is very easy to carry because they have negligible weight you can easily carry a lots of ammo with you during the field. Your movements will never be distracted.
- You can buy pellets at very cheap, even 5000 to 6000 pellets will cost you around $15
- paintball’s Ammos are somehow heavy we can’t move around the field with lots of ammo, still paintball player is able to manage that hurdle.
- Secondly, paintballs are expensive as compared to the airsoft pallets, 2000 paintballs will cost you about $30 to $40. Though some fields offer special discounts still they are expensive.
Accessories and Clothing
Moreover, you will have some special accessories like smoke grenades, pellets grenades, sniper scopes, heavy machine guns, etc.
Also, paintball allows you to use some special accessories like paint grenades rockets, tanks, and smoke grenades.
However, in woodsball they choose darker clothes because they are less visible in the woods, somehow they resemble military-type clothes.
Cleaning of guns clothes
Long ago paintballs were made of oil pants that were very difficult to clean, thankfully we have water paintballs now, still cleaning oces of paintball is a bt difficult
Sites, Events and tournaments
Can be played anywhere like malls building, forest, etc
paintball also can be played anywhere with a proper permit.
In airsoft, you will found fewer events and tournaments as compared to paintball, still you can find a few very good large scale (350+ players) tournaments with a good price as a reward.
In paintball, there are hundreds of tournaments because of the trends of paintball tournaments are very old, many fields have their own schedule of tournaments.
Moreover, paintball tournaments occurred on a very large scale even 500 players can participate in a single tournament.
Cost of fields
All most all Airsoft fields allow you to bring your own pellets, in paintball some fields can’t allow you because of some safety reasons.
Also, if the field doesn’t allow you to bring your own paintball you will have to purchase from the fields in order to play.
According to our experience pack of 500 paintballs will cost you about $12 to $50 depending on the field.
lets check out our detailed guide about paintball expenses
Popularity Comparsion
Another major reason for the popularity airsoft is, its equipment is very similar to the real equipment, Even you can’t distinguish, from a certain distance. that’s why a newbie want to explore the real time mlitry feelings.
Moreover, some dye hard’s are building their collections of airsoft equipment as well.
Airsoft is dominating paintball because of cost and realism, still, these both are totally different yu have to explore both.
Realism of Paintball vs Airsoft
Moreover you have similar tasks like the soldier you have to protect your village and your family, players are very serious about that.
You will get more realistic guns, pistols, and grenades, as we have discussed above that airsoft equipment is very similar to the original military equipment.
Literally, you will get realistic military feelings.
Paintball is a more athletic type game, some players try to explore their surviving skills with their teammates and family.
Rules and regulations of Airsoft vs Paintball
400 fps is the standard velocity of pellets every player should not have a gun more than 400fps.
There is more chancing of cheating in airsoft as compared to paintball because the pellets are very small and there will be no visible marker on the player to identify whether a player got shot or not.
No one has a permit to go away from the boundary line, every player should be within certain boundaries.
No one has a permit to climb on the trees as well because of some safety reasons.
There are very fewer chances of cheating in paintball because paintballs make a clear mark on the object, referees can identify it within some seconds.
If you are not sure that you got a hit you will have the liberty to get surety from your teammates or referees, till that game will be paused.
Roles of players
Each player has to follow their role strictly; we can see different additional roles than paintball.
Superman only has the task to eliminate opponents from far away. autocannons machines are operated by a heavy gun specialist, shoot guns are used to break the door, grenades and knives are used to eliminate the close opponents.
Even sometimes they have a proper medical team in longer games, now you can observe the reality, if a player injured the medical team rushes to get the first AID.
Pain and injuries
In this section, our main focus is to solve the most frequent questions about airsoft vs paintball pain, we will cover the following questions
- what hurts more paintball or airsoft.
- does airsoft hurt more than paintball
Though the FPS of airsoft is far more than paintball guns, still the size of ammo matters, if we compare both for the same distance paintball hurts more than airsoft, just because of its large size.
Even some players didn’t felt like they got a shoot just because of the long-distance and proper thick clothes.
Though paintball guns have lower FPS as compared to airsoft, Still paintball hurts more.
Check out our detailed guide about is paintball dangerous.
Quick Highlights of Airsoft
- Ammo size: 6mm plastic/metallic
- Gun velocity: 200 to 600 FPS (400FPS is standard)
- Accuracy: Impressive
- Gun powered with gas, spring, and batteries
- Magazine capacity: 50 to 2500 pellets
- Realism: real-time military feel
- Gunpower: 1 to 2 jouls
Quick Highlights of Paintball
- Ammos size: 16 to 19mm spherical paint capsules
- Gun velocity: 300 FPS
- Accuracy: medium.
- Gun powered with: Co2 gas, Compressed air.
- Gunpower: 4 to 10 jouls.
- Gun mechanism: very strong
Pros and cons of paintball
- There are fewer chances of cheating because of visible marks.
- More stylish clothes are available.
- Durable equipment
- More events and tournaments
- Colorful and modern paintball masks
- Reloading of guns is very easy
- Expensive.
- The accuracy of guns is less.
- Less popular nowadays.
- Operating of the gun is somehow difficult because of large hopper
- paintball is more painful if you don’t have safety equipment
- cleaning clothes is time taken
Pros and cons of Airsoft
- Less expensive
- Tremendous accuracy of guns.
- Real-time military fells
- More fps of guns
- Most popular firearm games.
- Cleaning of guns and cloths is very easy
- Operating a gun is very easy.
- More ammo can be load
- Large varieties of guns available
- Reloading is difficult.
- Guns are less durable.
- Fewer tournaments and events are available.
- Fewer varieties of masks available.
Which is best for you paintball or airsoft?
Indeed both games are very interesting to check out our surviving skills, the final decision to select whether you want to go for paintball or airsoft is solely depending on the choice of players.
Airsoft is a more serious game with real-time military feels, large varieties of guns at cheaper cost; also you will have to pay less for fields.
Paintball is a game of enjoyment most of the players play at a low scale with their friends and family.
Though there are official serious tournaments, the majority of newbies has a dream to hit few paintballs on the butt of his/her best friend 🙂
If you are a color lover paintball is the best choice for you on the other hand if you are military lover airsoft will be the best choice for you.
You can get some suggestions from here
Verdict
If you haven’t played any of the games please let's have a try at airsoft or paintball both are amazing to analyze your surviving skills.
Being a city dweller when I won my first paintball game, I am feeling like solder 🙂 literally, I was like I am a military man no one will mess with me.
Ok, let us get to the point, both games are really good for your fitness you have to make movements, running and walking your whole body will participate in the game believe me your fitness will improve.
Let's make a schedule to give some time to yourself, your family, and your friends and make a match of airsoft or paintball with them.
Thanks for reading hopefully we have cleared your all queries about airsoft vs paintball, if you have further queries let us know in the comments we will try our best to resolve them, please share this article with your friends and family.
Stay safe Stay happy