One might think that Airsoft and Paintball are very similar or almost the same thing, because players stalk and shoot each other in both sports. The truth is that they are actually very different, both in equipment and level of danger. Of course, both sports are relatively safe (otherwise they'd be illegal) even though they refer to shooting. According to statistics, they don’t produce significantly more injuries than any other competitive sport.

Of course, as any other extreme practice, there are risks which you need to know if you plan on trying one sport or the other. If you aquaint yourself with the risks, the safety practices and if you use appropriate equipment / accessories, you should be fine! 

 

Paintball: not as vanilla as you'd think!

Paintball is not the epitome of a painless extreme sport. Paintball guns rarely reach 300 fps and even if they could, many paintball fields forbid the exceeding of this threshold. The ammunition is blunt and wide, so it could inflict a small amount of pain. As with any shooting device though, if you point it up close or at point blank, they it can hurt more than usual and even damage the skin. 

In Paintball, players can choose between CO2 and high pressure air. CO2 is cheaper, but it can cause damage to weapons. It is more volatile in the process of turning from gas to liquid. C02 is also very sensitive to temperature changes. An increase in temperature of just one degree can increase the pressure inside the CO2 tank by 11 psi (and anything over 800 psi internal pressure is not considered optimal). This surge in pressure can make tanks explode, so the weapon is no longer safe to use. This is why pro and semi-pro tournaments use air pistols.
 

Airsoft: more military than friendly

One of the biggest difference between Paintball and Airsoft is the rate of fire of the weapons. As we said, Paintball guns rarely reach 300 fps, while Airsoft guns are a little bit faster and they go between 300 and 400 fps. It may not seem like much, but it's a significant difference that can cause damage.

The likelihood of injury is also related to the field in which you choose to play. Some arenas have more obstacles and cover options than others. 

Airsoft is very realistic in terms of combat, and not only because the weapons look super real. It's one of the best military simulations. Many people find the fights in this extreme sport much more exciting than the “tame” Paintball fights. 

Airsoft ammo is also more accurate and can injure skin even through protective gear. Sometimes the ammo gets into the bone and leads to more serious and permanent consequences. The most common types of injuries occur in the eyes and ankle areas. However, this also applies to paintball. 

In short: if you want to avoid pain, permanent injury and real danger, then Paintball is the safer option of the two. Those who want a realistic combat experience are better off going with Airsoft.

Etiquette - play nice

Players who participate in both Airsoft and Paintball, play a vital role in maintaining the safety. They could play “hard ball” or “suicide” to avoid situations that evoke close range shots. 

Contrary, someone could endanger his teammates if he ignores a raised white flag and shoots. It definitely depends on whether the participants are there for a bit of friendly fun or they want to engage in a full blown combat.

Ideally, all involved should have an open conversation beforehand and discuss the rules and details. Starting speed and optimal range should be set and agreed upon. Individual play styles determine how much someone is at risk. It also makes a huge difference if you choose to leave protection. So talk it out, make sure to have all your protective gear set, and play nice!

 

And finally… always wear protection 😉
 

Wearing protective gear is absolutely a must in both sports, but as with any other sport, there's no way to completely eliminate the risks of getting injured. There's also some amount of danger right around the corner, and that's why they are called extreme sports! So you can sit with yourself and think about what sort of thrill you're chasing after: a safe and fun activity or brutal realism?