| There are many ways in which the games of | | | | weighs .2 grams while a paintball projectile weighs |
| paintball and Airsoft are quite similar. However, the | | | | 2.84 grams. If both of them are traveling at 300 |
| games really are not the same thing. For this | | | | feet, or 90 meters, per second an Airsoft |
| reason, a lot of people have a tendency of | | | | projectile will transfer .8 joules of energy while a |
| getting confused. | | | | paintball projectile will transfers 11.8 joules of |
| Origin Of The Game | | | | energy. As you can see, this is a considerable |
| Airsoft was developed in Japan in the late 1970s | | | | difference and thus there are different types of |
| when gun hobbyists needed an alternative since | | | | collisions that occur. |
| the private ownership of firearms was illegal at | | | | Shooting Range |
| that time. For this reason, there was a heavy | | | | An Airsoft gun has more range than a paintball |
| emphasis placed upon making accurate replicas of | | | | gun. In fact, most Airsoft guns can shoot |
| real firearms and upon the "military" aspects of | | | | between 250fps to 600fps. If you place a hop-up |
| the game itself. This is also why the game is so | | | | unit on the gun, then this will put a backspin on |
| popular throughout Asia, where paintball is nearly | | | | the gun and give it a slightly upward arc. With this |
| non-existent. | | | | in mind, you should also know that an Airsoft |
| On the other hand, paintball was developed in the | | | | pellet will travel a lot farther than a paintball pellet |
| United States in 1981 as a variation of hide and | | | | will. |
| seek tag. Herein the use of utility companies' paint | | | | Cost Of The Game |
| marking guns are used and their functioning is | | | | If you are a new player who is trying to decide |
| more important than their aesthetic qualities. This | | | | between playing Airsoft or paintball, then you |
| game has rapidly gained great popularity in the | | | | should know that a beginning package for either |
| United States where it has a family-friendly image. | | | | of these games is roughly equivalent in terms of |
| The Need For An Honor System | | | | cost. However, the major difference in price |
| In Airsoft there is an "honor system" that is used | | | | comes in when you are dealing with ammunition |
| in which the players rely upon one another to be | | | | and upkeep of your equipment. Herein Airsoft |
| honest enough to admit that they have been hit | | | | guns are less expensive because of the |
| since the plastic pellets do not leave marks on | | | | ammunition that is used making the guns less |
| clothing. On the other hand, in paintball this system | | | | prone to "jamming." Plus, Airsoft pellets are a lot |
| is not needed because paint marks are left on the | | | | cheaper to manufacture than paintballs are. |
| person's clothing. | | | | The most expensive piece of equipment are the |
| The Kinetic Energy Behind The Game | | | | guns. While you will pay between $20 and $70 for |
| There is relatively little kinetic energy transfer in | | | | a low-quality electric Airsoft gun, a high-quality one |
| Airsoft as compared to paintball. In fact, the | | | | can cost more than $300 and custom guns can |
| comparison is as follows... An Airsoft projectile | | | | cost more than $2,000. |