Top 10 Reasons Airsoft Is Better Than Paintball

Any fan of airsoft knows that the best military simulation sport out there is airsoft; however, some paintball players and non-players are unaware of the benefits and advantages airsoft has over paintball. Here are the top 10 ways airsoft skirmishes trump paintball games:

1. Airsoft game is more realistic than paintball game.
Airsoft guns look like real guns, so much so that airsoft manufacturers are legally required to include an orange 6mm tip at the end of the barrel to identify it as an airsoft gun and not a firearm. Airsoft guns resemble real firearms in many ways: their barrels, machinery, magazines, and accessories more closely resemble firearms than paintball guns.

2. Shooting airsoft ammunition allows for greater accuracy than shooting paintball ammunition.
Airsoft balls are smaller than paintball pellets so they experience less wind resistance and are therefore more accurate. Airsoft bbs are less visible to the opponent due to their smaller size which increases their accuracy. Also, when playing paintball, players can see the larger paintball ball flying towards them and can take cover accordingly, lowering their hit percentage.

3. Airsoft skirmishes are more tactical than paintball games.
With the realism of airsoft guns, tactics play an important role in your battles. Players truly feel like they are on the battlefield and must act strategically and intelligently to win a skirmish. With the ability to unleash large rounds of airsoft ammo quickly, rushing opponents and careless strategy will lead to quick defeat; therefore, designating a chain of command (see reason #7) is vital. The highly tactical aspect of airsoft battle helps transcend the sport into a milsim reality.

4. Airsoft guns have greater ease of use than paintball guns.
Airsoft guns range in weight from as light as 2 pounds to heavier than 6 pounds. Ammunition can be as small as 0.12 grams or as heavy as 0.28 grams; however, .20 gram airsoft bbs are the most common size. On the other hand, the average paintball gun on the light end weighs around 5 pounds and can go up to 15+ pounds for nicer, sturdier models. Maneuvering a paintball gun becomes clumsier and less agile than handling a lighter airsoft gun. Due to the lighter weight of the gun and the weight of the airsoft bb, airsoft guns are easier to transport, which increases their ease of use.

5. Buying a quality airsoft gun is cheaper than getting a paintball gun.

A quality electric start airsoft gun is around $22.95 and airsoft ammo is also extremely cheap – $11.95 for a round of 4000 airsoft bbs. Paintball guns and ammo cost significantly more for comparable quality, around $79.95 for a beginner paintball gun. Paintball pellets are also priced higher at $59.98 for 4,000 rounds of paintball ammo.

6. Putting together an airsoft gun pickup game is easier and less complicated than putting together a paintball party.
This airsoft skirmish advantage is pretty much indisputable in the paintball verse airsoft world: it’s much easier to put together an airsoft game than a paintball game. First, when playing airsoft, the location is less restricted than when playing paintball. Playing airsoft is legal on private property, so you and a friend could easily have a one-on-one battle in someone’s big backyard or yard. Second, airsoft play is much cheaper, so it can be easier to get people together to play. The game of paintball, due to paint splashes, is much more restricted.

7. In these games, having defined roles is important and commonly used.
Airsoft skirmishes are usually divided into two teams, with detailed and strategic roles for each player on the team. Primary roles for airsoft battle include a team leader, tactical officer, rifleman, reconnaissance, sniper, and heavy infantry; however, there are additional features that can be designated to help with order in the field.
The game of paintball sometimes involves a chain of command, but the structure is much more flexible and open to interpretation than in airsoft. Paintball teams are normally separated into three classes: front-players, mid-players, and back-players.

Airsoft is a more realistic milsim game, which explains why tactics, strategy, and a defined hierarchical chain of command are used more often than in paintball games.

8. There are more options to upgrade your gun in airsoft.
As discussed in reason #1, quality airsoft guns are cheaper than paintball guns; therefore it is easier (and less expensive) to upgrade and upgrade your airsoft gun than a paintball gun. Beyond the lower cost of modifying your airsoft gun, there are more upgrade options. External upgrades such as front grips, scopes, sights and switches are available at affordable prices, as are internal upgrades to increase performance such as nozzles, fuses and gearboxes.
The best part about low prices for airsoft parts and accessories is that you can get into the sport as a beginner without spending a lot of money. Then, when it gets more advanced, upgrading is easy and affordable.

9. Airsoft bbs shoot faster than paintball pellets.
Airsoft balls fly at speeds of 150 to 600 feet per second (fps), with an average speed of over 300 fps, while paintball pellets only reach speeds of 200 to 300 fps on average.

10. The military practice with airsoft guns and ammunition for training.
Military personnel and police officers use airsoft guns during training before moving on to the Royal Artillery. Just this month, officers in Dane County, Wisconsin used airsoft pistols and rifles for their basic training at a closed public school.

We think these are the top 10 reasons our sport is better than paintball, but we’re sure airsoft fans know plenty more!