Paintball vs Airsoft Which Hurts More

Which Hurts More: Paintball or Airsoft? Comparing the pain of paintball and airsoft can be hard to peg down it really depends on who you're playing with and what gear you're using. Here's a quick rundown of the potential pain and protection that paintball and airsoft can deliver.

It's All About the Impact

The degree of discomfort that someone experiences when being hit can depend a lot on ball speed, pain tolerance and even the caliber of weapon they're using. Generally speaking, the pain factor of paintball is slightly higher than airsoft. This is because the smaller paintball projectiles are often traveling faster than airsoft BBs.

Paintball

Most paintball guns shoot paintballs between 250 and 300 feet per second. However, some guns especially those used in tournament play can fire paintballs at speeds up to about 450 fps. That level of power means more intense impact and more potential for pain.

Airsoft

Unlike paintball, airsoft usually does not travel at the same speed. Depending on the type of gun and the BB weight, airsoft guns generally range between 350 to 600 fps. But that difference isn't really felt unless you're using a highly powerful airsoft rifle like a sniper rifle. However, airsoft guns undeniably deliver more impact on average than paintball guns.

Protection Matters

The protective gear you wear when playing airsoft or paintball is going to affect the pain too. Neither type of game can be played safely without proper protection.

Paintball

Paintball requires some serious protective garments including a helmet, scratch gloves, knee and elbow pads, and a specialized paintball mask. Without all that, there's no way someone can withstand the impact of a speeding paintball, which can easily cause a bruise or worse.

Airsoft

Airsoft does not require the exact same level of protection as paintball, but it's still essential to use a face mask to protect from eye injuries. For the ultimate protection and to reduce the risk of skin bruising, many players wear a full body suit and protective headgear.

Brief Recap

Comparing the pain of paintball and airsoft can be hard to quantify. Paintballs generally travel faster than airsoft BBs and, as such, can deliver a higher level of pain when they hit their intended target. However, airsoft does deliver more impact on average than paintball guns. Either way, it's essential to use some sort of basic protection to help reduce the impact and discomfort of being hit on the field.

No matter if you're shooting paintball or airsoft, make sure you're adequately protected for the safest and least painful game experience.