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What Hurts More Airsoft or Paintball?

ByDustin Ellermann Updated onMarch 7, 2023
Paintball vs Airsoft: which is more painful?

Paintball and airsoft are two very popular sports. They are both enjoyed by people of all ages, and they offer a lot of excitement. While the two sports may seem very similar, there are some key differences.

Whether you’re thinking about playing paintball or airsoft, it’s important to know what to expect. So, what hurts more? Airsoft or paintball? Let’s take a look.

A Quick Answer to What Hurts More Airsoft or Paintball? Paintball is more painful than Airsosoft because paintball pellets are much harder and can break the skin more easily than airsoft pellets.

Table of Contents

  • Airsoft vs. Paintball: One is More Painful
  • What Makes Paintball More Painful?
  • Can Airsoft Pellets Penetrate the Skin?
  • Paintball vs. Airsoft: Which Game Is More Popular?
  • Final Thoughts on Airsoft vs. Paintball
  • Related posts:

Airsoft vs. Paintball: One is More Painful

If you’ve ever been shot in either airsoft or paintball, it’s likely that you didn’t find either experience to be pleasant. However, the two games do have some significant differences. When it comes to which hurts more, the answer is simple:

paintball hurts more than airsoft.

Paintball is a competitive sport, and the goal is to eliminate opponents by hitting them with paintballs. The pellets fired in a paintball gun are filled with a liquid dye that leaves a mark on the target’s clothing or skin – just imagine getting hit with tomato seeds and juice flying everywhere!

Airsoft is more like a military simulation (MilSim) and the pellets that are fired from airsoft guns are smaller, lighter, and made of plastic. Airsoft pellets can sting on impact but they don’t break the skin.

What Makes Paintball More Painful?

Paintballs hurt more than airsoft pellets because they are larger and fired at a faster velocity. They also contain more liquid than an airsoft pellet, so they can leave a bigger welt when they hit your skin.

Paintballs don’t break the skin but they do cause significant pain upon impact. Paintball injuries such as welts and bruising occur due to paintball impacts, and paintballs can also cause eye injuries due to the impact of the pellet or splashback from the liquid inside. Eye protection is important in all competitive sports but it is critical in paintball.

Paintballs tend to leave a larger welt than airsoft pellets and blood blisters (hematomas) also sometimes occur. The liquid inside a paintball is thicker than the liquid inside an airsoft pellet, so it can take longer to dissipate. Sometimes people mistake blood blisters for bruises (and vice versa) but they are two different injuries.

Paintballs leave welts that look like hickeys or bruises and they don’t usually go away within an hour or two. If you’ve ever dealt with the aftermath of a paintball injury, it’s likely that you were left with an impressive mark on your body for hours or even days.

Paintballs also travel at a much faster speed than airsoft pellets. This means that they can cause more pain upon impact and they do more damage to your skin.

Although paintballs may look like harmless little balls, it’s easy to see why paintball is more painful than airsoft when you consider the differences in their physical characteristics.

Can Airsoft Pellets Penetrate the Skin?

You might wonder if airsoft pellets can penetrate the skin. The short answer is no, an airsoft pellet will not break your skin or cause any injuries or harm to organs if you’re shot with one at close range. This is because an airsoft gun shoots plastic pellets.

If you’re not wearing any protective gear, most airsoft guns have a maximum effective range of about 100 feet. Beyond that distance, the pellets may be slowed down significantly or they might not even reach their target at all due to the effects of wind or other factors.

A shot from an airsoft gun can sting but it won’t cause any injuries. Airsoft pellets cannot penetrate the skin or enter your bloodstream. The worst that can happen is that you will feel a stinging sensation on the surface of your skin.

Paintball vs. Airsoft: Which Game Is More Popular?

Both airsoft and paintball are popular games, but paintball is the much more popular of the two. Paintball facilities can be found in most major cities and paintball is a very well-known sport around the world.

Paintball has been featured on television numerous times and entire series have been devoted to paintball, including cartoons, movies, video games, and reality shows. Although airsoft is growing in popularity, it still has a long way to go before it catches up to its more popular cousin.

It’s easy to see why paintball is more popular due to its simplicity. The equipment needed for a game of paintball is much less expensive and it’s also easier to find a place where you can play.

Paintballs are cheaper than airsoft pellets, so that’s another factor that contributes to the popularity of paintball. Both sports can be enjoyed as a recreational activity but paintball has become a modern day warfare simulation, so it makes sense that it would attract people who prefer more action and intensity.

Final Thoughts on Airsoft vs. Paintball

In the end, both airsoft and paintball are fun games but they’re also quite different from each other. Each sport has its own unique characteristics and history, as well as its own set of pros and cons.

Airsoft is a more tactical game with a longer range than paintball. There are a lot of similarities between airsoft and paintball, but there is a stark contrast when you look at the physics involved in each game.

Paintballs have a thicker liquid content that causes welts to form, while airsoft pellets do not cause welts or penetrate the skin. Airsoft is more affordable than paintball with less expensive equipment and easier access to fields.

As you can see from the information provided above, airsoft and paintball are two completely different games with their own unique characteristics. While they may seem similar at first glance, there are clear differences in airsoft vs. paintball when you take a closer look.

Do you prefer airsoft or paintball? Let us know what your favorite game is in the comments section below!

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Dustin Ellermann
Dustin Ellermann

Dustin Ellermann has been playing paintball for over 20 years. The son of an avid paintball player, Dustin got his first taste of the great game at only 5 years old. The rest is history.

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