Difference Between Airsoft and Paintball

[MrEvolution]

www.pozland.com/avp
Show your friend this and he will understand. (Watch out for the injury page though).

[BlackRain]

The debate as seen from a field owners perspective.

In paintball I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 yr's experience and with airsoft about 1 yr worth. So take from my opinion what you may.

Paintball in it's inception was started first as woodsball.... a bunch of guys having at each other in what ever camo they could find playing capture the flag. As the sport evolved the challenges changed and speedball was born as well as the development of scenario games for woodsball players. Speedball became more mainstream taking the heat off of the whole shooting people debate by getting sponsors and wearing flashy colors and changing the over all appearance of the paintball gun then referred to as a marker. While the woodsball players got more into the camo and mission orientated side of the game at their local fields. With the development of the NPPL speedball grew in leaps and bounds almost dwarfing woodsball altogether. But non the less woodsball always had its place and survived the onset of speedball. As the speedball genre began to taper off and the publication of many paintball magazines the cheating or "wiping" as its most commonly called became more and more apparent as the prizes got bigger and bigger. With scenario games now picking up speed and the amount of players attending the events increasing at an alarming rate the birth of milisim gear came out. With the development of the milisim gear more and more scenario games became more military orientated and so did the markers which at this point now start to look more and more realistic. To date woodsball is now back on the rise and since the NPPL recently declared bankruptcy the whole speedball arena is now in question. More and more companies are producing military styled markers with numerous accessories and body kits to change the markers overall appearance.
The main differences between the two sports is that airsoft uses a plastic BB and tends to be more hard core military style play as well as the guns them selves are very accurate representations of their real life counter parts. Aside from the gear used the only real difference is the style of play, ammunition used, guns used and their operation.
Paintball is typically more expensive to play on a regular basis simply due to the cost of paint. With players spending on average $25-$35 for entry and $80-$120 plus per case of 2000 rounds it gets expensive really fast. The guns pricing range is similar to those of airsoft from cheap to insane expensive so there is no real difference there when it comes to that part. Airsoft players tend to spend a bit more on admission pricing due to the fact they use their own ammo. Using their own ammo is a benefit as it is cheaper per 2000 rounds then their paintball counterparts. When a player can spend $10 for some quality BBs in the same quantity as an paintball player the cost savings becomes evident. Beyond these points there are very few differences between the two sports other than game play.

My overall opinion is that it is far cheaper to play airsoft on a regular basis then it is to play paintball.

Cheers,
BlackRain.

[johjoh]

Originally Posted by MrEvolution

www.pozland.com/avp
Show your friend this and he will understand. (Watch out for the injury page though).

haha thats good and funny thanks i was i need of a laugh

[Crunchmeister]

The only time I played paintball, it was speedball, and I didn't really didn't enjoy it a whole lot. I had fun, but it really wasn't what I expected, and quite frankly, the immaturity and idiocy of the players and the gameplay left a rather sour taste in my mouth. Couldn't say I cared much for the style of the markers either.

Fast forward about 10 years, and not it's airsoft. I love airsoft and have no complaints at all. Yeah, there's the odd asshole player here and there, but for the most part, the community is much better all around.

I'm sure paintball can be more fun than my 1 experience with it, but when I compare the 2, airsoft will always be a clear winner for me.

[FlyGuy]

The range of posts so far pretty much hit the mark so I don't wish to repeat. However, from an equipment point of view there exists in Canada a very small, no thanks to CBSA/replica firearm issues being the same for them as for airsoft, community of milsim paintball players using 43 cal guns. You've probably heard of these very realistic, gas-powered (CO2 or HPA), magazine-fed, ejecting-shell paintball guns retailed by RAP4/RAM. These things are pretty much the closest to airsoft in their form and function but with the added tactile feedback of ejected "shells" landing on the floor with a satisfyingly metallic ring, a small paint splat and perhaps a short but painful sting when hit, followed closely by a trip to the laundromat the next day for clean-up.

Otherwise, the need for a more tactical style of play (great for CQB scenarios) and limited ammo (realistic reloads), etc. when compared against the "mainstream" paintball forms such speedball or woodsball where noisy 200 round targets, err...paint hoppers stick up from the gun taking away somewhat from the realism means that with the right crowd, playing milsim/scenario paintball with these RAM/RAP4 guns can be equally as fun as anything that hurls a 6mm plastic BB.

FYI: Here's just one (mine) example of the kind of custom loadout one can achieve with these guns:



Unfortunately, like I said earlier, CBSA enforcement of replica imports has had a dramatic stifling effect on the 43 cal community in Canada. Without a steady supply of these guns and more paintball operations supporting their use at the fields, it hasn't seen the interest amongst players who like milsim/tactical but are unaware of the 43 cal gun's existence.

Some field operators and their insurance companies say that because these things shoot @ 350 fps compared with the 250 fps limits for 68 cal paintball, that they are dangerous and should not be allowed. This is a popular misconception. Sure, at point blank range, it can hurt a bit more but if these folks knew anything about basic physics, they'd realise that 43 cal paintballs actually suffer a disadvantage in terms of "breakability" of the paintball down range due to the lighter mass of the paintball and it's more rapid loss of kinetic energy as it travels towards the target. Meaning, you're less likely to get a paint break on a distant target using 43 cal paint than you are using 68 cal paint (higher mass = more kinetic energy upon reaching the target), and that forces you to play "smarter" than the average Joe. I've been shot at point blank with both 68 cal and 43 cal paintballs and believe me, I much rather prefer getting hit with the 43...it stings more initially, but doesn't leave the massive bruises a 68 cal ball can.

As for the quality of the players, yes paintball has attracted younger more immature players to the game, but they just make better, more satisfying targets for the older guns. As in airsoft, you can find like-minded players in paintball to hang out with. There are a multitude of special interest groups in paintball catering to all kinds of players including milsim/tactical ones, though you will have to look a bit harder to find them, and whichever path you choose remember the ultimate goal is to have fun and be safe out there.


Ready...FIRE...Aim!
'Fly

[Capt.Flan]

Originally Posted by Crunchmeister

The only time I played paintball, it was speedball, and I didn't really didn't enjoy it a whole lot. I had fun, but it really wasn't what I expected, and quite frankly, the immaturity and idiocy of the players and the gameplay left a rather sour taste in my mouth. Couldn't say I cared much for the style of the markers either.

Fast forward about 10 years, and not it's airsoft. I love airsoft and have no complaints at all. Yeah, there's the odd asshole player here and there, but for the most part, the community is much better all around.

I'm sure paintball can be more fun than my 1 experience with it, but when I compare the 2, airsoft will always be a clear winner for me.

That pretty much resume what I think.

:salute:

[DENZILDON]

I think one of the beauties of airsoft is you can play the role/character that you want be have a 1:1 outfit, gun and accessories (well almost considering we are playing with airsoft guns).

Good example is when "I am Legend" by Will Smith came out my teammate wanted the look of he's m4. After a few online buying....BOOM! exact replica. You want a PMC, russian ops, navy seal look....no problem! You can take a pic of a full geared airsofter and the real character and you can't tell the difference (with some exceptions of our heavy weight comardes. )

The role playing + imagination + the 1:1 replica guns just gives the edge for me when playing airsoft.

[Jimski]

Originally Posted by johjoh

haha thats good and funny thanks i was i need of a laugh

gay porn


.43 paintball is interesting though, and the guns look good:

[DENZILDON]

^^^ still doesn't cut it as a 1:1 replica. Good try though.

[Crunchmeister]

They're not perfect 1:1 replicas, but still an assload better than your standard paintball marker... The lack of a hopper is a BIG plus for me. I'll still stick with airsoft, but I'll give credit where it's due for those .43 guns.

[CDN_Stalker]

Paintball is rather like attending a Gay Pride Parade.............. one is free and I assume fun, one is expensive and I assume still fun, but at the end of the day, you are still covered in rainbow coloured spluge.

[Solidsnake25]

Iv played paintball for about 6 years now, still play alot, i mostly play speedball, I compete a bit, Im playing a local tournament tomorow actually. For the mostpart, the community of airsofting allot better. In paintball fourms most of them are all kids, whos parents buy them all their stuff and just run their mouth. When you try and sell something on a paintball forum, you can say (550 firm no trades) and you will stell get lots of offers like 500 shipped or a dm6 plus cash. From my experiences trades have all gone good for me here, also alot less chance of being scammed with the age verification.
Iv never competed in airsoft, however in paintball the players attitudes are horrible. Almost everybody wipes hits, everyone accuses everyone of cheating, people overshoot ect, however i imagine in airsoft people are more mature and honorable.

[FlyGuy]

Originally Posted by CDN_Stalker

Paintball is rather like attending a Gay Pride Parade.............. one is free and I assume fun, one is expensive and I assume still fun, but at the end of the day, you are still covered in rainbow coloured spluge.

Nice mental image you just painted there Stalker...thanks ever so much for that! Kinda like the mess Mercer left behind in the Falcon after the taping?? -LOL!


Cheers!
'Fly

[WingZER0]

Started out in paintball, played with a CCI Phantom (I actually speedballed with it once or twice, which lead to some absolutely fantastic moments and memories... "You shot me with THAT?!"). Taught me how to make fast and accurate snap shots. Sold it eventually to Gish actually.

Bought an AGD 68 Minimag that I still have in my room. It's tagged many a surprised player that's sniffed their nose at a paintball gun released from the 1990's, and I still break it out sometimes and head out to Cochrane to play some woodsball with whatever group that shows up. Sure you'll get the annoying kid now and then but for the most part the attitude of people showing up for woodsball is pretty good, even some hardcore speedball players tend to mellow out once you get there.

Moved onto airsoft, play airsoft more then paintball because of economic reasons (which looking back, makes no sense now since I've spent more money on airsoft then on paintball). Liked airsoft more because the guns were closer to counter strike. Grew up, now getting into real steel shooting.

Still don't understand why airsofters don't like paintballers and vice versa.

[G.I. Joel]

Originally Posted by MrEvolution

www.pozland.com/avp
Show your friend this and he will understand. (Watch out for the injury page though).

Bahahaha that was a well put link. It kinda looks like FR old field. I was recently at their new field and I was one of the few Airsofters to talk to the paintballers...needless to say. there was one guy who was actually gay and openly admitted to it, but on a more serious note. He was actually quite nice and his buddies were respectfully interested in airsoft. I told em I use to "ball" a little bit when I was a kid, but they were amazed and the shape/replica and that in reality they both felt similar even at pointblank ranges.
I still think paintball is gay though and dont care too much to respect it. lol