Paintball vs. Airsoft

[luke213]

Well acctually your wrong:) Paintball is or was supposed to be a war simulation but somewhere along the way it got horribly off track and led to what we have today. The old days of paintball weren't to bad they still weren't as good as my current airsoft days but they were alright. Now paintball just seems as though it's an excuse for tons of people to dress/act stupidly and annoy people who would rather enjoy a realistic game.

Just my thoughts:)


Luke

[bobalis]

I played paintball because I thought it was fun. I didn't play for realism nor to annoy people.

[Munin]

Word. Back in the day, paintball had a lot more milsim feel to it. Everybody wore camouflage, stealth and teamwork were prized, and there were large-scale scenario games.

Now, it's hyperball. Hyperball, hyperball, hyperball. And more hyperball. It's like pulling teeth to get people to play paintball in the woods anymore.

The other thing that irks the crap out of me with paintball are all the trash-talking tournament loudmouths. People who play airsoft understand the honor system (because without it, airsoft doesn't work). Sure, there are people who don't call their hits or who are dicks on the field, but you know what? They tend to not get invited back. This makes for a much better playing environment.

[Motown]

What "ruined" paintball, or at least separated it from its Milsim beginnings, was the pervasiveness of tournaments. Once it started to attract younger and younger people, increase the competition/win at any cost mentality, and the subsequent arrivial of mainstream sponsors, Milsim or honor especially, was irrevocably removed from the game.

Of course, there are those small pockets that hold and practice the early tenets of paintball, however, they're probably very few in number, and operate with the knowledege that paintball will never return to Milsim.

[Lorenzo]

Back on topic,

Airsoft can be as cheap as you want it to be. Sure, you can't play in most Ops (well you can but you wont be too happy with the outcome) with a spring rifle but you can with your friends. It only takes about $50 to get you into airsoft. From there on out, it is up to you whether you spend the $300 or so AEG package, or to conserve your money. Then of course if your [glow=red,2,300]addicted[/glow] to airsoft, you dont mind dumping close to $2k on a sweet ass M249 Para light machine gun.(I wouldn't mind either )

BTW: The attitude with airsoft is way better than paintball as a cocky spoiled caucasian can dump a ton of money on paintball, and the more you dump on paintball, the better gun hence, better performance (assuming you playing hyperball). Better performance, more competition. More word slipping out of peoples mouths. On and On and On...

Then you have Airsoft where your skill is proportionally based on 1/10 equiptment and 9/10 tactics. There is competition, but not the kind stated above.

Hope that made sense.

[HotelSixActual]

The few times i played paintball when i got stuck behind one of those little plastic inflatable "bunkers" as they call them. I remeber hearing a bunch of little paintballs plop against this thing and i remeber hoping the damn thing wouldnt pop. I rember not being able to move to much for fear of pushign the damn thing over. I simply waited there for them to stop lobing paint wondering why they were doing it cuz there was no way they were gana hit me through the bunker.

In comparison i rember an airsoft event i was at (reckless abandon) where i had to duck behind a carboard wall and some barrels. I rember looking up at the ridge and seeing 3-4 people shoot what looked like 1000 BBs strait at me. I quickly ducked down and herd the BBs hit all around me kicking dirt everwhere, i remeber trying to burrow into the ground to not get hit. In a few seconds when it was over i said few at least i didnt get hit, and then i was hit in the arm by a rickishay.

Didnt want to write a small book here but i thought i was just make a comment about the realism of airsoft over paintball.

[Josh Walrus]

Id say that airsoft (equipment and all) costs about as much as a paintball gun... heres the scoop

for winter ops
I have a CA MP5 A3 with two hi-caps and two mini batteries $340
fully upgraded glock 18c with two mags $210 (roughly)
Black cambat gearset deal at www.airsoft128.com $100
Brown/green beanie $11
White paint suit $8
Shooting glasses $7
Vest mounting light $6
Total= $682

^^now i can operate on this, take out multiple opponents (tactics mostly ;D ), and look like a bad ass while im at it

my old paintball GUN Paintball
Automag marker $240
DYE stainless steel barrel $80
Electric hopper with X-board $60 i think
NW products cradle $20
Nitrus tank $160
TKO expansion chamber $30

^^ now thats $590 but you have to remember, this gun is only semiauto, holds only 200 paintballs, gas costs $8 per fill, and good paintballs cost roughly $50-$60 a box (only 2000)
that is no gear included and NO FACE MASK!

Now think about, for airsoft, i dont look like im carying a laser gun from a cartoon anime, i dont have to leave the house to charge the battery (get gas filled), each mag holds 200 bbs and 15000 viper bbs (which are by no means low quality) costs $35, and i dont know about you but 15000 bbs will last me about 12-14 ops

a hopper of paintballs per meet will only last you ten meets, and now as munin said, with hyper ball, its only going to last you, mayyyyybe two meets...

Oh and last time i checked... people playing airsoft werent holding cartoony guns, in bright blue jersey's with white lettering on them that sais "TEAM AFTERSHOCK"

Yea paintball HAS been corrupted... (shakes head)

[Josh Walrus]

If you really dont trust the honesty system, and happen to like chopping paintin your gun and getting it all over you, you could check out "real action markers" or "RAM", just look it up on Yahoo. They are modeled after real guns, shoot paintballs, and eject shells, but the guns and ammo are BOTH more than paintball... geeeeeeeeeh (pulls at collar)

[luke213]

The RAM's are interesting, but not the best for real use. I wouldn't mind the Airsoft RAM, a company on Arnies is "converting" them to be airsoft. The interesting thing is the company making them is more less Yick Fung, which for those that don't know is Classic Army(Asia Paintball is a Yick Fung company). The other thing that is interesting is they are supposed to use the same body as the M15A4's, which makes sense, but they are pretty interesting, for those that are interested I believe it was Area 51 on arnies boards that was selling them, shouldn't be hard to find. They are UK based but they do offer them to the US at the right price, and also replacement brass for the shells.

Luke

[bobalis]

I think airsoft in general is less expensive than paintball but it can cost more. My old paintball gun was:
2k2 Smart Parts Impulse
ANS Jackhammer II Low Pressure Regulator
New Designs Equilizer Bolt
Full Freak Barrel Set
2k3 Dye Sticky Grips
Twister Lo-rise
PMI Pure Energy 68/4500 Tank
Brass Eagle Evolution 2 with Y-board
Total: ~$1000 (if memory serves me right)

Now that is quite a bit of money but then you look at Jacko and how he spent more than $1500( correct me if i'm wrong) on just his SAW. That does not included all the accessories he owns. That's why I think airsoft in general is cheaper, but there are always exceptions.

[Josh Walrus]

well of course, im sure you can possibly make an airsoft gun worth more than any paintball gun, but in the long run, from spending money on the essentials (balls and gas) for paintball, youll end up spending more than you would in airsoft

[luke213]

Plain and simple both sports can be taken to an equal level as far as expense, but you don't have to. The same things go for getting expensive guns etc. As far as cost of use airsoft is cheaper, thats just simple math, price of ammo and everything needed to "shoot" the gun. But as far as upgrades that can be just as expensive in either sport.


Luke

[HotelSixActual]

I think the bottom line is that you can buy a stock AEG for like 250-300 and that will work fine. How much does it cost to get a stock paintball? Im not sure but i think its more.

[bobalis]

It depends on which paintball gun. I can buy a stock Spyder compact for around 70-80 and that could come with a tank. I could also go for a Evolution autococker or a Bob long intimidator or Angel 4 and they cost around 1200-1500 stock.

[Brownie]

The angels shoot on semi auto practically what a good stock aeg would shoot on full auto. Considering you can pull the trigger that fast. So if you think about it if you could buy a 1200$ paintball gun but acheive similar performence with a 270-350$ aeg.

Airsoft has appealed to me simply because of the fact that I can buy a replica of a real military firearm and step into the boots of a counter terrorist unit, or a light infantry unit, for a short while.

While in paintball, you tend to look more like a ghostbuster, with that stupid hopper sticking out like a bong out of your gun.