How Bad Does Airsoft Hurt?

With reports of airsoft related accidents and injuries on the rise, it's important for potential players to understand the risks before diving into the wilderness of skirmishes and battles. Armed with airsoft gear, players of all ages experience simulated combat scenarios, but does it hurt to play? What kind of physical toll might they expect?

What Makes up an Airsoft Game?

The answer to the question of airsoft related pain starts with understanding the makeup of airsoft games. Airsoft games typically involve players firing plastic BBs at each other, utilizing airsoft guns powered by compressed gas, often propane or co2. Many airsoft fields also offer protective gear, like full face masks, body armor, and gloves.

Size of BBs Count

BBs come in various sizes, measured in millimeters (mm). The most common sizes are 6mm and 8mm, for youth and adult games, respectively. Smaller sized BBs carry less momentum, meaning less pain upon impact. Larger BBs carry more punch, meaning they can leave a mark.

Type of BBs Matter, Too

BBs don't just come in different sizes - they also come in different types. For instance, some feature weighted tips (tungsten or steel, usually), which allow them to travel faster and hit targets with more force. There are also biodegradable BB options on the market, which are beneficial for the environment but can also hurt more than other types.

Airsoft Guns are Painful...At Close Range

At short ranges, airsoft guns can produce considerable pain. Typically, at close range (within 40-50 feet), bruising and welts become more common injuries. If players aren't wearing any protection - whether protective masks, gloves, or body armor - they can expect more serious injuries.

Things to Consider

Harm degrees from airsoft guns primarily depend on the:

• Distance from the target
• Power of the gun
• Size of BBs used
• Weighted type of BBs used
• Type of clothing and/or armor

Distance from Target

The further away a target is from an airsoft gun, the lower chance a player will experience significant amounts of pain - at least from that particular gun. Generally, if players stand more than 150 feet away from players, the risk of experiencing pain within the game drops precipitously.

Power of Gun

Spring powered and battery powered guns are both far less powerful than gas powered guns. As such, they cause far less trauma to players. But that doesn't mean there's no risk of physical pain - at less than 40 feet away, players can still experience pain from spring and battery powered airsoft guns.

Risks to Consider

Although airsoft guns don't possess the potential to cause as much harm as paintball guns, that doesn't mean there are no risks involved. Common injuries associated with airsoft games include:

• Bruised and welted skin
• Gouged skin
• Eye injury
• Lacerations
• Pellet embedment

Plus, there's a risk of developing airsoft-related body parts fatigue, especially for players of extended (lengthy) games who don't take a break from time to time.

Conclusion

Despite the risk of a few bruises, airsoft guns, if used properly and with the necessary protection in place, can provide players of all ages a fun way to engage in simulated combat scenarios that replicate some of the classic war-game scenarios we have all seen in movies and read in books. By keeping to the rules, wearing the right protective equipment, and using the proper-sized BBs, players can ensure a safe and enjoyable airsoft adventure!

Brief Recap

As long as the Power of the gun, size of BBs, type of BBs, and distance from target are considered when playing airsoft, it can be a safe and enjoyable game. Common injuries associated with airsoft games include bruises, welted skin, lacerations, eye injury, and pellet embedment due to close range shots, but protective gear can help mitigate pain and maximize safety. However, airsoft-related body parts fatigue is a risk that players must also be aware of.