| Created in 1970 in two different countries airsoft and | | | | and distinctive look, for the most part the barrel of the |
| paintball guns were created, even though their users | | | | gun is just a tube which hasn't been shaped in order to |
| are somewhat similar their external appearance is | | | | emulate a firearm. |
| completely different, yes there are both guns but one | | | | Differences |
| version is more realistic than the other. Today we're | | | | -- The most obvious difference between the two is |
| going to talk about the origins and differences | | | | that airsoft guns are very good replicas of actual |
| between the guns used in paintball and airsoft games. | | | | weapons while paintball guns have a distinctive plain |
| Origins | | | | barrel that doesn't resemble the body of any firearm. |
| The Asian market has always been interested in guns | | | | -- Paintball guns are mostly used for sports and |
| as collectibles, especially those in Japan; the only | | | | recreational activities while their counterparts are used |
| problem is that according to Japanese law owning a | | | | for military and law enforcement officer training. |
| firearm is illegal, in order to satisfy the demand of | | | | -- Airsoft weapons tend to have higher firepower than |
| people were interested in the look and feel of real | | | | those used in paintball which is why it is recommended |
| guns a local manufacturer decided to create replicas | | | | to use protective gear specially designed for such |
| of the originals, these replicas lack firepower of the | | | | activity. |
| real thing and use plastic BBs instead of bullets. In order | | | | The Price Factor |
| for law enforcement agencies to tell the difference | | | | -- In most cases airsoft guns are more expensive than |
| between an airsoft gun and the real thing a yellow or | | | | their counterparts because of the level of detail applied |
| red prong needs to be left attached to the end of the | | | | to the body of the gun in order to make it resemble |
| barrel | | | | the real thing. |
| At the same time the Asian manufacturers were | | | | There are a few stores which offer good deals on |
| creating gun replicas, those in the US were also | | | | these professionally made replicas but they often tend |
| creating guns for different purposes such as marking | | | | to be pricey because of the quality of the exterior |
| cattle and trees, their external appearance does not | | | | work as well as the type of firing mechanism used. |
| resemble actual guns but they're rather have a unique | | | | |