| > | | | | The problem with using paintball guns is that it is much |
| Recently, airsoft is becoming a larger part of military | | | | harder to feel like it is real. There are many reasons |
| training, as the similarity between airsoft and real guns | | | | for this, the most being that the gun doesn’t feel |
| is very close (in weight and size, not killing capacity). | | | | real. You have a large CO2 container bulging out from |
| Airsoft guns are frequently used to train soldiers and | | | | the back, and a hopper right in your face. Another |
| officers in the army and in law enforcement | | | | important thing is that clips are not used in paintball, |
| (respectively). Why is this? Well, airsoft guns are very | | | | except for occasionally being incorporated into paintball |
| similar to real guns used by these personnel, and in | | | | pistols. Pouring paintballs into a hopper does not feel |
| many cases, the size ratio and even weight ratio is 1:1. | | | | realistic at all. In airsoft, you reload clips like you would |
| Also, the devices function very closely to how real | | | | with a real gun. On to the size of the ammunition; |
| guns operate, at least, at a superficial level. Of course | | | | airsoft pellets are closer to the size of bullets, while |
| when it comes down to internal functioning, a real gun | | | | paintballs are big, and in many cases you can see |
| will have the proper pins and such in order to ignite | | | | them coming. It is definitely harder to see plastic BBs, |
| gunpowder inside ammunition, while airsoft guns have | | | | especially when they are dark. Military simulations utilize |
| no shells and are projected by a spring or gas. And | | | | airsoft guns more than law enforcement simulations, |
| unlike what many people may have told you, it’s | | | | as police officers do not regularly use machine guns. |
| the outside that counts (at least, in airsoft). One of the | | | | While many cops may use the products for |
| main reasons airsoft guns are so attractive in militaristic | | | | recreational use, they are not regularly sanctioned for |
| simulations is, besides the realism, the simple fact that | | | | training. The statistics for airsoft use within SWAT is |
| you can actually use them to fight. All you can do with | | | | most likely higher than that of regular police officers, |
| a real gun is target shoot or, at most, fire blanks at | | | | but it is certain that the military incorporate airsoft guns |
| people, but nothing that comes close to real. Personnel | | | | more than any other agency. The fact that airsoft is |
| can actually engage in realistic military operations with | | | | becoming so involved with the military is one of the |
| airsoft guns, and perform maneuvers that they may | | | | reasons that airsoft guns are becoming more |
| well do in actual combat. The training is very efficient | | | | advanced. It is no secret that there are certain flaws |
| because of the size and weight ratios, and the fact | | | | with airsoft guns, and “airsoft scientists”, so to |
| that, with the use of the appropriate airsoft guns, the | | | | speak, are thinking up ways to make airsoft guns |
| training feels like a real battle. The alternative to airsoft | | | | more realistic, save for the deadliness. |
| guns, paintball guns, have also been used in training. | | | | |