Does Airsoft Hurt?

One of the number one questions among beginner airsoft players and those thinking about participating in the sport is, “Does airsoft hurt?” 

Airsoft can hurt, as the primary plastic projectile (the airsoft BB) transmits the power of the airsoft gun to your person. However, it’s important to note that although airsoft BBs can draw blood, bruise the skin, and cause significant welts, they’re not lethal. 

The guide below explores why airsoft hurts, the varying levels of pain associated with airsoft play, and how airsoft BBs compare to paintballs when they make contact. We’ll also provide you with a scale you can use to gauge pain due to getting hit by airsoft BBs. 

Equipped with the proper safety gear and among responsible players on the field, the pain associated with airsoft is but a minor inconvenience. 

Why Is Safety Gear Critical on the Airsoft Field?

“Whether you are playing airsoft or paintball, always wear face protection”

Every airsoft field requires a standard set of personal safety gear to ensure the well-being of all players. This gear typically includes protective goggles, a face mask that covers your nose and mouth, and a head covering, such as a hat or helmet. These items protect sensitive parts of your face that can easily be injured by flying airsoft BBs. 

“A player using full face protection”

In addition to the bare minimum, many airsoft players also elect to wear additional protective gear. 

Examples include long-sleeved shirts, tactical gloves, long pants, knee and elbow pads, and plate carriers. Some players even wear a ghillie suit to not only blend in but also prevent stray airsoft BBs from injuring them. 

What Does It Feel Like To Be Hit With an Airsoft BB?

For most beginner airsoft players, the first time they’re hit with an airsoft BB feels like a surprising sensation that corresponds to a brief moment of pain. 

When the BB hits skin, it might feel like a momentary shock, a sharp sting, a snap, or a sudden jolt, but the intensity varies. Some might compare it to getting stung by a wasp or bitten by a horsefly or mosquito. 

During the adrenaline-fueled excitement of an airsoft game, you probably won’t notice the immediate effects of getting hit by an airsoft BB. 

“Hits from a high-power airsoft gun”

However, when you get home after a particularly fun day, you may experience tenderness, bruising, or welts, depending on how hard you were hit. 

In some cases, airsoft BBs can draw blood or cause deeper bruises or scrapes. BBs that hit close to bones tend to welt easily. Particularly sharp BBs can cut into skin, causing a small surface wound that generally heals after a few days. 

Increasing your tolerance for pain and the protective gear you wear on the field can help reduce your pain levels when getting hit with a BB. Even if you’re not wearing a full suit or knee and elbow pads, you can still have fun without worrying about significant injuries. 

Are Airsoft BBs Deadly?

No, airsoft BBs aren’t lethal. The compressed springs, air, and gas necessary to fire 6mm plastic BBs typically aren’t powerful enough to penetrate the skin or cause serious injury when players wear the proper protective gear. 

Players who refuse to wear protective gear like goggles and face masks risk serious injury or even blindness, depending on where the BBs hit. 

In addition to requiring protective gear during gameplay, most airsoft fields restrict the use of high-powered airsoft guns. Any airsoft weapons platform used on the field must comply with feet-per-second (FPS) ratings to ensure they’re within safe limits. 

Range officials will typically measure the velocity of BBs exiting the muzzle of your gun using a chronograph in a process called chrono-ing across several shots to ensure it's not overpowered for use on the range. 

How Much Does It Hurt To Get Hit By an Airsoft BB?

To contextualize how much getting hit with an airsoft BB hurts, we’ve put together the following Airsoft FPS Pain Scale. 

This scale increases by 100 FPS, from 0 FPS up to 500 FPS:

Keep in mind that pain perception depends on personal tolerance. Getting hit in certain areas of the body can also sting more than in others. 

“A two man team clearing a building”

Do Airsoft BBs Hurt More Than Paintballs?

Depending on your personal pain tolerance, getting struck by a paintball typically hurts more than getting hit by an airsoft BB. The difference lies in the force generated by the projectile based on its size and mass, the gun from which it came, the gun’s power levels, and the distance between you and the gun. 

Paintballs tend to leave larger bruises behind after impact, while airsoft BBs feel more like a sharp sting that can cause a small welt to form if conditions are right. 

“A two man team clearing a stairway”

The Bottom Line

There’s no denying the fact that airsoft is a contact sport that puts your body at risk of getting hit with airsoft BBs. However, a strike from one of these plastic, non-lethal projectiles generally hurts less than a paintball and generally results in temporary pain at best.