Although similar to paintball in concept and gameplay, airsoft pellets do not leave visible markings on their target and hits are not always apparent.

Though the pellet impacts can leave small bruises or welts on exposed skin (and so protective gear is still recommended), the game relies heavily on an honor system in which players who have been hit are expected to call themselves out of play in keeping with honesty and sportsmanship.

Originally designed for target shooting, the plastic balls used in these "soft air guns" can be shot at humans without causing injury due to the low muzzle energy.

After Tokyo Marui introduced its revolutionary electric motor-gear box design, which allows sustainable rapid-fire using rechargeable batteries, soft air guns became popular for casual wargames, which the Japanese call survival games (サバイバルゲーム, sabaibaru gēmu).

A typical airsoft gun is noticeably lighter than its "real steel" counterpart due to the use of aluminum alloy and plastic materials, though some have added weights in them for a more realistic feel.

The "hop-up" system, which is installed in most stock airsoft rifles and pistols, is used to increase effective ranges by putting backspin on the pellets.

Red dot sights are used to help aim, fore-grips are used to get a better grip on the airsoft gun, and flashlights (whether mounted or held in another hand) are used to illuminate dark areas and/or to blind opponents.

While heavier rounds (0.36–0.40 g) are typically used in long-range and sniper applications since they are more stable in flight and less easily deflected by wind.

Due to the low muzzle energy (less than 1.5 J or 1.1 ft⋅lb even for high-power models) and poor sectional density, the pain an airsoft pellet causes on skin impact is about the same as getting pinched.

[9] The maximum effective range of field-legal airsoft guns is all around 100 m (110 yd) with a highly upgraded sniper rifle replica.

[citation needed] In Ireland, Italy and Japan the muzzle energy limit for airsoft guns is 1 joule no matter what the type of gameplay.

In the UK, the law allows weapons locked to semi-automatic and bolt-action rifles to fire up to 2.5 joules (at muzzle velocity up to 158 m/s or 518 ft/s).

Any weapon "which is capable of discharging two or more missiles successively without repeated pressure on the trigger" is limited, by law, at 1.3 joules (velocity up to 114 m/s or 374 ft/s).

[26] The ballistics of spring- or electrically powered airsoft guns differ from real firearms in that a longer barrel will not always result in better accuracy.

[citation needed] In any case, barrel quality, velocity consistency, and hopup quality/design are more important factors with regard to accuracy.

Although, with the newfound popularity with HPA guns, the debate has been opened that barrels with a larger diameter (up to 6.13 mm or 0.241 in) could provide a more accurate shot.

This will help alleviate safety issues resulting in an accidental/negligent discharge, or prevent a public panic due to a carelessly displayed airsoft gun being mistaken for a real firearm.

The orange tip serves many purposes, one of them being for law enforcement to help discern airsoft guns from real firearms and thus prevent unnecessary excessive forces.

[29] The minimum safe level of gear required to participate in most games includes a pair of ANSI Z87.1 eye protection, preferably a fully sealed APEL-rated ballistic eyewear.

Traditional prescription glasses and sunglasses, or goggles not rated sufficiently for impact-resistance, may shatter and/or be perforated upon being struck when used for airsoft or paintball,[30] causing injury to the eye.

[33] Most fields also require players to leave their guns set to the safety position when they are not shooting, a practice common when using real firearms.

The states of New Mexico, New York and New Jersey,[36] however, do not allow airsoft guns to be used or handled publicly because of the resemblance to real firearms.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection FAQ page states that Airsoft guns are considered look-alike firearms which require the special blaze orange marking.

[41] It is an offense to possess an imitation firearm in a public place without a reasonable excuse,[42] for example traveling to, or from, or being at an airsoft skirmish site.

[43] Airsoft guns in the United States are sold with a federally mandated orange tip which must be 1/4 inch or longer covering the muzzle of the replica.

Manufacturers and importers may cite Title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which stipulates that "no person shall manufacture, enter into commerce, ship, transport, or receive any toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm" without approved markings; these may include an orange tip, orange barrel plug, brightly colored exterior of the whole toy, or transparent construction (part 272.2, formerly part 1150.2).

Due to airsoft's realism, relatively safe projectiles, and economical ammunition, it is well-suited to war games and force-on-force scenarios to train and improve troop's tactical proficiency via associative learning and stress inoculation.

[47] Both marking rounds and reusable grenades gave airsoft the edge it needed to enter into military and law enforcement training grounds.

Guns manufactured for professional training are made to replicate the weight, feel and the sound of its real steel counterpart.

In general, professional training airsoft guns are GBB models and enhanced with a weighted blowback mechanism to increase the force of the kick.