I am often asked, "Are airsoft guns dangerous?" by many people interested in entering into the fun world of airsoft play. The short answer is no, they are not dangerous, but they can be. Airsoft is much different than paintball. The BBs do not travel as fast as paintballs to and they are less dense, hence the term air soft. Here are a few things you can do to prevent injury next time you play airsoft.

Protective Gear
Protective eye safety goggles are a must. The most common injury I have heard of from airsoft guns is getting shot in the eye. Wearing safety glasses eliminates about 99% of injuries caused by airsoft BBs, but there is more you can do to protect your self even more. There are airsoft face masks like they have for paintball that will also protect your ears from pellets. It is highly unlikely that you will get hit in the ear, but the added protection can bring peace of mind.

Most people can tolerate getting shot on the skin from an airsoft gun, but for some it can still hurt. While it should not ever break the skin, it can sometimes leave a bruise. I recommend wearing jeans and a long sleeve shirt to protect your legs and arms. If you wear too thick of clothing, you will not even know you were hit unless you hear it.

Game Area
What you wear is not the only way to protect your self. The majority of injuries actually comes from rocks, trees, or other natural hazards in the area you are playing. Before you begin playing, make sure you clear out potential safety hazards if possible. If you can not transplant the cacti, at least walk the area and be aware of your surroundings.

Even open sod fields have sprinklers that could cause you to roll your ankle. If possible mark the hazards so everyone is aware of where they are.

Safety Training
The best way to avoid injury is to understand how to respect your airsoft gun. A few simple rules to keep in mind are:

Never point your gun or shoot someone that does not have on appropriate safety gear.
Never shoot someone that does not know you are going to shoot them.
Never shoot someone at point blank range
Do not shoot animals, they can not fire back and probably will not have on safety goggles.

Those are just a few rules to keep your airsoft experience safe and enjoyable. Are airsoft guns safe? Absolutely. Is the person holding the airsoft gun safe depends on whether or not the follow my advice here. Airsoft is fun and great exercise so do not sour the experience by being reckless.