because opfor doesn't really take kindly to real bullets. :D

what other activity can you shoot your opponent and 5 minutes later shoot them again? Without wiping pink and orange goop off their shirts first!

it's like hunting but instead of going after that one trophy, you shoot them all and then do it again. ;)

Because after buying all my gear its way cheaper to burn off 2000 rounds of BB's than it is to burn off 2000 paintballs

what he said. plus skeet shooting just doesn't do it sometimes...

I always loved military stuff. It's really nice to find people with the same interest.
I enjoy the tactics against a live opponent instead of a predictable NPC.
It relaxes me. I feel the pressure go away, even just working on my airsoft at home.
I enjoy collecting the equipment and adapting it to my needs.
I enjoy the friendship and solidarity with my team and other players.
I get to do guy stuff which is getting harder and harder in our society.

The local team I'm on is all friends, so it's a great hang-out activity where we all have fun, then brag about our trophy shots at Arby's after the game.

For me personally, it's a good source of exercise and it's a constant learning and adaptive game that you never really master.

Because I can use allot of 7 years worth of training and knowledge to play the sport and about 80% transfers into the sport of airsoft. It allows me to have fun with that training and use it to my advantage, that said it can seldom be applied else where.

I get too shoot at guys and have no actual real damage done too them and then shake their hand after the game, not many sports or games are like that. It doesn't get much better then that in my opinion!! Most trng scenarios are blanks or occasionally sim and airsoft is a good in-between. Plus I can be a fool and joke around while playing if I choose or treat it like the opposite and play smartly with a team to achieve our missions and have fun with a good community of players!!

plain and simple its fun!!

My therapist recommended it... sometimes its the only thing that will stop the voices.

Teamwork and the people I meet along the way.

Because i didn't get enough of Cowboys and Indians as a child, nearly 40 years ago :p

It's a great release - a way to combine nature and the outdoors, hiking, a social and competitive activity, and to challenge yourself physically and mentally in the process .. all the while enjoying it. There are just not that many activities that involve so many diverse skills, experiences and opportunity for exercise in a fun package, as airsoft provides.

I'm in my mid-40's now .. never did paintball, and only started this airsoft thing last year. I only wish that airsoft had come up on my awareness radar a long time ago.

+1
I have the same problem with voices:

Did you buy some bread like I asked you?
Don't look at other women!
Dad can I borrow the car?
I didn't do it, it was him, No it was her!
You never said that!
You always take his/her side!

On and on and on, until Airsoft time;P

It is the only place I can shoot people legally without the real bullet to fly over your head,
it is also training for futur war if needed, better be excercise against live opponent who have experience and better tactics and lern from them because when you get real it's not the time to learn. it's time to win

Plus awesome looking gun are cool too XD

its OK if you hear the voices in your head.....it's when you start talking back to them when you have a problem ;)
I got into airsoft because i played paintball but was sick of the mess and costly ammo.
Lucky my buddy played and so did his older brother sticks played. I bought a g36 from him then the rest is history. I just like the realism of it really.

Pretty much like everyone else here; get to shoot people for real without the consequences of say death...and we get to do it for cheap!

I also figured I wanted to try something different; took karate for 12 years but I didn't have the time for it anymore. Also wasn't learning anything new. Computer games, well it gets costly when you add in building a new rig every once in a while. Cooking/Baking, I do this for work so why the hell would I turn it into a fucking hobby?

Learned a lot along the way to keep me hooked for a long time.

cheaper ammo vs paintball

I hear them too.

It's keeps the kid part in me having fun with toys guns and gear I only dreamed about watching Rambo and Commando as a boy.

And hanging with the guys after a game, talking about all the good and bad moves, with a cold one in hand. Priceless