Paintball masks protect your teeth. Right?
 

I found this on scoutthedoggie's facebook page. Watch until the end, they test the lower face protection ability of some paintball masks.

YouTube - Dr. Airsoft, Practical Testing: Goggles and Facemasks

Admittedly, it is point blank, but still even the 400fps AEG does some damage...

interesting vid i saw this one on the list of this one its actually pretty cool but i would still wear some eye protection behind it for any crushed bbs

YouTube - airsoft mask. multicam

The thing is paintball masks are for paintball! a paintball is 17mm in diameter compared to 6mm for a bb and most paintball mask are made of flexible lower to permit the paintball to bounce, so when a BB it the lower part of the mask the flexible part tend to open and let the bb in! I always play with a PB Mask anyway there is still more chance that the bb hit the mask then a hole and get in and its always good to put something between your face and the bb :P

I just wear a shemagh and don't smile so much.

I just keep my mouth shut. If I assault a room, I try to put my hand in front of my mouth.

the masks used in the vid are JT which by paintball standards pretty low, some of the higher end mask will be able to stop a bb from going through

Fabrics guys, Fabrics.

Close knit fabrics, Shit the first "bullet proof" vests where just silk fabric, because we learned that hard surfaces do not protect from penetrative force very well.

So wear a mask with a shem or something similar :)

I agree.

Fabric should work well if put in front of the holes, proper fabric would stop 100% of the BBs in the video. Depending on how it is used however it might impair breathing and create fogging.

I was actually thinking of shaping steel mesh and attaching it to the front of the air intake holes. Depending on the mask this can be easy or complicated. This too would impair some airflow.

Attaching fabric might be easier. Folding it to allow gaps for air, or letting it hang over the air holes would work best, I think.

There is no way a plastic BB will hit thick/close knit fabric, drag it through a tight hole, and still cause damage, even at 600FPS. By that time it would have lost all its energy. And who is stupid enough to play at 600 fps anyway?

i just wear a neoprene half mask and a shemagh over it :) seriously as you got some thing covering your mouth it dosent matter, kinda place your cheek on ur gun when you got a bulky mask in your way

I use a batwing to protect my lower half of the face and it still allows me to cheek into my rifle.

personally I love the new mesh half masks. still able to sight my guns just fine and no more fogging due to the lower mask collecting warm moist air every time you exhale. also eliminates the muffled voice so people can actually hear you talk. ;)

http://www.airsoftparts.ca/store2/im...-half-face.JPG

Had one of those mesh masks on this weekend and you couldn't even tell it was there.

It was right around zero C, and in the past I'd used a shemag. That always caused my goggles to fog if on tight, or just fell away at the wrong time if tied loose.

I totally agree. I bought one a couple of months ago, and have taken a few shots on it and also have had no fog issues with goggles since I started using it!!!!

I tried one of those on at XT but it squished my nose in. It would take some work but I could probably fit it right. I just CBA to do it and just use my neoprene half mask while it's cold (last played November but that's off topic)

I've seen one of those that also provide ear protection which would be nice. Maybe it fits better too.