What Is the Right Size ‘BB’ Pellet for Airsoft?

Written by Gabinator in Uncategorized

I don’t know about you, but whenever I look online for Airsoft equipment, it seems as if I am bombarded with ads and videos and articles on why I shouldn’t use a certain BB with a certain gun – or something like that. But what does all of this actually mean? What’s the most common BB? And what does it tell me if a BB is .90 grams and 8 millimeters as opposed to 0.20 grams and 6 mm? Well, I did some research, and have compiled a list of the different sizes and weights of BBs that you will typically find, as well as what type of should take them.

In brief, Airsoft guns shoot plastic pellet-like projectiles often referred to as “BBs.” The most common size is a BB that has a diameter of 6.0 mm (which is 0.23622 inches) and a weight of 0.12g. After that, the next most common sizes are 6mm pellets weighing 0.20g and 0.25g. However, the fact that these are widely used does not necessarily mean that they will be optimal for your situation. BB selection will ultimately depend on your type or gun and your anticipated role in the Airsoft gun (or your other purpose for shooting the gun).

Disclaimer!

Before we start, I would just like to say that I am by no means an expert, and if you come looking for an authoritative and exhaustive technical reference on BBs, then you may need to contact the manufacturers. I am on this journey with you, and I simply wrote recorded pieces of information as I ran across them. Primarily, this is a resource that I made to clear things up for myself. But, I thought I would share it on the possibility that you might have questions similar to those I have. For the sake of completeness, I should say that I believe that the information I have provided is correct. However, it might be outdated, incomplete, or only partially correct. (If it’s completely incorrect, then please leave a comment and I will update it!) With that being said, let’s get into it.

What Are the Differences Between Types of Airsoft BB’s?

6 mm BBs

Let’s start off with the 6 mm. The 6 mm BBs are the standard size pellets used in pretty much all spring powered, electric powered, and gas powered Airsoft guns. It is important to note, however, that the lighter BBs should not be used in higher powered guns, like sniper rifles, higher powered assault rifles, and, to some extent, shotguns. A lot of these different types of BBs can be used for the same guns.

  • 11 g — These BBs are fairly uncommon. Manufactured by HFC. Standard weight for lower grade electric powered guns and spring powered, like pistols, cheaper assault rifles, etc. Shouldn’t be used in cheap guns that have a BB velocity of under 250 FPS. Show a peculiar tendency to want to break inside of higher powered guns due to the fact that they are not hollow. They are also quite bad at going straight, for, due their being too light, they are affected by wind. Can be used by spring, gas, and electric powered guns.
  • 12 g — These BBs are extremely common, which is kind of weird due to their being virtually exactly the same as .11 gram BBs. Can be used by spring, gas, and electric powered guns.
  • 135 g — These BBs have the same uses as the .12 gram BBs, but they are slightly heavier, and much more uncommon. Can be used by spring, gas, and electric powered guns.
  • 15 g — These BBs have the same uses as .12 gram BBs, but they are only manufactured by the brands Air Venturi and Black Ops USA. Can be used by spring, gas, and electric powered guns.
  • 16 g — These are the same as .15 gram BBs, but are only made by Air Venturi. Can be used by spring, gas, and electric powered guns.
  • 20 g — This is the second most common weight of BB. Airsoft referees typically use .20-gram BBs to test the FPS of a weapon (In case you didn’t know, it’s against the rules to have a gun with an FPS over a certain limit; to see my list of Airsoft rules, see HERE). Electric powered guns are able to use these BBs; however, most AEG users tend to use heavier BBs for better accuracy and range. Can be used by spring, gas, and electric powered guns.
  • 21 g — Apparently, you can cover a .20-gram BB with pencil lead to make a paintball BB. It leaves pencil residue in the gun. Can be used by spring, gas, and electric powered guns.
  • 23 g — These pellets are specifically made for electric powered guns, and they have a combination of the range of .20-gram BB, and the accuracy of a .25-gram BB. Can be used in all types of gun, but you should probably only use these in electric powered guns.
  • 24 g — The same as .23-gram BBs but are only manufactured by the brands Airstrike and Crosman. Can be used by spring, gas, and electric powered guns.
  • 25 g — This is the third most common weight of BB, and it is one of the most popular weights with higher powered electric powered gun users. This is the heaviest mass that can be used with lower powered and lower quality electric, gas and spring powered guns.
  • 26 g — This is a good weight for assault rifles.
  • 27 g — Suitable for most standard assault rifles. Similar to .30 gram BBs.
  • 28 g — For all intents and purposes, the same as .27 gram and .29-gram BBs.
  • 29 g — There is very little difference between these and .27-gram or .28-gram BBs.
  • 30 g — This is the standard weight for sniper rifles. They can also be used in longer ranged and higher powered electric guns.
  • 32 g — This can also be the standard weight for sniper rifles.
  • 36 g — The slower, heavier, but higher stability pellets for snipers that still have excellent FPS.
  • 40 g — These are even slower and heavier than .36-gram BBs, but they can maintain their stability and velocity better.
  • 43 g — These are for the highest-powered sniper rifles in the spring and gas-powered sniper category.
  • 66 g — These BBs are for extreme, long range shooting, and tend to be plated with ceramic, but, even if they are not, they are NOT TO BE USED AGAINST HUMAN TARGETS.
  • 90 g — These BBs are for the most extreme, long range shooting, and tend to be coated with metal. But, even if they are not, they are NOT TO BE USED AGAINST HUMAN TARGETS.

8 mm Airsoft pellets

8 mm BBs are most commonly used in gas powered Airsoft shotguns with higher velocity (or FPS). NOTE: When referring to the “power” of the shotgun, we mean the damage it can do. When referring to the “FPS” of the shotgun, we mean the speed of the pellets as they travel through the air.

  • 27 g — This is used typically in lower powered shotguns with higher FPS.
  • 34 g — This is the standard weight for almost all shotguns with higher FPS.
  • 35 g — This is the standard weight for almost all shotguns with higher FPS.
  • 40 g — This is used typically in medium powered shotguns with higher FPS.
  • 45 g — This is used typically in medium powered shotguns with higher FPS.
  • 48 g — This is used typically in medium powered shotguns with higher FPS.
  • 50 g — This is used typically in higher powered shotguns with higher FPS.
  • 90 g — This is only to be used in the highest-powered shotguns with the highest FPS.

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