Balls for airguns

Balls

— BBs for pneumatic guns are notable primarily for their low cost — on average, they are much cheaper than bullets. On the other hand, their accuracy and range are also significantly lower. Moreover, they are mainly intended for use in smoothbore weapons — only certain types of BBs are suitable for rifled weapons (see below). Therefore, the main use of such ammunition is recreational shooting.

BBs used in pneumatic guns primarily differ in terms of materials, which, in turn, determine certain features of their use. Here are the most popular options today:

– Lead. The only type of BB that is universally suitable not only for smoothbore but also for rifled barrels (if the weapon allows for such ammunition). However, lead is more prone to deformation upon impact (for example, from shaking during transportation). On the other hand, BBs are not initially considered high-precision ammunition, so this issue is not crucial.

— Uncoated Steel. Steel BBs are inexpensive and maintain their shape well, making them quite popular. They are definitely not suitable for use with rifled barrels, but this is more of a characteristic than a drawback. The obvious downside is their low resistance to corrosion; however, this issue becomes critical only during long-term storage in high humidity conditions.

— Copper-plated Steel. The copper coating is primarily intended to protect against corrosion. These BBs are somewhat more expensive than regular steel ones, but they handle moisture much better. Some of them can even be used with rifled barrels, as copper is significantly softer than steel. However, it’s advisable to verify this capability separately; and even if stated, it is generally better to use lead BBs in rifled barrels whenever possible.
In addition to copper, other materials such as zinc and nickel can also be used for coatings. However, for various reasons, these coatings are less popular.

– Plastic. These are rarely used in regular pneumatic guns but are the standard ammunition for airsoft. Essentially, airsoft rifles, pistols, and other representatives of airsoft) type are not considered weapons, as they are not designed to cause injury to people or animals (quite the opposite). Plastic BBs are ideal for these requirements: they have very low mass and minimal penetrating power. At the same time, the effective range of such ammunition can reach several dozen meters. The standard airsoft caliber is 6 mm; larger calibers exist but are used very rarely.