A comparison of Airsoft BB Ammo

Airsoft guns and the BB Ammo used in these guns have undergone a process of evolution since the time the game was first introduced in Japan. At present, one can choose to buy different kinds of ammos for his guns depending on the budget of his and the level of expertise that he possesses in the game. Airsoft BB Ammo can be classified and compared based on various factors and a few of them are as mentioned below.

1. Material of the pellets

In the initial stages, the pellets that were made use of in airsoft guns were made out of plastic. However, at present, there are pellets that are made of metal, ceramic etc. It is to be noted that the plastic pellets are the most inexpensive and are the best choice for beginners who are getting to learn the game. Also, since they do not cause more damage upon impact these can be the ideal choice for young kids too who do not take measures to ensure safety as they play. However, one cannot expect high accuracy when it comes to these pellets as they are light in weight and tend to lose velocity faster. The ceramic bullets on the other hand are an upgraded version and can be made use of by the next level of players who have a better aim. Metal pellets are the most expensive and have high accuracy. They can hurt upon impact and thus, it is a must that people who make use of these pellets have ample protection to avoid damage of any kind while playing.

2. Explosives

While most of the pellets made use of in the game of airsoft do not leave any mark on impact, there are some kinds of specially designed pellets that produce a minor explosion when they come in contact with any solid object in their path. The use of these kinds of pellets makes the game all the more exciting and realistic. The explosion is caused as the pellets have a certain amount of explosives within them which get ignited when they hit the target. These pellets can help in ensuring that a person is hit in the game. However, it is important that these pellets are not used in a game among kids and wearing the right kind of safety accessories to protect the eye from the fire is a must in case one wishes to enjoy the game with the explosive pellets. It is to be noted that these pellets are banned in some countries and one needs to go for their purchase only after he checks the rules in his country.

3. Dimensions of the pellets

The dimension of the pellets determines various characteristics of theirs. The standard dimensions range from 5 mm to 6 mm, while there are specially made pellets that come in higher or lower dimensions. The physical characteristics like speed, accuracy, damage on impact etc depend greatly on the dimension of the bullet or the mass of the bullet. For people, who provide more weightage to accuracy, the bullets with larger dimension and consequently higher mass would be the best option. These bullets travel faster and are more accurate. They do not decelerate easily due to external factors and travel longer distances. However, it goes without saying that they are more expensive as compared to the conventional plastic pellets. The metal pellets have the highest mass among all the types of pellets.

4. Markers

It is a known fact that there is close resemblance between the game of airsoft and paintball. Though airsoft is an honor game, wherein a person announces it to the opponent when he is hit, in certain situations, people show inclination towards the use of pellets that can leave a mark when the opponent is hit. This makes it easy to make out when the person is hit. A special kind of powder is used in these pellets that leave behind a mark after the impact. The demand for this kind of pellets is highest among the kids. One has to note the point that the powder made use of in this pellet, can sometimes lead to the gun getting blocked and other undesirable circumstances. Prior to using these pellets, it is advisable to ensure whether the gun one uses allows the use of the marker kind of pellets. Sometimes when one uses these pellets in the more sophisticated and higher versions of the airsoft guns, chances of the gun being damaged and warranty issues showing up are very high.

5. Biodegradable nature of the pellets.

Since the present day world places high importance on the aspect of going green, it is important that one does his bit in contributing to this cause. While most of the pellets that are produced at present are biodegradable, the cheaper pellets made of plastic and ceramics cannot be degraded easily by the natural forces. Thus, depending on the place where the game is played, one needs to make a choice of the bullets. While playing outdoors, it is suggestible that biodegradable pellets are used. The cheaper plastic pellets can be used while playing indoors, so that they can be swept and disposed off once the game is over.

6. Trackers

People, who love to play airsoft in the night time, can make use of the special kinds of pellets called ‘trackers’. These bullets leave behind a trace after they are shot from the gun and spice up the fun in the game at night. However, people who involve in more serious games and do not like to give the opponent any clue about their attack, should not use these pellets.

Having known about the various kinds of Airsoft BB Ammo and the safety issues concerned with different versions of the ammunition, one needs to make the right choice depending on the level of game he wants to involve in.