Everyday about two people post topics asking which weight of bb is best for their M9, or sniper rifle or whatever. So I've made this general guide so you don't have to ask that question.

BB Weights

.12-These are the lightest bb. They are less accurate because they can be blown by the wind or drift off course, but they are light enough to be used by low powered guns.

.2-Most average to good guns take these bbs. They are heavy enough not to be affected by the wind very much and are quite accurate. They slightly lower the fps of the gun but the bb weight increases inertia (ask Battlepriest) so they accually INCREASE the "punch" of the gun. Also, .2g bbs are made much better quality than .12 because they have to stand up to AEG internals.

.23-Almost as heavy as a .25, commonly used in more expensive or upgraded AEGs.

.25-The heaviest "common" bb. These significantly lower the fps of the gun but dramatically improve accuracy and resistance to wind. A favorite of snipers, although sometimes used in upgraded AEGs.

Heavier BBs-There are a few bbs heavier than .25. These include .33 and .45. Snipers sometimes use these but they aren't as frequently used on people because they hurt so much. Nothing but a sniper rifle can send these very far.

Metal BBs-Metal bbs are associated with .117 caliber bb and pellet guns but 6mm metal bbs are available. These aren't safe for airsoft use because they can break the skin. Some snipers use alluminum bbs.


So now that you know about the bb weights, what bbs does your gun need? Here's a guide:


Spring Pistols
150-250fps-.12
250-280fps-.12 or .2. .2 will have better accuracy but a little less range.
280fps+-.2g

Spring Rifles
150-250fps-.12
250-280fps-.12 or .2. .2 will have better accuracy but a little less range.
280fps+-.2g

LPEGs (low powered electric guns)
.12 ONLY! I've tried using .2g bbs with these guns. They just pop out of the barrel and hit the ground at about 25 feet away.

AEGs
280-330fps-.2g
330fps+ (upgraded)-.2 or .23, .25 if it's a super custom upgraded gun.

Snipers
Cheap/starter sniper rifles-.2 or .23
350fps+-.25 or heavier

Just to cover some common newbie guns so that there's no confusion:

UHC MP5 SD3-.12 or .2. .2 have better accuracy but slightly less range.
UTG shotguns-.2 or .23 I use .2s with mine but they curve up a little. I think .23s would be perfect.
UTG Sniper-.23 or .25
Super 9 (eek!)-.2
Cybergun pistols from D!ck's or Wal*Mart-.2g only.

Gun Damage
There have also been a lot of people asking if using the wrong weight bbs will damage their gun. The answer is no. The bb weight affects range, accuracy, and fps but as long as the bbs are 6mm they can't damage a gun. What will damage a gun is dirty bbs, damaged bbs, or low quality bbs. Since .12g bbs are mostly for cheap springers they are generally lower quality than the other bb weights. So if you put .12s in your AEG they won't hurt it, unless they are low quality. If they are they could shatter inside, or jam up and damage the gun. Also, don't use a bb that is deformed (even slightly), scratched, or dirty.

NOTE-a lot of guns with fixed hop-up say to use .12 or .2 gram bbs. If you use .12s they will work fine, but aren't accurate enough for me. They tend to curve as they near the target. .2g bbs are noticably more accurate but they reduce the fps of the gun and you will see them curve down just a little. I suggest you use .2g bbs for these guns. Don't let anyone tell you "all springers suck dude never use .2s for a springer it's a waste of money!"

This post has been edited by triggerhappy: Mar 4 2006, 05:42 PM

I disagree.

All TM AEG's when you get them brand new come with .25 gram BB's because TM knows they give you the best overall performance in their guns.

.25 gram BB's, in even a stock 280 FPS TM AEG, give you the best range, best speed to target (after 90 feet), and better wind resistance than lighter BB's. That means they fly straighter, go further, and get to their target faster than .2 gram BB's. That's why I always use .25 gram BB's in all of my AEG's reguardless of the FPS.

I think .23s are the perfect weight for most guns. I use them for everything.

at Arnie's there was a tread where a guy compared the velocities of 2 different weight BBs, I don't remeber their weights. he chronoed them every 10 feet and found that heavier bbs will get to the target faster, because even though they have a lower muzzle velocity, they are able to hold the velocity longer, while the light BBs will decelerate faster because of lack of momentum

Yeah, there isnt really a low quailty .20, but the clear green .12's ( cybergun's) are pieces of junk. The guy at Airsoft Atlanta said they would break on my Beretta handgun. Anyways, all wieght BB's are fine for ur gun, but may accuracy varies with weight.

This post has been edited by Airsoft Champion: Mar 11 2006, 07:37 AM

So for the MK II M249 Saw Para Im going to get in a few months if I work hard in school and raise about half the money.

What BB's are recommended for that gun?

.23 or heavier depending on prefference. I use .2's in my stock tm ak because the hop-up has a wide range, and I'm eventually going to get .23s or.25s when it is upgraded. PS, a heavier bb maintains momentum, but a .2g may bet there first, depending on range. .23's are the workhorse of most my guns.

Well I use .25's in my spring pistol every time I airsoft and the fps of the pistol is less than 240. But yet its super accurate. I'd choose to use .23 or .25's. But I only use the .25's.(because all my friend say I can loft over 200ft and accurately hit them)

is it posible to use 2g in a spring pistol? or do you have to use 12.

This post has been edited by noah m5: Jun 3 2006, 02:20 PM

I will only use .20 in my spring pistol. But then again my pistol shoots 302fps with .20g. I never use .12g. I give them out when people need ammo on the feild.

Once I did put a crossman .12g in my 430fps (with .20g) sniper. I cronographed it at, I believe, 495fps. I like the number, but it is not accurate.

I now have 10,000 .25g bbs. I figure they are the best I can use at 430fps. Once I am delivered the .25g s I will crono them.

Michael

Thanks the info helped me a lot. I use .20 in my spring pistol and it shoots 330 with it.

The hardest hitting spring pistol I know is the KWC Beretta M92FS, that goes 260 with a .2. No stock spring pistol could come with, or even handle a spring powerful enough to shoot 330 FPS with a .2 gram BB. The smith and wesson 1911 in your singnature only shoots around 250 with a .2.

This post has been edited by Domer17: Jun 17 2006, 10:50 PM

the kwc ultra grade spring pistols are supposed to shoot 280 or more with a .2g bb.

I have a cybergun 130ish fps semi pistol and an electric p90 200fps...what kind of bb's should I use for each? (I proboly will lose this thread so pm me please)

thanks

Cybergun: .2g's
P90: .12g's

What about a CA m15a4 upgraded to 400 fps?

I don't know about .2's for aeg's. My G33E shoots 300 fps and I need to use .25's just for the bb to go straight even without hop up on. I'd say anything over 300 fps use .25's.

thanks. I just got one like last thursday, my first. good to know its one of the best. thanks others too, im starting to run out of .12 bb's, so im planning on getting .20's. from what you guys said, seems like a good idea

you typed this two times

"Spring Pistols
150-250fps-.12
250-280fps-.12 or .2. .2 will have better accuracy but a little less range.
280fps+-.2g

Spring Rifles
150-250fps-.12
250-280fps-.12 or .2. .2 will have better accuracy but a little less range.
280fps+-.2g
"

I have found a few problems with this guide. first off, for spring pistols, unles they are below 200 fps, I recommend .2s. also, using .25s does not "significantly" decrease muzzle velocity or range, it only affects the range by about 10 feet, and the velocity depends on the gun, but normally NO more than a 50 fps drop. the accuracy is notably increased though. also, .12s I believe should not be used in anything except LPEGs and piece of spring pistols. the reason people believe that .12s are said to damage higher powered guns, is because about 99% of .12s produced our of very low quality. thus, causing the gun to jam and possibly break. there are a few good .12s though. but then again, if you own a gun shooting around 280 fps or higher, why would you want to use .12s? the hop up will send that bb into the upper stratosphere...well at least with guns over 300ish it will. most AEGs should use .2s, unless you tryed .25s and you like it better. its almost all personal preference. as a sniper, I know people who figure, ill use .2s and take a few shots and miss more, but shoot further. I hate that though, and im more of the true one shot one kill sniper. also one last thing, metal bbs are in NO way dangerous to use, if you use the right weight bbs. for your information, if I shot you with a 400 fps .28 plastic bb, and then shot you with a 400 fps .28 metal bb, it is the exact same. the material that the bb is made of has no effect on it, its all about the weight and velocity. metal bbs are just less likely to break (obviously). also you forgot a few bb weights, there are .19s and .28s, and I believe there is .27s, not sure about that though.

O good I thought .12s would hurt my X8M black widow. I'm convinced that plain old .20 gram ammo is the best. I shot my friend using a pea shooter and a 20 gram. He thought it hurt.

This post has been edited by Rusted Red: Oct 15 2006, 10:42 AM

A little late, but I have the KWC Desert Eagle .50 AE "ultra grade" if you want to tack that on the end. According to the box it comes in, its 288 with .12, and 190 with .2's although I seriously doubt this. When compared to other guins shooting .2's at 190fps, the Desert Eagle goes farther and hurts more, leading me to the conclusion that it's not 190fps, but more. But there is absolutley no way that it shoots 280 with .2.

how about .28 bbs?? im using them in an upgraded aeg going 410 fps and range is still decent but accuracy is tremedous, fps is prolly put down to 320 tho..... I just didnt see them in review and im questionable on if I should keep using them.

This post has been edited by M4aRmY: Jan 4 2007, 07:59 PM

I have to agree. I use .23 biodegradable excell. Its an ICS MP5 SD6, 360 fps.

Should you use .25's in a stack TM VSR-10 Gspec or just stick with .2?

This post has been edited by majorpeaaches: Feb 9 2007, 12:45 AM

ok well I have a gas nbb that shoots about 350-400 might be higher I don't know. well when I shoot the first magazine, (w/ .20g bb's) they tend to be less accurate, but after I shoot a little bit of the gas outta it it seems to shoot perfect. do u think I should use .23/.25 for the first mag. or should I just use the .20g and shoot the first mag before the war. I don't know but maby u guys do...thanks for the help.

-x-navyseal-

can't you just use .2s for everything except gas sniper rifles? ???????

I'm running low on the 7,000 Marui .20g's I originally got with my Tokyo Marui M16A2. From personal experience (those who own a non-upgraded Marui M16), would it be better to get .2's or .25's? Also, would it be better to get Marui or Excel bb's? Thanks.

From personal experience and external advice, .25g bbs are the most effective bbs when fired from the average AEG.

This post has been edited by madv: May 30 2007, 01:09 AM

Okay, thanks for the info, madv!

A very helpful article, thanks!

What about AEPs? .2?

Are PHX good quality bb's

I know Phx .28 bbs are very high quality

I plan on purchasing a TM 1911a1 ( GBB Pistol ) and I am debating over .2, .23, or .25. I realize that .25 is the most accurate, but would it make that much differance where I should pay more for only a little improvement. Im trying to minimize the cost as much as possible, so I want to know if the .25 or .23 make a significant differance over .2.

I'm planning on getting a JG G36c, and .25 would actually be cheaper in my order so should I just go with .25? It shoots ~380 FPS.

I have a stock spring rifle at 435 fps. Should I use .36 g or .43 g bb's?

Massive Necropost, I know, but it's a sticky so it's not like the thread is going anywhere. In a stock CA M15A4 (325 fps with .2's) in a mid / long range woodland area, should I use .23's or .25's? I'd like a balance of accuracy and distance, so .23's would be the way to go, right?

Sniper v2, what does it shoot 435 with? If it's .2's I suggest .28's or maybe .3's

This post has been edited by hax?: Dec 26 2007, 03:48 PM

.36 gram bbs would be ideal.


No .25's would be better, I think this is a much better guide.

I trust this info it makes sense to me so I wouldnt worry too much about how heavier bb's lower fps