AIRSOFT GUIDE: Airsoft Ammunition
Airsoft Pellets (BB) are spherical projectiles used in airsoft gun models. Typically made of plastic, they usually measure around 6Â mm in diameter, though select models use 8Â mm and weigh 0.120.48Â g, with the most popular weights being 0.12g, 0.20Â g, and 0.25g. While airsofters almost always call them BBs bearing balls,citation needed they are not the same as the 4.5Â mm projectiles that BB guns fire.
Although the majority of pellets bought and used are simple spherical projectiles made of plastic, some of the following special varieties can be used to give a player an advantage.
Biodegradable
Biodegradable pellets are available, and are often required by outdoor fields where sweeping up is not an option. Conventional pellets pollute the environment, as most non-biodegradable pellets have a mineral- or petroleum-based center, coated in non-biodegradable plastics, thus ensuring they will stay in the environment for several hundred years if not collected. Biodegradable pellets are made of various types of resin, often developed for the agricultural industry, and better makes are certified as compostable.
There is a mixture of degradable processes being used, such as soil microbes and photosensitive degradation. Biodegradable pellets are currently being produced with all the characteristics of the best of the conventional, with homogeneous resin construction.
Most high-quality pellets are available in a non-biodegradable version, as well as a biodegradable version that costs slightly more. Both bio. and non-bio. pellets are popular and widely available.
Tracers
Glow-in-the-dark pellets, known as tracer pellets, can be used in conjunction with a device that "charges" the pellets by flashing them with a burst of light before leaving the barrel, so that they remain luminescent in flight for use during nocturnal games/operations. This tracer unit is usually hidden from view, often disguised as a suppressor (silencer), or is included inside the magazine or hop-up unit. There are also biodegradable glow-in-the-dark pellets available.
Non-traceable pellets
This type of pellet is dark-colored so that the opponent has a tougher time spotting the pellets' origin. The most common color is white, which makes it easy for the opposition to spot the shooter by following the trail of pellets. Two major problems of this variant of pellet are that there are few high-quality pellets in this color and the shooter has a difficult time seeing his own trail of shots.
Paint-spherical projectiles
Paint-filled pellets are also available, called paintballs, which are very similar to those used in paintball. Airsoft models equipped with the hop-up projectile stabilizing system are not able to use these, as the thin shells are liable to break in the barrel, soiling it with paint. These special pellets are also incompatible with Airsoft models using mechanized feed systems, such as high capacity magazines, for the same reason. With some companies, the use of paintballs voids the airsoft gun's warranty; paint may get into the mechanical workings of the airsoft gun and damage parts beyond simple maintenance. These issues may be fixed by removing the hop-up unit, which can void the warranty, and also switching to a low or mid-capacity magazine with no mechanized feed.
Markers
A specialized pellet, coated in a powder that leaves a small mark when it strikes a surface. Powder deposits from these pellets are left in any part of the airsoft gun or storage unit that the pellet comes in contact with, and build-up over time, without cleaning, can cause malfunctions or damage to moving parts.[citation needed]
Silica or bio-inert
Made from 100% silica, the material in these BBs is very evenly distributed, improving flight characteristics. Some accounts indicate that these BBs are capable of breaking glass and industry-standard protective eyewear. Due to safety concerns and reports of injuries caused by this BB type, it is commonly prohibited in professional airsoft facilities.
Metallic
Metal pellets are also marketed for use in airsoft guns. These pellets are heavier and harder than conventional polymer airsoft pellets, and the impact from a metal pellet can injure players. Safety concerns make metallic pellets suitable only for target shooting. The added weight reduces the effect of crosswind on the pellet, imparting more accuracy when fired at longer ranges in outdoor environments where wind would significantly alter the trajectory of traditional pellets. Many airsoft locations where players can pay to play against others prohibit the use of metallic pellets due to the fact they are more likely to penetrate skin. Metallic pellets are mostly used in a standard pump-action or carbon dioxide-powered BB gun.
Ceramic
Created from lab grown crystal lattice structures, these BBs are individually machined to precise specifications that ensure uniform weight, dimensions, and surface shape. This precision and uniformity provides ideal ballistic performance and consistent flight patterns. The manufacturing process and materials are much more costly than molded polymer pellets - as a result, ceramic pellets are considerably more expensive than standard airsoft pellets. The material is hard enough to defeat standard eye protection at high velocities, and these pellets are not suitable for close-quarters play.