What's the best BB Weight for my Airsoft gun?
The Best BB's to use in your Airsoft Guns: A helpful guide to choosing the right Airsoft ammo.
Selecting the right 6mm BB's to use is just as important as brushing your teeth. The type of BB you use can directly impact your performance, accuracy and even the longevity of your airsoft gun. Lets break down the best BB's and BB weights to use for different types of airsoft guns and scenarios!
What makes a good Airsoft BB?
Before diving into specific gun types, here are a few key factors to look for in any airsoft BB:
- Triple Polished Finish (Recommended): A seamless, high-polish BB ensures consistent flight paths and prevents jamming.
- Weight Consistency: Finding the right weight BB to use for your Airsoft Gun can effect performance massively, even slight variations in weight can majorly change your accuracy and range.
- Biodegradability (Optional): If you’re playing outdoors, consider using environmentally friendly BBs which biodegrade to minimise your impact on the environment you play in.
- Caliber Consistency: Using properly sized BBs (6mm) ensures a tight fit when fired through your barrel for optimal performance.
1. What BB for Automatic Electric Guns (AEGs)?
AEGs are the workhorses of airsoft, offering versatile and reliable performance. For most AEGs, BB weight depends on the gun's FPS (feet per second), your hop set up and the intended shooting range.
Recommended BB Weights:
- 0.20g BBs: Perfect for standard AEGs firing between 200-300 FPS. These are affordable and provide a good balance of range and accuracy.
- 0.25g BBs: Ideal for AEGs with higher FPS (300-350). These BBs offer better accuracy at medium ranges.
- 0.28g+ BBs: Some people have found that a .0.28g preforms better than a .0.25g over mid range, but the difference is fairly small. Play around between these two weights to find your happy medium.
Top Brands:
2. What BB for Gas Blowback Pistols? (GBBs)
Gas blowback pistols are often used for close-quarters combat (CQB) or just for a little bit of fun in the garden. Since most pistols fire around 280-350 FPS, slightly lighter BBs are generally preferred for these.
Recommended BB Weights:- 0.20g - 0.25g BBs: Between these weights you get an excellent balance for CQB engagements, maximising accuracy and range for shorter barrelled guns.
- 0.28g BBs: These can be used for pistols with upgraded internals or extended barrels, heavier BBs provide better stability in flight but will require more power to keep them consistent.
Top Brands:
- KWA Perfect BBs: Specifically designed for gas guns.
- Tokyo Marui BBs: Renowned for reliability and smooth feeding.
3. Bolt-Action Sniper Rifles
Airsoft Sniper Rifles require precision and range firing at a much higher FPS than regular Airsoft Rifles. Where lighter BB's can be easily affected by wind and loose stability over long distances, heavier BB's provide much better accuracy over long distance.
Recommended BB Weights:
- 0.36g - 0.40g BBs: Ideal for Sniper Rifles firing at 400-450fps. these provide excellent range and stability for standard sniper builds.
- 0.42g - 0.45g: Heavier weight BB's are perfect for Rifles firing around 440- 550fps. Upgraded snipers will benefit from heavier weight BB's.
Top Brands:
- Novritsch Sniper BB's: Designed and engineered especially for professional grade sniper performance.
4. Support Weapons (LMGs)
Light Machine Guns focus on suppressive fire and require a balance between reliability and accuracy. LMG's shoot in high volumes, so it's best to stick to mid weight BBs which are known for reliable performance and feed consistently.
Recommended BB Weights:
- 0.25g BBs: These BB's offer enough range and accuracy for support weapons.
- 0.28g BBs: If your LMG has higher FPS or a tight bore barrel, 0.28g BB's should provide better grouping over distance.
Top Brands:
- G&G Armament BBs: Reliable and consistent feeding, even during rapid fire.
- Lancer Tactical BBs: Budget-friendly but high-quality for better feeding during full auto.
5. Spring/Gas Shotguns
Shotguns are a great choice for close quarters skirmishes where speed and spread matter far more than pin point accuracy. A combination of lightness and consistent feeding is required for the greatest efficiency from airsoft shotguns!
Recommended BB Weights:
- 0.20g BBs: Lightweight 0.20g BB's are perfect for most spring shotguns with moderate FPS. They give a good balance of spread and consistency when shooting.
- 0.25g BBs: Use these BB's for shotguns with higher FPS or tighter spread.
Top Brands:
- RZR - Great consistency and affordability for shotguns.
6. DMRs (Designated Marksman Rifles)
DMRs help bridge the gap between airsoft AEG assault rifles and Sniper rifles. They are semi automatic only and pack a serious punch at medium to long range.
Recommended BB Weights:
- 0.30g BBs: As DMRs tend to be more powerful than fully automatic rifles, they need a heavier weight BB to cope with the extra range and higher accuracy.
- 0.32g BBs: Play around with this range from 0.30g to 0.34. The is the sweet-spot for a DMR!
Final Thoughts & Conclusion
Selecting the right BBs can significantly improve your airsoft game, no matter what type of airsoft gun you choose! To summarise, AEGs and pistols preform best with 0.20g to 0.25 BBs for standard set ups. For snipers, DMR's and some support weapons like LMGs can benefit from heavier weights for range and accuracy.
It's always a good idea to invest in high-quality BBs to prevent jams, improve performance and keep your Airsoft Gun in the best possible condition.
Experimenting with different weights and brands to find what works best for you is always recommended! The right BB can turn a good gun into a great one!
What’s your go-to BB setup? Let us know in the comments below!