What is the difference between airsoft and bb guns

This is usually based on brand though. The higher end airsoft guns have a tendency to be far more expensive than even the high end air guns. This, right here, is the most important distinction to be made. Airsoft guns utilize a plastic 6mm BB pellet, which is extremely distinct from a 4.

The 6mm BB is both larger, lighter, and travels at a slower velocity than its steel counterpart. In fact, steel BB can cause severe injury to the victim, especially if shot in a very sensitive place. As you can see there are differences between airsoft vs bb guns, but the key one is how much more damage a BB gun can do over an airsoft gun.

Airsoft guns generally are much safer, but still will require the proper protective measures in competitive play as some guns, like an airsoft sniper rifle , fire can fire at fps or more. The other main distinction we want you to take away is that airsoft guns are designed for recreational and competitive play, not BB guns.

This is why you can find them in so many styles and they have the orange tip to distinguish them. Plus, the airsoft bb is far less likely to injure someone if you shoot them which is the name of the game in competitive airsoft matches.

BB guns are just too powerful for this, even on the low end. Tim has been playing airsoft since With over a thousand no lie airsoft games under his belt he has spent countless hours testing various airsoft guns and tactical gear. He's gotten hundreds still no lie of people into the airsoft hobby and is more than willing to spread the love of slinging 6mm plastic to any new player. Added to wishlist Removed from wishlist 0 Does Airsoft Hurt? Added to wishlist Removed from wishlist 0 Top 14 Airsoft Safety Tips We will be happy to hear your thoughts Leave a reply Cancel reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Timothy Hackett 0. Save Saved Removed 0. Timothy Hackett. Related Articles. BBs are smaller and far more dense than those used in airsoft rifles.

This was a wooden, spring-loaded air pistol that was designed as a training gun for young people. The ammunition used was BB-sized pellets that had up until then been used for birdshot. A BB gun is capable of a shooting velocity of more than feet per second fps , with most of them reaching up to around feet per second.

Some BB guns are capable of an fps of more than 1, A BB gun velocity of feet per second can draw blood and fractured bones. The maximum range of a BB gun with a velocity of between and fps is to meters to yards.

Because they are made of steel, BB gun BBs are likely to ricochet off objects. This makes them far more likely to strike an unintended target than an airsoft BB. This led the Tokyo Marui company to create an airsoft gun that fired a plastic BB pellet. The early versions were based on air-driven pellet guns. In , Daisy, the innovator of BB guns, began manufacturing airsoft guns. There are now many manufacturers all over the world. Airsoft guns generally have a velocity of between and fps.

This is usually lower than a BB gun. The BB pellets used in airsoft guns are made of plastic and have diameters of either 6 or 8mm. BBs may weigh between 0. These pellets are designed to strike another human being but cause minimal injury. I touch on safety in a bit but special care must be taken with protecting eyes, at all ranges.

The safety requirements differ for both. This is primarily because in Airsoft you are shooting at each other most of the time so the object is to hit someone. With a BB gun, typically you will be shooting at targets but most definitely not at each other. With Airsoft, you should wear protective clothing that covers any exposed areas, particular your head and eyes. With a BB gun, eye protection should be worn at all times. This goes not only for the shooter but for anyone in the same area.

Typically, eye protection is the only safety gear worn — primarily as the BB shooter is not shooting at another individual. I have no idea why everyone has made it so complex but it is. The problem is, it depends on where you live. Not also just the state, but the City. They can all have different rules and regulations and it drives me bonkers. In the UK, you have to be over 18 to purchase and there is no minimum age for airsoft guns but adult supervision is recommended.

So, there you have it. There are actually quite a few differences between an airsoft gun and a BB gun. It totally depends on what you want to do with the thing. Skip to content.

Find out more about other differences below. Contents hide. Recreational plinking and short-range targets. Physical Features Replica gun with typically an orange tip to its muzzle.