Airsoft Pellets

Airsoft pellets (often referred to as "BB's", short for "ball bearing" or "big ball" in reference to smaller shotgun shot) are typically made of plastic and are almost always 6mm spheres. Pellets of a given size come in different weights ranging from 0.12 to 0.43 g. In addition to standard plastic pellets, starch-based biodegradable, metal coated, graphite coated (often used by snipers), and steel pellets are also available. Pellets other than 6 mm, 0.12 g, 0.20 g, or 0.25 g plastic or biodegradable pellets are not commonly used outside of Japan.

Glow-in-the-dark tracer pellets are also used in conjunction with a special device that charges the pellets up by flashing it with a quick burst of UV light prior to firing so that they remain luminescent in flight for use during nocturnal operations/games.

There have also been guns made that shoot aspherical pellets. The best known of these is the Asahi "Blade Bullet", which are now extremely difficult to find and quite expensive to buy. These were designed to be shot from the short-lived Asahi M700 and M40 premium grade rifles, which were produced in 1993. Compatibility with other airsoft guns is highly limited, especially due to their inability to be used with hop-up features.

Paint pellets are available but are incompatible with guns with hop-up features as the hop-up will break the pellet in the gun. Paint is very unpopular with airsofters because it tends to stain gear and clothes.

6 mm pellet weights and their usage

• 0.12 g - Used by some gas and spring weapons. High velocity and low stability.
• 0.15 g - Same uses as 0.12 g. Uncommon.
• 0.20 g - Standard weight for most weapons. AEGs use these or slightly heavier pellets.
• 0.23 g - Heavier pellets for AEGs. Blends speed of 0.20g with range and accuracy of 0.25g.
• 0.25 g - Heaviest weight for standard AEGs, blowback and spring guns. Tokyo Marui standard pellets for AEGs.
• 0.30 g - Standard weight for most sniper rifles. Western Arms pellets for their gas blowback pistol series. Uncommon.
• 0.36 g - Heavier pellets for sniper rifles. Very slow but high stability.
• 0.43 g - For the highest level of upgrades in spring and gas sniper rifles. Graphite coated.

8 mm pellet weights and their usage

• 0.34 g - Low weight for 8mm sniper rifles.
• 0.45 g - Standard weight for 8m sniper rifles.
• 0.60 g - Heaviest weight for 8m sniper rifles.