✅ Airsoft balls: classification, weight, speed, brands, choosing the best

The airsoft game, invented in Japan, has found its adherents all over the world. Not only men, but also women can take part in it. It allows you to feel almost like you are in combat conditions. Although the weapons used during the game have the same appearance, weight, and assembly principle as firearms, the bullets used during the gameplay are completely different. At first, the leaders in the production of airsoft consumables were Japan, China and Taiwan, but now balls are produced by a number of countries, including ours. The editors of the YaNashla website have prepared for you a review of the best airsoft balls for 2022.

Airsoft balls (6 mm)

A novice airsoft player always has a question: which balls to choose for airsoft?
And the most common recommendation is an airsoft ball with a diameter of 6 mm, which has an optimal flight range. This versatile ammunition is used in different types of weapons. But even with a diameter of 6 mm, the weight of the ball can be different - it affects the speed of the projectile, which is very important for airsoft. Based on this feature, six-millimeter balls are divided into the following types:

0.12–0.2 g: pistols, submachine guns and low-power assault rifles;
0.23–0.28 g: standard assault rifles – most common in airsoft;
0.3–0.36 g: machine guns and machine guns with tuning – pierce foliage and small bushes;
0.4-0.43g: Sniper Rifles - This heavy ball is stable in flight.

The flight speed of an airsoft ball can be easily determined by reading the tables on the Internet, so it is not necessary to do calculations or read reviews. But first of all, it is recommended to focus on the weight and purpose of the ammunition.

Types of airsoft balls

6mm plastic balls

Weight: 0.12 – 0.43 grams

Manufacturers: AIP, Golden Ball, G&G, Madbull, Guarder, Marui, BB King, WE, BL.S, KSC, S II S (not produced), Omega, Straight (not produced), Maruzen, TOY-JEC, Excel, Western Arms (not issued), SRC.

Regular plastic balls are usually white. There are also other colors, such as black, green or yellow. Based on my experience of using black balls, I can say that they are good to play in winter. Most airsoft players choose the traditional white color, as in the summer they are quite visible, which allows for better aiming.

There are a great variety of balloon manufacturers. There's plenty to choose from. For example, if you are a fan of Japanese quality, then you should choose balls. They have maintained their stable good quality for many years, which cannot be said, for example, about “Guarder” balls, which 3-4 years ago were very popular in Russia, but in the last 2 years they have received a lot of complaints from airsoft players. Yes, I myself abandoned them completely in the 2011 season and switched to balls from a relatively new company in this field, “Madbull”.

From personal experience, I can give a positive assessment to the Golden Ball and Excel balls. Quite good quality, but the price is higher than madbull.

Chinese balls have become popular lately. I can’t say anything because... I haven't used them, but I haven't heard much negative feedback.

It is difficult to judge balls from companies such as BLS, Maruzen, Western Arms and other little-known companies in Russia, since they were not sold for sale here, and in general they are difficult to find in Russia.

Usually sold in bags or jars of 2000-5000 balls per package.

The approximate cost in Russia will be from 300 to 800 rubles.

6mm “bio” balls

Weight: 0.2 – 0.28 grams

Manufacturers: Excel, Marui, BB King, G&G

The key difference between these balls and ordinary plastic balls is the material from which they are made. These balls are made from biologically pure material and when they fall into the ground or water they quickly decompose leaving absolutely no traces.

Based on the quality of the balls, the previously mentioned and “Excel” can be distinguished. They say about them: “Time-tested!”

Due to their peculiarity, these balls are quite capricious and require special treatment. They should be stored in a dry, dark place at normal temperatures, and during games should be protected from water in every possible way. Otherwise, you risk finding in the bag instead of balls something that was once them J

The number of balls in a package is from 500 to 2000. The price in Russia is approximately 800 rubles per package.

6mm tracer balls

Manufacturers: G&G, Marui, Madbull, S II S, Straight

Tracer balls (or "tracers") are designed to be played at night. These balls contain light-accumulating substances in the material, which then illuminate the ball for some time, thereby creating the effect of a tracer bullet.

To “charge” these balls with energy, various types of attachments are used, made in the form of silencers for weapons or special magazines with LEDs in the neck, which are powered by batteries. Some craftsmen integrate small LEDs directly into the hop-up assembly of their weapons.

Dangers to humans[edit]

Balls weight

All projectiles can be divided into three categories:

Lungs. The weight of the product ranges from 0.1 g. up to 0.2 gr. These are the most inexpensive shells, suitable for simple weapons with low power.
Medium ones are the most common. Their weight: from 0.2 to 0.28 grams. Designed for any electric weapon. Widely used when shooting at medium and short distances.
Heavy - weigh from 0.3 to 0.43 grams. Designed for sniper rifles and well-pumped machine guns.

For each weapon, it is necessary to choose a projectile weight that will provide optimal flight performance. The main thing in determining this indicator will be the speed of the shot. The faster the shot speed, the heavier the projectiles should be.

Caliber

Air gun projectiles come in several possible calibers. The most common is 4.5 mm, which is sometimes also classified as BB. In general, the name of explosives in the American classification is associated with balls with a caliber of 0.18 inches, or, in terms of the metric system, 4.57 mm. In addition, there are copper-plated or galvanized balls with a diameter of 4.35 and 4.44, also belonging to the explosive class.

In general, all air guns can be divided into:

Small-caliber (4 - 4.5 mm);
Medium-caliber (5.5 - 6 mm);
Large-caliber (7.62 - 9 mm).

Depending on this criterion, suitable projectiles are selected.

Airsoft ball weight

Plastic 6mm airsoft balls are designed for shooting from a clear replica of small combat weapons. The mass of the balls ranges from 0.2 to 0.5 grams, with the difference being hundredths of a gram. Each ball size has its own purpose:

lungs, the mass of which is 0.1; 0.12 and 0.15 grams. Today, such balls are rarely used, in low-power versions of spring pistols. There should be no Hop-upa on the weapon, otherwise the balls will bounce in all directions. The disadvantage of these balls is that the enemy may simply not feel the impact of such a ball;
medium balls, designed for standard modifications of airsoft drives. Balls weighing 0.2 grams are the most optimal for pistols. 0.23 and 0.25 are good for regular machines. The former have a faster ball release speed in airsoft, but the latter have better accuracy. In this case, it all depends on your personal wishes;
heavy balls are designed for sniper rifles with good initial speed, or for tuned weapon variants. Such balls will be more reliable, since neither the wind nor the foliage is an obstacle to them, and the hit feels more serious.

CONTENT

1 Options 1.1 Biodegradable
1.2 translucent
1.3 Tracers
1.4 Untraceable granules
1.5 Painting spherical projectiles
1.6 Markers
1.7 Metallic
1.8 Ceramics

2 Pellet mass

2.1 6mm airsoft bullets

2.2 8mm airsoft bullets

3 Physics of flight

3.1 Initial speed and energy of the granule

3.2 Ballistics of granules

4 Dangers to humans

5 See also

6 Links

How to choose the best airsoft bullets

First, decide on the characteristics of your rifle or pistol. As already mentioned, the most important parameter is the speed of the ejected charge. In accordance with this, we select balls by weight (information above).

As for choosing a brand, remember: you should not buy balls from a little-known manufacturer. After all, their quality may be very questionable, and they may burst, stuck inside the drive. If the weapon is under warranty, then it will lose it because of this. So it's not worth the risk.

Basic rules of the game (Airsoft):

Other general rules include the conditions for using weapons indoors. Due to the increased risk of injury in a closed space, the firing speed of a player's weapon used in buildings should not exceed 120 m/s . This speed is standard for most drives and has not been modified to enhance them. For the same purpose, many players use pistols, the muzzle power of which is most often lower than full-size weapons.

Another mandatory rule is the ban on shooting blindly. When firing from behind cover, the shooter cannot shoot, sticking out only his hands with a weapon, since at this moment he does not control the flight path of the ball and makes it impossible to hit himself. Simply put, when shooting from behind cover, the shooter must always lean out of it along with the weapon. This rule is provided for by the conditions of fair play. This paragraph also includes the size of the minimum embrasure for shooting, which should not be less than an A4 sheet of paper.

After familiarizing yourself with the general set of rules, you should move on to the main types of games. Initially, they can be divided into small Sundays, which are held weekly, and larger ones, which can last from one day to several days. For Sunday games, the above rules are always relevant; we will describe the features of the rest of the games below.

The best airsoft balls: types

Most airsoft balls are made of white plastic. But manufacturers have a few more suggestions for you on what balls to use in airsoft. You will definitely find your option:

Camouflage

These are the same plastic balls, only dark green or black. They are not visible against the background of the forest, unlike the white balls. Therefore, such airsoft balls are called invisible - they occupy high positions in the ranking of popular ammunition. What will such ammunition give you? The enemy will have to use the sights of his weapon, and not shoot at the white line. But shooting honestly is always more difficult.

Tracer

If you want to get an advantage when playing airsoft, tracer balls will solve this problem - you can also buy them in our airsoft store. Coated with fluorescent paint, when fired they will divert the enemy's attention to you if necessary. Tracer balls for airsoft are somewhat different from their combat counterparts, and therefore are capable of performing only this task. They do not blind the enemy or force him to lie face down, but they add entertainment to the battle.

The most popular questions in Air-Soft:

First of all, it’s worth answering the most frequently asked beginner question: does it hurt? No, most hits from airsoft weapons are barely felt by the player, especially when wearing a full set of protective equipment. Airsoft is a game of fairness. To put it simply, if you are hit, you need to react according to the rules. Standard rules provide for one hit to any part of the body and equipment (excluding weapons) for a player to be considered defeated.

Types of airsoft balls

6mm plastic balls

Weight: 0.12 – 0.43 grams

From personal experience, I can give a positive assessment to the Golden Ball and Excel balls. Quite good quality, but the price is higher than madbull.

Chinese balls have become popular lately. I can’t say anything because... I haven't used them, but I haven't heard much negative feedback.

Usually sold in bags or jars of 2000-5000 balls per package.

The approximate cost in Russia will be from 300 to 800 rubles.

6mm “bio” balls

Weight: 0.2 – 0.28 grams

Manufacturers: Excel, Marui, BB King, G&G

Based on the quality of the balls, the previously mentioned and “Excel” can be distinguished. They say about them: “Time-tested!”

The number of balls in a package is from 500 to 2000. The price in Russia is approximately 800 rubles per package.

6mm tracer balls

Manufacturers: G&G, Marui, Madbull, S II S, Straight

Types of balls

All airsoft balls are produced with a diameter of 6 mm. It is rare to purchase eight-millimeter products, but they are not in demand. There are several types of six-millimeter products.

Standard. Usually white, but multi-colored ones are also found. They are made of plastic and are popularly called “white cranberry”. When shooting, the flight trail is clearly visible.
Invisible. They are black or dark green in color. The flight trail is weakly visible, which increases shooting accuracy - the enemy does not have time to change location. Often these heavy products are used by snipers.
Tracers. They look very impressive. Treated with a special compound that begins to glow brightly when passing through an infrared nozzle on the barrel of a weapon, the balls attract attention. They are used to distract the enemy's attention. Usually used at night.
Bio is an ecological product. When exposed to water, they gradually decompose, leaving no traces of human presence. In many countries you can only use them on the street. During storage, these products must be protected from moisture. Can be made from wood, corn and other environmental materials.
Made of aluminum and glass. According to the rules of the game, you can only use plastic products or bio-balls due to their low invasiveness. Aluminum and glass charges can only be fired at targets. They hit hard.
Markers. Charges filled with paint are covered with a gelatin shell. They leave a good mark on clothing, which allows you to see the dead or wounded. If such a projectile bursts in the barrel, the weapon can be damaged. This is a significant disadvantage that prevents their use.

What is additional equipment for airsoft?

It's time to consider additional airsoft equipment , which includes the following equipment:

Helmet - of course, the main function is to protect the head from blows and balls, but do not forget about modeling the unit for which you are playing.
Gloves - used to protect hands when hit by a ball, to overcome obstacles or when falling. They are divided into full-size and fingerless, with and without protective inserts.
Knee pads - elbow pads - are used to protect the knee-elbow joints when playing in bunkers, standing areas or forests where injury can occur.
Walkie-talkies - everything is simple here, no walkie-talkies, no command and control of troops.

Airsoft ball material

The most popular are plastic balls, as they are characterized by reasonable prices and relative safety. However, you should not stop your choice only on this type of balls; you need to study and analyze others too:

aluminum balls. Compared to plastic ones, they have better stability during flight and greater accuracy during shooting;
glass balls. They have good properties, but they, like aluminum ones, are unsafe. Cheap face equipment may not withstand such an attack, so these balls are better used when shooting at targets. They are only suitable for tuned weapon modifications;
metal balls for airsoft. They are quite heavy and, like previous types of balls, can harm the player and are not used with every weapon;
balls that leave an imprint where they hit. They have a strong shell that breaks at speeds of 50 m/s. They are not popular, in part because of the need to clean equipment;
tracer balls. Glow in the dark, good for playing in the dark. To use these balls, a special attachment must be installed on the drive, which will charge them as they fly out;
wooden balls. They belong to the category of exotic. They undergo double varnishing and polishing, are made of oak, mangasite and cherry;
biodegradable balls. The main advantage is the lack of impact on the environment. After a while, while in the ground, they will be destroyed by bacteria.

Production of airsoft balls

Today, there are several manufacturers of airsoft balls that have proven themselves in the manufacture of these products. The most popular include:

ASG;
SRC;
Mad Bull;
Guarder.

In the airsoft-rus online store you can select and buy airsoft balls from China, Taiwanese manufacturers and other suppliers. The price of airsoft balls depends on materials, sizes, functional features and quantity. By purchasing 100 pcs of airsoft balls, you save your money. For questions that may arise, you can contact the managers of the online store.

The information presented about airsoft balls should be known to every striker. She will help you make the right choice and buy the most suitable airsoft balls.

Options [edit]

While most pellets purchased and used are simple spherical projectiles made of plastic, some of the following special varieties can be used to give the player an advantage, such as higher quality pellets.

High quality airsoft pellets.

Biodegradable[edit]

Biodegradable granules are available and are often required in open areas where sweeping is not possible. Regular pellets pollute the environment, as most non-biodegradable pellets have a mineral or petroleum base coated with non-biodegradable plastic, ensuring they will remain in the environment for several hundred years unless collected. Biodegradable pellets are made from various types of resins, often developed for the agricultural industry, and the best brands are certified compostable. Commonly used plastic resins include polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA), which are based on renewable materials such as corn products and have the molecular formula (C3H4O2)n. [4]A mixture of degradable processes is used, such as soil microbes and photosensitive degradation. Biodegradable granules are now produced with all the characteristics of the best of the traditional ones, with a homogeneous resin structure.

Most high-quality granules are available in a non-biodegradable version, as well as a biodegradable version that costs a little more. Both bio- and non-biodegradable pellets are popular and widely available.

Translucent[edit]

translucent red

pure green

"Pure Peach"

pure reds faded by sunlight. Only 28 were found in Santee, California.

Tracers [edit]

Glow in the dark granules known as tracers

pellets, can be used in conjunction with a device that "charges" the pellets by flashing them with a flash of light before exiting the barrel so that they remain luminescent in flight for use during night play/operation. This tracer unit is usually hidden from view, often disguised as a suppressor or incorporated into a magazine or jump block. Biodegradable indicator granules are also available.

Untracked granules[edit]

This type of bullet is dark in color, making it more difficult for the enemy to determine the origin of the pellets, as the most common color of the pellets is white, making it easy for the enemy to spot the shooter by following the bullets' trail. The two main problems with this bullet option are that there are few quality pellets of this color and it is difficult for the shooter to see his own shot trail. [5]

Paint spherical projectiles[edit]

Paint pellets called "paintballs" are also available, which are very similar to those used in paintball. Airsoft models equipped with hop-up projectile stabilization systems cannot use them, as the thin shells can break in the barrel, staining it with paint. These special pellets are also not compatible with airsoft models that use mechanized feed systems such as high capacity magazines for the same reason. With some companies, the use of paintballs will void the warranty on the airsoft gun; Paint can get into the mechanical parts of the airsoft gun and damage parts that do not require simple maintenance. These problems can be corrected by removing the hop-up assembly, which may void the warranty, and by switching to a low- or medium-capacity magazine without a power feed.

Markers[edit]

A special granule coated with powder that leaves a small colored mark when it hits the surface. Powder deposits from these pellets remain in any part of the airsoft gun or storage unit that the pellet comes into contact with; Buildup over time without cleaning can cause malfunction or damage to moving parts. [6]

Made from 100% silica, the material in these granules is very evenly distributed, improving flight performance. Some sources indicate that these granules are capable of breaking glass and standard safety glasses. Due to safety concerns and reports of injuries caused by this type of pellet,[6] it is generally prohibited at professional airsoft venues.

Metallic [edit]

Metal pellets are also sold for use in airsoft guns. These pellets are heavier and harder than regular polymer pellets, and the impact of a metal pellet can injure players. For safety reasons, metal bullets are only suitable for target shooting. The additional weight reduces the effect of crosswinds on the pellet, providing greater accuracy when shooting at long ranges in environments where wind can significantly alter the trajectory of traditional pellets. Many airsoft venues, where players can pay to play against others, prohibit the use of metal pellets because they are more likely to penetrate the skin. Metal pellets are primarily used in standard pump-action or carbon dioxide driven BB guns.

Ceramics [edit]

Created from laboratory-grown crystal lattice structures, these pellets are individually processed to precise specifications that ensure consistent weight, dimensions and surface shape. This precision and uniformity ensures ideal ballistic performance and stable flight patterns. The manufacturing process and materials are much more expensive than molded polymer pellets—as a result, ceramic pellets are significantly more expensive than standard airsoft pellets. The material is capable of being unable to cope with standard eye protection due to the weight and greater energy required to move it, so it is not suitable for use against other human targets.

date	Reference	Energy level	Observations
April 2000	Gun Control Principles [paragraph 26], Home Office and Forensic Science Service;	1.35 J	penetrating wound (later modified by paragraph 123, see below)
April 2000	Gun Control Principles [paragraph 123], Northern Ireland Forensic Science Agency;	3.00 J-4.00 J	penetrating [26] / mortal [123] wound
March 2002	Eleventh annual report of the Firearms Advisory Committee on DiMaio's work in "Minimum Velocities Required for Skin Perforation by Air Pellets and Bullets," Journal of Forensic Sciences;	2.00 J-3.00 J	penetration level