| BB gun belongs to the category of air guns. | | | | be taken as a bouncing BB retains a large |
| They are specifically designed to fire at | | | | portion of its initial energy. This can cause |
| spherical projectiles. They are called as BBs | | | | damage to the eyes very easily and can lead |
| named after the birdshot pellet which of the | | | | to blindness. |
| same size approximately. These guns are | | | | |
| generally used for bird hunting but they can | | | | History |
| also be pointed. The modern BB guns have a | | | | |
| smoothbore barrel. Its caliber and bore | | | | The initials BB stand for ball bearing. The |
| diameter are 4.5mm. These guns are made up of | | | | BB sized lead shotgun shot is originally used |
| steel and plated with copper and zinc to | | | | in the BB guns. It is an intermediate between |
| resist corrosion. It measures 0.171 to 0.173 | | | | B and BBB size. BB shots vary considerably in |
| inches in diameter. Lead BB guns of larger | | | | its size due to high tolerance levels allowed |
| diameter are also manufactured. These are | | | | for the use of shotgun shell. |
| used in rifled bb gun barrels. The plastic | | | | |
| recreation of bb guns is also manufactured by | | | | Operation |
| some Asian companies. | | | | |
| | | | Any operating mechanisms used for air guns |
| Safety measures wile using BB guns | | | | can be used by BB guns also. The accuracy and |
| | | | the range of the BB gun are limited therefore |
| Extreme care must be taken while handling the | | | | less expensive and simple mechanisms are |
| BB gun and it should not be fired at other | | | | used. |
| people. Cheap and simple BB guns are | | | | |
| available for sale at Wal-Mart. These guns | | | | It is commonly observed nowadays that the BB |
| have a capacity to fire over 1000 fps. BB | | | | guns make use of magnets for their loading |
| guns are different than airsoft guns. The | | | | mechanisms. The bore size of the BB can be |
| airsoft guns are not harmful to humans. A | | | | hardly swaged. Thus the magnets are often |
| lead .177 fired at or above 600 fps can | | | | used to hold BB at the rear of the barrel. If |
| pierce skin and possibly fatal if fired in an | | | | the BB is held at a downward angle then the |
| improper manner. Steel BBs are also prone to | | | | BB will simply roll out. The spring piston |
| ricochet off the hard surfaces such as | | | | type of BB guns is still the most common and |
| concrete or brick. Protecting eyes while | | | | traditional powerplant. They are usually |
| firing from a BB gun is not essential but a | | | | patterned after a pump action shotgun or a |
| safety precaution is recommended. While | | | | lever action rifle. |
| shooting lead pellets safety measures should | | | | |