The 5 Best BB Guns [Ranked]
BB guns have technologically innovated in the past several years.
Commonly derided as 'mere toys', a quick glance at our imposing comparison table below shows you that's certainly not the case anymore.
In fact, high-end firearm manufacturers like Dan Wesson, SIG Sauer, Colt & Smith & Wesson are licensing and creating bb gun replicas.
Airsoft VS BB
Make sure you understand the difference between bb guns and Airsoft guns- they're totally different. While Airsoft guns shoot plastic, a bb gun shoots .177 caliber steel. As well, the former requires an orange tip as a safety distinction, while the latter don't require an orange safety highlight.
As well, Airsoft options are meant for competitive play- shooting at each other. While bb guns are meant for hunting, plinking or target shooting. Regardless, check out some shooting targets for fun practice sessions, and an automatic clay thrower if your ammo is strong enough.
Thee most common style of bb guns is an air pistol. They're powered either by CO2 or a pneumatic pump. You might also be interested in a pistol crossbow- another fun outdoor hobby option. Check out some of the best-selling options below:
Contents
Comparing The Options
- 15-Shot, .177 Caliber Bb Air Pistol
- Powered By A 12-Gram Co2 Cartridge (Co2 Not Included)
- FULL-AUTO CO2-POWERED BB AIR RIFLE - With Semi-Auto option
- FLINGS BBS UP TO 430 FPS - That's over 1400 rounds per minute
- SINGLE-SHOT, BOLT-ACTION PELLET AND BB AIR RIFLE
- DURABLE, WATER RESISTANT DESIGN - Brown with smooth bore steel barrel
- 177 Cal BB gun rifle with steel smooth bore barrel
- 650 shot capacity
- DURABLE, WATER RESISTANT SYNTHETIC DESIGN - Tactical style in black with rifled rifled steel barrel
- VARIABLE CONTROL - From 350 fps to 700 fps
BB Guns Versus Airsoft Guns
The History and Evolution of BB Guns
It is very often said that “BB” is originated from “bullet ball” or “ball bearing” but actually this is not true. BB guns have historically utilized BB-sized shotgun lead shot pellets, in between size B and size BBB.
BB shot is 4.57 mm in diameter but it varies considerably in sizes- owing to the allowable tolerances of higher nature the use of the shotgun shell.
In the year 1900, Daisy, the earliest makers of the oldest types of BB guns, altered the bore of BB gun diameter to 4.45 mm and started to make marketing precision-made shot made of lead especially for guns.
They termed it “air rifle shot”, but in the meanwhile, the name “BB” was already established and all began to call the guns as “BB guns” and for the shot, it became “BB shot” or simply “BBs”.
Daisy Company Formation
In the year 1887 C. Hamilton who was the inventor of .22 rimfire, introduced a metal-air gun. As he was demonstrating his new invention in front of the local industrialist, Mr. Lewis Cass Hough, he exclaimed in surprise ‘That’s a daisy!’.
The design of the air gun was so clever that lead BB shots were also compatible. This special feature made Mr. Lewis Cass Hough commission production of hundreds of the little air guns in the year 1888.
As the air guns gained popularity, Mr. Lewis Cass Hough’s iron mill began to produce these lead birdshot guns in full fledge under the name of Daisy’s BB guns.
The windmill company of Mr. Lewis Cass Hough reincorporated in the year 1895 as The Daisy Manufacturing Company and still continues production under the same name. Until the early years of the twentieth century, the lead BB shots were used as the projectiles for the Daisy gun. Later on, Daisy started manufacturing its own lead shots that were smaller than the original ones and around 0.175 inches in diameter.
These lead shots were exclusively the property of the Daisy Company and kids were to buy them from the company directly. With the reduction in the size of the new lead projectiles of the BB gun, there was an increase in the velocity of the projectile. This facilitated the use of spring wire that was smaller in diameter. This made the guns fire the projectiles with the same velocity and also cocked easily.
In the year 1920, Daisy started receiving some reports from clients of BB weapon expelling metal balls of scrap steel. Consequently numerous firearms started to come in for repair with torn apart part barrels. American Ball Company promptly took the risk of it as a promotional opportunity.
They started dealing BB shot with breadth of 0.171 millimeters to 0.173 millimeters for air rifles made of steel.
This promptly brought about an advertising understanding of selective nature with Daisy as ground steel BBs of exactness nature were modest in regard to lead BBs of accuracy nature. The light sort of steel BBs likewise created higher speeds in contrast with lead BBs, which brought about weapons of new kind shoot all the more precisely in short ranges where they looked powerful.
In the year 1939, the American Ball Company was obtained by Daisy and it started to secure its own particular BBs. Since Daisy had the syndication in the market of weapon; different creators started to impersonate him by coordinating the drag distance across like Daisy and changing over to 4.55 mm steel BBs.
In the later stage, “BB” transformed into kind of more broad nature identifying with now and then non-round sort of shot and the round sort of shot of various materials and bores. It ought to be remembered that it will be in fact wrong if the name “metal roller” is utilized for any kind of steel ball. This is the concise history of BB firearms.
Which One Should You Choose?
When you are extremely enthusiastic about preparing out your shooting abilities then BB firearms from Airsoft come highly recommended.
What are the best things to shoot with a BB gun? from r/AskReddit
These BB weapons are totally safe to use, however, it is mandatory for you to be over 18 years old if you’re trying to purchase this firearm.
These Airsoft, BB weapons utilize BB pellets for home target practice.
Safety Considerations
There are a couple of things of which you have to keep in mind so that you don’t hurt anybody and in addition yourself.
In the 1880s, people were buying these novelty guns because they were en vogue. Nowadays, their appeal is returning- it’s a fun sport, though they have a bad reputation in inner cities where police can confuse them for actual weapons.
Some people even create DIY options- however it requires a considerable measure of technical exertion and exactness. Truth be told using it at home requires an investment in safety protocol- they really aren’t ideal for children under the age of 18.
Best Models
These BB firearms are available in various designs like the M4DP Dual Power Electric:
This option is air-powered. Its magazine holds 420mm BBs. This Airsoft firearm is completely programmed and fires at 235fps. You can supplement with a 850BB explosive speed loader, with an extendable stock, if you need a speedy draw.
User Feedback
The SA80 is another popular option.
It’s an exact duplicate of a British Armed Forces rifle. It’s a single shot rifle with a limit of 24 BB in its magazine. This is availble in two shades orange and dark. Its weight is roughly 2019g.
Most Popular Options
Name | # Of Reviews on AirGunDepot |
---|---|
Crosman M4-177 Tactical Combo | 17 |
Crosman 760C Pumpmaster Combo, .177 cal | 18 |
Crosman 760B Pumpmaster, .177 cal | 73 |
Umarex EBOS | 58 |
Crosman M4-177 Tactical Pump | 51 |
Daisy 880 Kit | 67 |
Daisy Red Ryder 1938 BB Gun Fun Kit | 28 |
Daisy Powerline 901, .177 cal | 36 |
Daisy Model 25 | 24 |
Avanti Champion 499 | 13 |
Daisy 880S Kit | 57 |
Crosman 764SB, .177 cal | 17 |
Winchester Model 77XS, .177 cal | 8 |
Daisy 880, .177 cal | 22 |
Daisy 1938 Red Ryder BB Gun | 54 |
Umarex Steel Force | 51 |
Winchester M14 | 29 |
Daisy Model 105 Buck | 23 |
Crosman Recruit | 15 |
Crosman 760X Combo | 13 |
Copperhead .177 Cal, 5.1 Grains, BBs, 6000ct | 26 |
Umarex Precision Steel BBs - 1500 ct | 8 |
Umarex XBG BB Pistol | 35 |
Crosman Vigilante Combo | 243 |
UZI CO2 Blowback Submachine BB Gun | 74 |
Daisy 4000 Ct Premium BB's - Zinc Coated | 28 |
Crosman BB's- 1500 ct. .177 cal, 5.1 Grain | 21 |
Beretta Elite II BB Pistol | 66 |
Tanfoglio Witness 1911 Blowback BB Pistol | 61 |
DAISY Max Speed BB's 350 Ct Tube | 7 |
Copperhead BB's- 2500 ct. by Crosman | 23 |
Daisy ShatterBlast Targets, 60 ct | 8 |
Swiss Arms 941 Co2 .177 Cal BB Pistol | 9 |
Daisy Powerline 5501 BB Pistol | 19 |
SIG Sauer X-Five P226 BB Pistol | 22 |
Walther CP99 Compact BB Pistol | 9 |
Daisy Red Ryder Fun Kit, Pink | 1 |
Gamo M4TAC | 1 |
Crosman Torrent SX, .177 cal | 1 |
Crosman 760P Pink Pumpmaster, .177 cal | 4 |
Daisy Model 10 | 4 |
Gamo Cadet SP | 1 |
Umarex Morph 3X BB Pistol & Rifle | 19 |
Daisy 4841 Grizzly Camo Kit, .177 cal | 25 |
Daisy Premium Grade BBs .177 Cal, 5.1 Grains, Zinc Plated (2400ct) | 12 |
Daisy Powerline 901 Kit | 3 |
Daisy Red Ryder 1938 BB Gun, Pink | 2 |
Beretta 19-Shot Stick BB Magazine | 23 |
Beretta Px4 Storm Magazine | 21 |
Umarex Universal BB Speedloader | 15 |
Crosman C11 BB Clips | 28 |
Winchester M14 & MP4 Magazine | 5 |
Umarex Legends MP40 Magazine | 9 |
Winchester Model 11 BB Magazine | 2 |
Walther PPK/S BB Magazine | 2 |
Schofield No. 3 BB Revolver Shells | 1 |
Schofield No. 3 Pellet Revolver Shells | 2 |
Umarex 9XP & 40XP BB Magazine | 2 |
Marksman BB Speedloader | 3 |
Tanfoglio 1911 BB Magazine | 4 |
SIG Sauer SP2022 BB Pistol, Metal Slide | 7 |
Makarov BB Pistol | 8 |
Daisy Powerline 5170 BB Pistol | 7 |
H&K USP BB Pistol | 9 |
Dan Wesson 8" BB Revolver, Black | 28 |
Winchester Model 11 Blowback BB Pistol | 17 |
Beretta PX4 Storm BB & Pellet Pistol | 162 |
Crosman C11 BB Pistol | 147 |
Umarex Steel Storm BB Pistol, Full Auto | 112 |
Smith & Wesson M&P 40 BB Pistol | 92 |
Walther CP99 Compact BB Pistol | 91 |
Colt Defender BB Pistol | 76 |
H&K MP5 K-PDW BB Submachine Gun | 71 |
Smith & Wesson M&P 40 BB Pistol, DEB | 50 |
Walther PPQ BB & Pellet Pistol | 18 |
Smith & Wesson M&P 45 BB & Pellet Pistol | 18 |
Smith & Wesson 327 TRR8 BB Revolver | 15 |
Daisy ShatterBlast Target Stakes & Targets | 3 |
Crosman P15B BB Pistol Combo | |
SIG Sauer SP2022 BB Pistol, Polymer Slide | 1 |
SIG Sauer GSR BB Pistol, Metal Slide | 5 |
Crosman P15B BB Pistol | 4 |
Daisy Powerline 5503 BB Pistol | 2 |
SIG Sauer X-Five BB Pistol, BAX System | |
Dan Wesson 715 6" BB Revolver | 1 |
Dan Wesson 715 6" BB Pistolero Combo | |
Daisy Shatterblast Six Shooter Target System | 5 |
Beretta 92A1 BB Magazine | 8 |
Daisy Official NRA 5-Meter Air Rifle Target, 50 ct | 2 |
Powerline 5502 Blowback BB Pistol | 2 |
Crosman 1088 & T4 Rotary Clips | 15 |
Legends M712 BB Magazine | 3 |
Walther PPS BB Magazine | 4 |
SIG Sauer X-Five P226 Extra BB Magazine | 1 |
Colt Commander BB Magazine | 1 |
Crosman Vigilante BB Rotary Clips | 3 |
Colt BB Rotary Clips | 3 |
Dan Wesson S&W 327 TRR8 BB Speedloader | 5 |
ISSC M-22 BB Magazine | |
Colt M45 CQBP BB Magazine | 1 |
Beretta APX Magazine | |
Legends P.08 BB Magazine | 4 |
Walther P38 BB Magazine | |
SIG Sauer 1911 Tactical BB Magazine | |
Legends Parabellum P.08 BB Magazine | |
Beretta M84FS BB Magazine | 2 |
S&W M&P 40 Blowback BB Magazine | |
Colt Python Revolver BB Cases & Speedloader | 1 |
Makarov Ultra BB Magazine | 2 |
Crosman C41 BB Magazine | 1 |
Gletcher UZM BB Magazine | |
Walther PPQ & M&P 45 BB Magazine | |
Powerline Model 93 & 693 BB Magazines | |
Umarex SA10 Magazine | |
Tanfoglio Limited & Gold Custom BB Magazine | 3 |
Umarex Mini UZI Carbine BB Magazine | |
H&K HK45 BB Magazine | 2 |
Hatsan 250XT TAC-BOSS BB Magazine | 1 |
Daisy Powerline 008 BB Rotary Clips | 1 |
ASG TAC 4.5 BB Magazine | |
SIG Sauer GSR Extra BB Magazine | 1 |
CZ P-09 Duty BB/Pellet Magazine | |
Gletcher CLT BB Revolver Cartridges | |
ASG Cobray Ingram M11 Submachine Magazine | |
Daisy 5501 Extra BB Magazine | 2 |
Walther P99 Series BB Magazine |