*Last Updated: September 2023

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

SaleBestseller No. 1
Umarex Glock 19 Gen3 .177 Caliber BB Gun Air Pistol
  • 15-Shot, .177 Caliber Bb Air Pistol
  • Powered By A 12-Gram Co2 Cartridge (Co2 Not Included)
SaleBestseller No. 2
Crosman CAK1 Full or Semi-Auto 4.5mm BB Air Rifle
  • FULL-AUTO CO2-POWERED BB AIR RIFLE - With Semi-Auto option
  • FLINGS BBS UP TO 430 FPS - That's over 1400 rounds per minute
SaleBestseller No. 3
Crosman 760BKT Pump Master .177-Caliber Pellet/BB Air Rifle Kit,Brown
  • SINGLE-SHOT, BOLT-ACTION PELLET AND BB AIR RIFLE
  • DURABLE, WATER RESISTANT DESIGN - Brown with smooth bore steel barrel
Bestseller No. 4
Daisy Outdoor Products Model 1938 Red Ryder BB Gun, Wood Grain, Overall length: 35.4 Inch
4,236 Reviews
Daisy Outdoor Products Model 1938 Red Ryder BB Gun, Wood Grain, Overall length: 35.4 Inch
  • 177 Cal BB gun rifle with steel smooth bore barrel
  • 650 shot capacity
SaleBestseller No. 5
Crosman M4-177 Tactical Style Variable Pump .177-Caliber Pellet/BB Air Rifle
6,310 Reviews
Crosman M4-177 Tactical Style Variable Pump .177-Caliber Pellet/BB Air Rifle
  • 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 Combo17
Crosman 760C Pumpmaster Combo, .177 cal18
Crosman 760B Pumpmaster, .177 cal73
Umarex EBOS58
Crosman M4-177 Tactical Pump51
Daisy 880 Kit67
Daisy Red Ryder 1938 BB Gun Fun Kit28
Daisy Powerline 901, .177 cal36
Daisy Model 2524
Avanti Champion 49913
Daisy 880S Kit57
Crosman 764SB, .177 cal17
Winchester Model 77XS, .177 cal8
Daisy 880, .177 cal22
Daisy 1938 Red Ryder BB Gun54
Umarex Steel Force51
Winchester M1429
Daisy Model 105 Buck23
Crosman Recruit15
Crosman 760X Combo13
Copperhead .177 Cal, 5.1 Grains, BBs, 6000ct26
Umarex Precision Steel BBs - 1500 ct8
Umarex XBG BB Pistol35
Crosman Vigilante Combo243
UZI CO2 Blowback Submachine BB Gun74
Daisy 4000 Ct Premium BB's - Zinc Coated28
Crosman BB's- 1500 ct. .177 cal, 5.1 Grain21
Beretta Elite II BB Pistol66
Tanfoglio Witness 1911 Blowback BB Pistol61
DAISY Max Speed BB's 350 Ct Tube7
Copperhead BB's- 2500 ct. by Crosman23
Daisy ShatterBlast Targets, 60 ct8
Swiss Arms 941 Co2 .177 Cal BB Pistol9
Daisy Powerline 5501 BB Pistol19
SIG Sauer X-Five P226 BB Pistol22
Walther CP99 Compact BB Pistol9
Daisy Red Ryder Fun Kit, Pink1
Gamo M4TAC1
Crosman Torrent SX, .177 cal1
Crosman 760P Pink Pumpmaster, .177 cal4
Daisy Model 104
Gamo Cadet SP1
Umarex Morph 3X BB Pistol & Rifle19
Daisy 4841 Grizzly Camo Kit, .177 cal25
Daisy Premium Grade BBs .177 Cal, 5.1 Grains, Zinc Plated (2400ct)12
Daisy Powerline 901 Kit3
Daisy Red Ryder 1938 BB Gun, Pink2
Beretta 19-Shot Stick BB Magazine23
Beretta Px4 Storm Magazine21
Umarex Universal BB Speedloader15
Crosman C11 BB Clips28
Winchester M14 & MP4 Magazine5
Umarex Legends MP40 Magazine9
Winchester Model 11 BB Magazine2
Walther PPK/S BB Magazine2
Schofield No. 3 BB Revolver Shells1
Schofield No. 3 Pellet Revolver Shells2
Umarex 9XP & 40XP BB Magazine2
Marksman BB Speedloader3
Tanfoglio 1911 BB Magazine4
SIG Sauer SP2022 BB Pistol, Metal Slide7
Makarov BB Pistol8
Daisy Powerline 5170 BB Pistol7
H&K USP BB Pistol9
Dan Wesson 8" BB Revolver, Black28
Winchester Model 11 Blowback BB Pistol17
Beretta PX4 Storm BB & Pellet Pistol162
Crosman C11 BB Pistol147
Umarex Steel Storm BB Pistol, Full Auto112
Smith & Wesson M&P 40 BB Pistol92
Walther CP99 Compact BB Pistol91
Colt Defender BB Pistol76
H&K MP5 K-PDW BB Submachine Gun71
Smith & Wesson M&P 40 BB Pistol, DEB50
Walther PPQ BB & Pellet Pistol18
Smith & Wesson M&P 45 BB & Pellet Pistol18
Smith & Wesson 327 TRR8 BB Revolver15
Daisy ShatterBlast Target Stakes & Targets3
Crosman P15B BB Pistol Combo
SIG Sauer SP2022 BB Pistol, Polymer Slide1
SIG Sauer GSR BB Pistol, Metal Slide5
Crosman P15B BB Pistol4
Daisy Powerline 5503 BB Pistol2
SIG Sauer X-Five BB Pistol, BAX System
Dan Wesson 715 6" BB Revolver1
Dan Wesson 715 6" BB Pistolero Combo
Daisy Shatterblast Six Shooter Target System5
Beretta 92A1 BB Magazine8
Daisy Official NRA 5-Meter Air Rifle Target, 50 ct2
Powerline 5502 Blowback BB Pistol2
Crosman 1088 & T4 Rotary Clips15
Legends M712 BB Magazine3
Walther PPS BB Magazine4
SIG Sauer X-Five P226 Extra BB Magazine1
Colt Commander BB Magazine1
Crosman Vigilante BB Rotary Clips3
Colt BB Rotary Clips3
Dan Wesson S&W 327 TRR8 BB Speedloader5
ISSC M-22 BB Magazine
Colt M45 CQBP BB Magazine1
Beretta APX Magazine
Legends P.08 BB Magazine4
Walther P38 BB Magazine
SIG Sauer 1911 Tactical BB Magazine
Legends Parabellum P.08 BB Magazine
Beretta M84FS BB Magazine2
S&W M&P 40 Blowback BB Magazine
Colt Python Revolver BB Cases & Speedloader1
Makarov Ultra BB Magazine2
Crosman C41 BB Magazine1
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 Magazine3
Umarex Mini UZI Carbine BB Magazine
H&K HK45 BB Magazine2
Hatsan 250XT TAC-BOSS BB Magazine1
Daisy Powerline 008 BB Rotary Clips1
ASG TAC 4.5 BB Magazine
SIG Sauer GSR Extra BB Magazine1
CZ P-09 Duty BB/Pellet Magazine
Gletcher CLT BB Revolver Cartridges
ASG Cobray Ingram M11 Submachine Magazine
Daisy 5501 Extra BB Magazine2
Walther P99 Series BB Magazine
The Top 5 Team
 

We are a team of product researchers that specializes in assembling comprehensive buying guides. Our team has a variety of backgrounds, with a mixture of soft and hard sciences represented. Check out our About page to read more about our reviews and editorial process.

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