Weight of BB's

[flighttime95]

Does a heavier BB just affect the distance and decrease FPS?

[FPStitanAUG]

I think the heavier bbs slow it down, and decrease the range just a little bit, but it does increase the accuracy.

[Lancer]

Heavier BB's slow it down, initially, but they also hold their velocity longer, and will actually go farther, faster, than their lighter counterparts in most cases.

Now for very low velocity guns (Sub 320fps w/ .20g), I would recommend a .20 or .25g, but anything higher I would use .25g at least.

[vulrath]

It is true that a BB with a heavier mass will lose velocity (measured in FPS).

Now that's out of the way, both BBs will carry the same amount of force (measured in Joules), and the heavier BB actually tends to retain it a little longer, actually resulting in longer effective ranges (quite a difference between range and effective range - what's the point of a BB going 200 feet if it's uncontrolled and unpredictable?). This is why snipers with highly upgraded rifles usually use high-grade (to reduce inconsistencies from shot to shot) heavyweight BBs. Their shots will be able to effectively hit targets out further than if they used lighter weight ammunition.

Simple answer: Force = Mass*velocity. If the only variable between two chrono tests that is changed (same gun, no internal work done between chrono sessions) is the BB weight, then the BB with more mass will measure as moving more slowly. There is more mass to be moved, and thus there is less measured velocity, but it takes longer for the force to dissipate. The opposite is true, as well - this is why 0.12g BBs chrono so insanely high, but only go a few feet before dropping like rocks.

The above is all well and good for some mental masturbation, but in the real world you have annoying things like wind. Wind tends to mess with accuracy a bit. Heavier BBs will also tend to be less affected by wind gusts and other minor obstacles that we don't even think about.

[BigRed1]

Good stuff, Vulrath? Now, may I be excused...my head is full!