.30's bb's...

[book42]

So, under the advisement of a couple of the wonderful employees and techs at Airsoft Outlet NW I bought a bag of .30's to play at Home Front. Holy crap was that an eye-opener! Those bb's shot straighter and farther than I've every seen before. Who knew? (Possibly everyone but yours truly, but I digress.) Check 'em out.

As I often and publicly state I am no airsoft technician, but it would stand to reason that you need a good airsoft gun with a solid motor, mech-box, and battery to make .30's fly right.

Just thought I'd share my experience with everyone.

Best regards,

Kevin: a.k.a.- Book

[Ironmonkie]

I use .28s almost exclusively, mainly the ones by Matrix, they are consistently 5.98mm, which is a good thing as I run a 6.01mm tight bore. They tend to be quiet accurate, and hard hitting (mass*velocity=impact force, I think).

[McNair]

Yeah, definitely depends on your gun.
I've used .28s in one gun with great results.
In another I switched from .28s to .25s and saw great improvement.
I've only used .30s in GBBRs since most of my AEGs shoot around sub-350 and are stock.

[ogrejager]

I use .28s almost exclusively, mainly the ones by Matrix, they are consistently 5.98mm, which is a good thing as I run a 6.01mm tight bore. They tend to be quiet accurate, and hard hitting (mass*velocity=impact force, I think).

Technically, I'm pretty sure it's mass*velocity^2. I know one cop who swears by using a lightweight asp baton because he can swing it faster. I'm pretty sure his logic is messed up there.

[Jester316]

J= (.5M)x(V^2)

J= Joules
M= Mass
V= Velocity

[Shortbu]

You are right Book. I use .30 Biovals in most of my guns that shoot around 400 FPS. I used my G&G M14 EBR all weekend at Ricks game, and was getting insane range. Actually a guy who asked what BB's I was using, and what it chrono'd at, argue with me, till I pulled the bag out of my plate carrier.
A lot of people think you loose range with the heavier BB's, and it's true if they are too heavy. But once you find that sweet spot of FPS and BB weight, paired with the right barrel and hop up, it's a whole lot of fun to pick off guys who's BB's are falling way short. You should've seen the look on a few of those guys faces, it was pretty funny.

[Ironmonkie]

I was close on the formula! Kind of Anyway, last AEG I used was an Echo1 MTC1, which was firing at around 385 on .20s, was insanely accurate with the .28s! Gonna try them in my old Echo1 E90, replaced the gearbox completely after a catastrophic failure about three and a half years ago, been sitting in a box ever since!

Not to thread jack, but I need some help on something with it, I do have a thread on it.

[Shortbu]

On a whim I decided to try some King Arms .40 BB's in my Elite Force Co2 1911. I got the hop up dialed in and shot 3 rounds at a tree and was in complete shock. So I went and got my range finder. I was hitting the base of the tree ranged at 171 feet at about 4 feet up the tree. So it's getting effective range at approx. 160 feet with freakin'.40's. The gun is bone stock! Whodathunkit???

[Reeko]

J= (.5M)x(V^2)

J= Joules
M= Mass
V= Velocity

and to clarify mass is in Kg, and velocity is in m/s

.304 m/s = 1fps and divide the bb weight by 1000 to get weight in kg.

[spazzticsmurff]

i still find it amazing that every once in a while someone that had no idea finds this out and is amazed. i have not used anything below .28g bb's since 01-02 when they first came out. i constantly got called out for shooting hot when i had chronoed legal. the main reason that i started using .28's is because of my chrono results. needless to say i found that heavier bb's packed a larger punch over a longer distance, which is ecential for getting through the heavy desert brush i am used to playing in.

[Ricochet808]

Always use the heaviest possible BBs for field games. At least that's my golden rule. Less trouble with wind, better penetration of brush, and more energy transfer on impact "call your hits".

Currently running .25s in my stock M27, but I got .28s and .30s on the way.

What I've found as a good estimate of FPS-BB weight it this.
350 below=.25 maybe .28s, CQB fps ranges really limit you. My MP5 wasn't really keen on .28s until I upgraded the hop up. She chrono's at like 365
350-400 My M27 clocks in at 395 or around with .20s. It's completely stock and performs very well with .28s and .30s. Though I run .25s because it's a support gun and I burn through lots of ammo. nickels and dimes.
400+ if you are using anything below .25 you need to go home. If you are using anything below .28 then you are robbing your gun.

FPS isn't as important as Hop up in my experience. Power is power, but if you can't use that power you are just trying to hurt people.

I had my KWA SR12 running at 535 or so fps when things got "insane" around here and people were just running hot. Wasn't completely bad, it just turned into an arms race. In that gun I ran .36 and .40 weight BBs to devastating effect. Using the stock KWA hop/bucking. Other than tuning the gearbox and adding a 6.03 EDGI barrel, I was out ranging and getting kills on people running guns at 550+ fps. Only real difference that I can define for why I was able to outperform them was my ammo.

In

[Cyclops]

At our practices I bring out .20, .25, .28, and .32 to try one team mates guns. Every gun is different for what sized bbs you use. Just grab a sample pack of these weights and see what you like. So far you like the .30 just for kicks try the .32 and .36 to see if it works better for your gun.

[ParoJo]

400+ if you are using anything below .25 you need to go home. If you are using anything below .28 then you are robbing your gun.

I agree. You'll be missing out on A LOT of effective range if you think .25s (or God forbid .20s) are going to provide an optimal accuracy/velocity ratio in a gun shooting close to 400fps. My M14, which chronos at 395-400fps with .20s, shoots pretty good with .25s, but shoots worlds better with .28s.

[Riddick]

Bucking softness or hardness will also play a role in how effective heavier bb's will react when you use them.