Does mass of pellet affect accuracy in BB gun?

Answer 1

Lets clear a few things up first: (1) There are BB only guns. (2) Combination BB and Pellet guns and (3) Pellet only guns.

(1) BB only guns: These guns and rifles have a smooth bore barrel. The BB tumbles as it is fired from the gun. The BB can wonder off target easily because it doesn't spin, so it travels all over the place.

(2) BB & Pellet rifles and guns: These guns usually have a rifled bore barrel. (Groves in the barrel) this makes the soft Pellets spin as it is fired and will fly straighter than a hard BB fired from the same barrel.

(3) Pellet only guns & rifles: These guns use a rifled bore barrel and are designed to spin the pellet as it is fired. As a result it travels further and straighter that a BB. Of the 3 different types, Pellet only guns are usually the most powerful.

BB's are .175 Caliber and made of a hard material. Pellets are .177 caliber and are made of a softer material. The skirt, on the back of the pellet, is designed to catch the grooves in the barrel, in turn this makes the pellet spin as it leaved the barrel and fly straighter.

Pellets fired through a smooth bore BB barrel will not effect the gun or rifle but BB's fired through a Pellet only gun will damage the groves over time and destroy the accuracy of the gun or rifle.

The Heaver the pellet mass, the slower it will fly, but the straighter it will fly and have more knock-down power than a light pellet.