BB and airsoft guns can both look dramatically like real guns. Each have distinctive histories and purposes. Here is a breakdown of their similarities and differences:
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BB Guns |
Airsoft Guns |
| History |
BB guns have been around for more than 100 years. BB guns were popularized in North America when they were sold as a tie-in product to the popular 1940s western comic Red Ryder. |
Airsoft guns first appeared in Japan in the early 1980s, where real guns were not available. They showed up in North America in the mid-1990s. Concerned with how closely airsoft guns resembled the real thing, the Federal Canadian government passed a law in 1995 banning anyone from importing or acquiring replica airsoft guns. |
| Usage |
BB guns are commonly used for serious target shooting, plinking or even hunting small animals. |
Airsoft guns are designed for skirmishing, where players compete by shooting at each other, much like paintball.
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| Shooting Power |
91 to 152.4 meters per second (enough power to cause bodily harm) |
55 to 91 meters per second (generally not enough power to cause serious harm) |
| Firing Mechanism |
Compressed gas or other air |
Spring, electricity or compressed gas |
| Ammunition |
Round metal BBs or small metal pellets |
Round, 6mm plastic pellets |
| Design |
Many BB guns replicate the look, feel, and weight of their real counterparts |
Many airsoft guns replicate the look, feel, and weight of their real counterparts. Airsoft guns made out of transparent plastic are also available |
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When to Watch
Fridays 8:30 p.m.
(9 p.m. Newfoundland & Labrador)
Saturdays at 5:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30 a.m., 6:30 a.m. |
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