In some countries, like the United Kingdom and Canada, BB guns are regulated in the same manner as air guns. However, air guns are not considered firearms until the point where they reach certain muzzle energy and velocity. BB guns are usually used for target practice or demanding skirmishers and they fire with plastic bullets also called askg, bb ammo or plinkers. The use of airsoft guns is absolutely legal. However, they are not to be used in public spaces because of the possibility that steel plinkers will ricochet from brick walls. Also there are cases where BB guns may kill humans and small animals. This is why an age limit has been legally determined for possessors of such guns: airsoft gun users must be at least 17 years old. Any individual under this age limit will not obtain the permission to own and use such arms. Because of the fact that bb ammo keeps most of its initial energy after it was shot, owners of airsoft guns also require eye protection. The name BB comes doesn't come from ball bearing as thought. It comes from the size of the initial lead shotgun shots used, which was midway between B and BBB. In the 1920s, there were a lot of guns that came in for repair from the use of larger steel balls then needed; this was seen as a marketing opportunity by the bearing company American Ball Company, which started producing the 0.171 to 0.173 inch diameter steel air rifle shot specifically for BB guns with a bore diameter and caliber of 0.177 inch. Because most of the airsoft rifles are made of steel today, the most frequently used mechanisms are magnetic ones. The Daisy Model 25, modeled after a pump action shotgun with a trombone pump action mechanism, dominated the market for over 50 years, at a low price and higher performance. Because they are used mainly by young people, the lever action guns generally have very low velocities, around 275 ft/h, due to the weak spring used to keep cooking off levels low. A cheaper alternative to lead shot is multi-pump pneumatic guns, which are common as well these days. The multi-pump pneumatic guns are the ones that benefit the most from using precision lead BB shot, because they have rifled barrels and do not swage or obdurate to fit the barrel, not giving the rifling a significant spin. The pneumatic guns achieve higher velocities than the traditional ones with spring piston. An interesting use of pneumatic guns is the calibration of ballistic gelatin, which is done by the penetration of a steel BB at the velocity of around 600 ft/h. The pre-compressed gas guns are the last common type of BB gun, and most commonly the 12 gram CO2 powerlet invented by Crosman, which is a disposable bottle containing 12 grams of liquid dioxide. This amount of CO2 evaporates and forms a gas which propels the BB. These are usually used in pistols and are capable of rapid fire. Most of these guns are popular firearms and they are used for training and recreation. Even if BB guns seem like a lot of fun, placed in the wrong hands they can become very dangerous. As long as they are used properly, they can be great fun. Even though there is a lot of information available online, a lot of people do not know too many things about BB guns. Most parents think that these guns are harmless and that they don't need to teach their children how to use them. Owing to such negligence, approximately four deaths per year occur related to the misuse of airsoft guns or pellet guns. As with all guns you have to know how to handle it properly, to ensure you do not hurt yourself or the people around you. The moment you buy your child a BB gun you have to read the label where the correct instructions are printed, and, of course, don't forget about the age limit.
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