Find the best BB weight for your gun’s power and see roughly how far it should reach. Enter your chrono reading, choose how you play, and get a recommended weight, an effective range estimate and the speed you’ll see with that weight.
What decides how far an airsoft gun shoots
Airsoft range comes down to three things working together:
- Energy (joules): your gun’s power, capped by your site’s limits. Use our fps to joules calculator to check yours.
- BB weight: a heavier BB keeps its speed and line for longer, but only if your gun has the energy and hop-up to lift it.
- Hop-up: backspin that makes the BB fly flat. A well-set hop-up adds more range than any power upgrade. See our hop-up guide.
The calculator suggests the lighter end of the weight band for CQB (faster, flatter shots at short range) and the heavier end for long-range play.
BB weight and range by power
| Power on 0.20g | Joules | Best BB weight | Effective range | Typical guns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 300 fps | Under 0.84 J | 0.20g | Up to about 45 m | Gas and spring pistols |
| 300 to 330 fps | 0.84 to 1.01 J | 0.20g to 0.25g | Up to about 45 m | Indoor and CQB AEGs |
| 330 to 360 fps | 1.01 to 1.20 J | 0.25g to 0.28g | Up to about 50 m | Most AEGs and GBB rifles |
| 360 to 400 fps | 1.20 to 1.49 J | 0.28g to 0.30g | Up to about 55 m | Upgraded rifles |
| 400 to 470 fps | 1.49 to 2.05 J | 0.30g to 0.36g | Up to about 65 m | DMRs |
| Over 470 fps | Over 2.05 J | 0.36g to 0.45g | Up to about 70 m | Bolt-action snipers |
How to get more range
- Set your hop-up properly for your BB weight, aiming for a flat flight with a slight lift at the end.
- Use quality, seamless BBs. Cheap BBs vary in size and weight and fly unpredictably. More in our BBs explained guide.
- Clean your inner barrel regularly. Dirt and oil ruin consistency.
- Go heavier as conditions get windy. Heavier BBs drift less.
- Upgrade the hop-up rubber and nub before chasing more power. It’s cheaper and stays within site limits.
Changing weight? See what your chrono will read with the BB Weight FPS Calculator, and how many BBs you get per bag with the Airsoft BB Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How far can an airsoft gun shoot?
A typical UK-legal AEG at about 350 fps (1.14 joules) with a well-set hop-up hits a person-sized target consistently out to around 45 to 55 metres, with BBs still carrying to about 70 metres. DMRs reach roughly 65 metres and bolt-action snipers 70 metres or a little more. Hop-up, BB quality and wind matter as much as power.
What BB weight gives the best range?
The heaviest BB your gun can lift flat with its hop-up. For most AEGs that is 0.25g to 0.28g, for DMRs 0.30g to 0.36g and for snipers 0.36g to 0.45g. Too heavy and the BB drops early; too light and it balloons upwards and drifts in the wind.
Does more fps mean more range?
Only up to a point. More energy lets you lift a heavier BB, which is what actually extends useful range. But site limits cap your power, so a good hop-up, a quality barrel and consistent BBs are the real ways to reach further.
Is 0.25g or 0.28g better for range?
If your gun shoots around 330 to 360 fps on 0.20g, both work. 0.28g holds its line better in wind and at the end of its flight, but needs more hop-up. Try both on the same day and use whichever groups tighter at your usual engagement distance.
Why do heavier BBs fly further?
A heavier BB carries more momentum for the same energy, so air resistance slows it down less. With the right hop-up it holds its backspin and its line for longer, and the wind pushes it around less.
Get your BBs sorted
Quality BBs are the cheapest accuracy upgrade there is.
More airsoft tools
BB Weight FPS Calculator
Chrono’d on 0.20g? See what your gun shoots with 0.25g, 0.28g, 0.30g and heavier BBs.
Open the calculator →FPS to Joules Calculator
Convert airsoft fps to joules (and back) for any BB weight, then check it against typical UK site limits.
Open the calculator →Airsoft BB Calculator
How many BBs are in a bag, how many mags it fills, how many game days it lasts and the cost per shot.
Open the calculator →Results are estimates for guidance. Always follow your site’s chrono and safety rules, and your gun maker’s advice.