Reloading EverythingMidSouth Shooters SupplyWidenersTitan Reloading
Lee PrecisionLoad DataRotoMetals2Repackbox
Inline Fabrication
Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: Air soft BBs Purpose?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    western ny
    Posts
    324

    Air soft BBs Purpose?

    What is the purpose of these that aids in coating the bullets? Is it static? Are some types better than others for this? Is it absolutely necessary?

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    oklahoma
    Posts
    2,479
    Yes, they help build the static charge.
    Some are better than others.
    I dont believe they are absolutely necessary but they sure help and also cushion the boolits from beating on each other during the "shake"

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Posts
    194
    Ive been getting along fine without them.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Las Cruces, NM
    Posts
    4,535
    I use them as a cushion to keep from beating up the bullets. The added benefit is the extra static they create.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master


    Walter Laich's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Cypress, Republic of Texas
    Posts
    3,483
    I use them too. Black ones are supposed to be the best

    with them I can swirl for 30 seconds, shake the bowl up and down 4-5 time and then pour bullets, powder and BBs in a plastic colander that I have drilled out the openings to allow the BBs to pass through.

    a bit of swriling in the colander and the powder and BBs are in a larger catch-bowl underneath and pour bullets onto my wire trays.

    about a minute from initial swirling to next one
    NRA Life
    USPSA L1314
    SASS Life 48747
    RVN/Cambodia War Games, 2nd Place

  6. #6
    Vendor Sponsor

    Smoke4320's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Right here ..at least I was a minute ago
    Posts
    5,046
    it helps develop the static needed for real good coverage especially in hi humidity times. I have PC'ed in an unheated garage, door open in a rain storm no issues
    [SIZE=4][B]Selling Hi Quality Powdercoating Powder

    I carry a Nuke50 because cleaning up the mess is Silly !!

    http://www.bing.com/search?q=nuke50&...7ADE&FORM=QBLH

    I am not crazy my mom had me tested

    Theres a fine line between genius and crazy .. I'm that line
    and depending on the day I might just step over that line !!!

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    western ny
    Posts
    324
    Thanks
    Is there a type or "brand " that is superior?

  8. #8
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    SE Missouri
    Posts
    31
    I use the black bb's. bought powder and bb's from Smoke4320. JD green. Followed smokes instructions, and never had an issue from my first batch onward. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Las Cruces, NM
    Posts
    4,535
    No brand specific. Better are ones that are not shiny. Best I have used are the black ones. I also just add a pack to my order with Smoke.

    But, I have also used the big plastic jewelry beads from Hobby Lobby when I was in an 'experimenting' mood. They worked.

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master


    stubshaft's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Southernmost State of the Union
    Posts
    5,854
    When I started out PC'ing bullets I bought some of the BB's and found that I get better results WITHOUT them.
    Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyway!

    Men who don't understand women fall into two categories: bachelors and husbands!

  11. #11
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    SE Missouri
    Posts
    31
    Never tried it without out the bb's. only been pc'ing a year or so. might try without next time.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Las Cruces, NM
    Posts
    4,535
    There ya go! Some people like them. Some don't. Take your pick.

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jan 2021
    Posts
    277
    I use pieces of styrofoam cups than the bbs to build static charge.

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Rochester, NY area
    Posts
    181
    Quote Originally Posted by BJung View Post
    I use pieces of styrofoam cups than the bbs to build static charge.
    Well that's an idea to try out.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    1,822
    Quote Originally Posted by BJung View Post
    I use pieces of styrofoam cups than the bbs to build static charge.
    me too.
    appears to do the job.
    ..

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    110
    When i started the powder coat thing i tried a variety of colored bbs . I could not find the black ones locally . finally gave up and ordered black from Amazon . The black ones , for whatever reason give a higher static charge .

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master


    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Southern France by way of Interior Bush Alaska
    Posts
    5,286
    I tried some once and didn’t see much difference, so I stopped using them. Mine weren’t black. Maybe that had something to do with it. Nevertheless, I get along fine without them.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master rsrocket1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    DFW, TX
    Posts
    1,178
    The static electricity build up actually occurs when the powder makes, then breaks contact with the lead. The BB's present a point contact between the powder and something else as opposed to a "line" contact when the sides of 2 bullets touch each other. With a good hard shake (making and breaking contact with the powder), in dry weather and with good fresh powder, there is really no need for the BB's. In fact here is an early tumble with some fresh Harbor Freight Red with nothing more than Lee 401-175-TC's in a 1 Gallon Ziplock bag:





    Since my move out of the dry central California valley, I've done some coatings in humid Texas using this instead of a Cool Whip container:



    It lets me shake more violently without ripping the Ziplock bag or breaking the Cool Whip container.





    I may try some shakes without the BB's but they don't hurt and they don't slow down the process of grabbing the bullets with gloved hands and dropping them into the bullet trays. I pour out the bullets/BB's into a pie pan and they are easily picked up.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master Rapier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Location
    NW Florida
    Posts
    1,450
    Black, air soft pellets, do work well.
    1)Make a hardware cloth box, turn the edges diwn, SS wire the corners together,
    2)use a round punch to male 1/4" square holes into round holes.
    3)Make a spring loaded set of needle nose pliers into rounded pincers by heating the prongs red hot and forming the tips only to touch.
    4) Shake in a big mouth air tight jar. Air tight is imperative, dry powder absorbed moisture, moisture messes up static cling.
    5)Pick the bullets up and out by the ogive, using the pincers only thus the big mouth.
    6)place bullets in the hardware cloth box nose down, leaving the bearing surface and base unmolested.
    7)Bake at 400 for 20 minutes after the oven reaches 400.
    8)Size to the actual groove diameter, for your gun, your gun, using case lube.
    Do not use gas checks up to 2,700 fps. You can double coat for use in the AR system.

    I have shot mixed plain base and gas check bullets, powder coated, with no checks. Could not tell any difference in two 5 shot groups at 50 meters.

    I use Eastwood powder coating for chrome on cars. I have found the powder coating for chrome to be quite durable when shot in ARs.
    “There is a remedy for all things, save death.“
    Cervantes

    “Never give up, never quit.”
    Robert Rogers
    Roger’s Rangers

    There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
    Will Rogers

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check