Are bbs and pellets the same?

Answer 1

This information is for BB and pellet guns NOT airsoft.

They are similar but not the same thing. BB's are hard projectiles. They are fired through a smooth bore barrel and have a tendency to tumble as the fly. This tumbling makes them not very accurate over a long distance. BB's also do not deform when they hit a target.

Pellets are made from a softer material and they are usually fired through a rifled bore barrel. This rifling causes the pellet to spin and fly straighter, the pellet will also deform when it strikes the target and do more damage. Pellets usually will fly further than BB's. Pellets come in different weights. Heaver pellets fly slower but fly straighter than light pellets. Heavy pellets also have more knockdown power than lighter pellets.

Pellets also come in different sizes .177, .20, .22, .25, 9 mm, 45 Cal and 50 caliber. Steel BB's only come in one size .177.