Flying fragments and shot are a danger to eyes and skin.
All shooters and spectators shall wear protection for eyes and ears.
Long sleeves, full length pants and face covering are recommended as well.
WHY? Want to know more? The following links to sources of info on eye and skin safety.
Top Shot Dustin, October 2021 Click here –> How far is birdshot dangerous?
Please watch this youtube video from Top Shot Dustin Ellermann.
At 0:15 he asks, what’s the point at which it won’t penetrate your skin, but will just sting and make you mad.
At 0:26 he has some clear ballistics gel blocks. He called the folks at Clear Ballistics and said “Hey look, if a shotgun pellet punctures it, is it the same as puncturing skin, and they said yes”.
At 1:33 he said the number 8 is so small. Examining tiny holes in paper shot from 100 yards distance.
At 2:30 he says at 100 yards, you are safe from getting punctured. (with #8 shot).
At 3:37 examining #8 shot fired from 90 yards. Yes, a few pellets would have just punctured skin.
Homicide Using an Air Weapon
* and 
By firing pellets at pig eyes, the authors of one study determined that corneal perforation and globe rupture occurs 50% of the time at a velocity of 246 ft/s to 249 ft/s (75 m/s to 76 m/s) using a 0.18-inch (4.50 mm), 0.013 ounce (0.36 g) BB.1,17 Dimaio established skin penetration of human lower extremities results at 331 ft/s (101 m/s) for a 0.18-inch (4.57 mm), 0.01-ounce (0.54-g) pellet and 245 ft/s (75 m/s) for a 0.038-ounce (1.07 g), 0.22-inch (5.59 mm) pellet.28 Other reports place bone penetration around 350 ft/s (107 m/s).1 However, the damage depends on the kinetic energy and, therefore, the weight as well.
The lighter the projectile, the greater the velocity needed for penetration.
Skin thickness and subcutaneous tissue will also affect the degree of penetration. Children tend to have thinner skin than adults and, therefore, a lower velocity will be needed to break the skin.1
Power factor = projectile speed in feet per second x projectile weight in grains.
5.6875 grains x 246 feet per second = power factor 1399 to perforate a pig eye 50% of the time.
4.375 grains x 331 feet per second = power factor 1448 to penetrate skin of human lower extremeties.
16.625 grains x 245 feet per second = power factor 4073 to penetrate skin of human lower extremeties.
What Happens If A BB Hits you?
The BB only needs to be traveling at 150 FPS for it to penetrate your skin. We’ve already ascertained that most BB guns can shoot at higher speeds than this. So, it can certainly penetrate your skin from a close range.
Click here for source –> https://airgunhouse.com/how-dangerous-are-bb-guns/
Airsoft speed vs. pain
(note: this source does not indicate projectile weight)
| FPS | Pain |
|---|---|
| 100-200 fps | Like a poke |
| 200-250 fps | A little |
| 250-300 fps | Welt in close distance |
| 300-350 fps | Hurt badly in 50 feet |
| 350-400 fps | Very Painful in 50 feet |
| 450-500 fps | Severe pain in 50 feet |
| 500+ fps | Penetrates skin in 50 feet |
Click here for source –> https://airsofthow.com/how-much-does-airsoft-hurt/
Airsoft penetration test.
Click here for video –> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40w4CQRpVlk
0.20g (3.08 grain), 390 fps penetrated the least.
0.30g (4.63 grain), 312 fps, penetrated more.
0.40g (6.17 grain), 266 fps, penetrated the most.
Note: this video does not indicate source of gel block and does not measure penetration depth. Assume proper ballistics gel was used and therefore assume each will penetrate skin. Do not fire an airsoft gun with muzzle directly on your skin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_(pellet)
| Size | Type | Mass (gr) | Diameter (in) | Diameter (mm) |
| #7 | Bird | 1.50 grains | 0.1 | 2.54 |
| #7½ | Bird/Clay | 1.29 grains | 0.095 | 2.41 |
| #8 | Bird/Clay | 1.09 grains | 0.09 | 2.29 |
| #8½ | Bird/Clay | 0.97 grains | 0.085 | 2.16 |
| #9 | Bird/Clay | 0.75 grains | 0.08 | 2.03 |
Click here –> https://rangeservices.nra.org/media/4074/shotshell-ballistics.pdf
#9 lead shot can travel 193 to 196 yards when fired at elevating angle of 18 to 30 degrees with an impact velocity of 65 to 70 feet per second.
#8 lead shot can travel 211 to 214 yards when fired at elevating angle of 18 to 30 degrees with an impact velocity of 69 to 74 feet per second.
#7-1/2 lead shot can travel 220 to 223 yards when fired at elevating angle of 18 to 28 degrees with an impact velocity of 70 to 75 feet per second.
Power factor = projectile speed in feet per second x projectile weight in grains.
#9 shot power factor at end of travel = 48.75 to 52.5
#7-1/2 shot power factor at end of travel = 90.3 to 96.75
Perforation of fragment simulating projectiles into goat skin and muscle
Edit Jeff C.: notice zero depth of penetration for 100 to about 115 meter per second speed (328 to 377 fps) with a 0.16g (2.47grain) projectile, which is about double the mass of one pellet of #7-1/2 shot.
Less than 5mm penetration when speed is about 120 to 140 meter per second equals 393 to 459 feet per second)
Consolidated report of 17 original experimental studies. Determining the velocity required for skin perforation by fragment simulating projectiles: a systematic review, John Breeze, JC Clasper
Click here for abstract –> https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24109095/