Flying fragments and bird 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 penetrates the gel a small amount. Perhaps this might indicate punctured skin.
Paul Harrell, July 2020 Click here –>Birdshot Effectiveness at 100 Yards
Skip to 3 min 37 second mark to hear Paul say he is using 12 gauge, 2-3/4 inch, 1-1/2 ounces of #4 lead shot, Remington Express Long Range ammunition, 4 dram propellant. This is stronger than the #8 shot used by Dustin Ellermann.
At 4:26, hear Paul say at a hundred yards there was zero penetration. Pellets bounced off the T-shirt material.
At 5:03 hear Paul say he fired 2 shots from 50 yards. Some of the pellets were stuck in the t-shirt fabric. A few lower hits of the meat target did have penetration where it was not protected from the leather couch material to simulate skin.
At 6:12 hear Paul say the #2 shot is quite a bit bigger than #4 shot. Most of the pellets did go through the leather couch skin. This study suggests getting hit by #2 shot at 50 yards would break the skin and penetrate a small amount, but not likely to be lethal.
The lighter the projectile, the greater the velocity needed for penetration.
Unfortunately, Paul does not shoot through a chronograph to confirm initial speed close to the muzzle.
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) (Edit Jeff C 0.013 ounce equals 5.69 grains which is more than 4 times heavier than a #7-1/2 birdshot pellet. A heavier projectile requires less speed to penetrate skin) 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.
Airsoft penetration test.
Click here for video –> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40w4CQRpVlk
0.20g (3.08 grain), 390 fps penetrated the least. power factor 1201.
0.30g (4.63 grain), 312 fps, penetrated more. power factor 1444.
Edit Jeff C. 1444 power factor is somewhat consistent with the 1400 power factor listed in the National Libray of Medicine research to penetrate skin.
0.40g (6.17 grain), 266 fps, penetrated the most. power factor 1641.
The lighter the projectile, the greater the velocity needed for penetration.
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. power factor 49 to 52 when falling from the sky.
#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. power factor 75 to 81 when falling from the sky.
#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 90 to 97 when falling from the sky.
Power factor = projectile speed in feet per second x projectile weight in grains.
The lighter the projectile, the greater the velocity needed for penetration.
Perforation of fragment simulating projectiles into goat skin and muscle
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.
power factor 810 to 931 results in zero penetration of goat skin.
Less than 5mm penetration when speed is about 120 to 140 meter per second equals 393 to 459 feet per second)
power factor 970 to 1133 results in 5mm penetration of goat skin.
Power factor = projectile speed in feet per second x projectile weight in grains.
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/