Biodegradable BB's

[Savage Haggis]

Here's a question I've been pondering for a while, but have found little research available about.

For use primarily in out door fields, has anyone ever considered bio type fertilizer bb's? Considering the amount of bb's blown about in a normal years worth of outdoor activities I was wondering if their may be a market for fertilizer based 6mm bb's. Out here on the west coast, with the amount of rain we get per year, by the time the field season begins it would look like an entirely different playing field. They would be sustainable enough to handle being fired by AEGs & GBBs, but once on the ground would contribute, over time, to the regrowth of the area.

Like I said, just something I've been pondering.

Thoughts? Opinions?

[Scarecrow]

All BBs are biodegradable - over time. The question is time. Some on the market that I've seen and testing break down very quickly (3 months) when exposed to ultraviolet and moisture. The non-biodegradable last a lot longer, but, we're going on 5 years now on one test of mine. There is a patch of spilled BBs on our field that I check out each year to get a feel for how long it takes and last summer when I looked they were very pitted and turning brown. Non-biodegrable ones seem to breakdown in a layered, pitted manner, whereas biobbs seem to hit a critical point and then just crumble.

Being a purveyor of non-biobbs my opinion is somewhat biased but I see no value in biobbs other than the 'feel good about yourself/save the earth' psychological effects. BBs are non-toxic, if an animal eats them, it just passes through them harmlessly and the only way I see them harming them in the environment is in vast quantities that we wouldn't shoot anyways. On a timescale there are a lot of other things that last way longer than BBs that polute the environment that I am more worried about.

EDIT:

The other problem I have with biobbs, and most retailers would have the same issue, is shelf life. Most airsoft players buy bbs in small quantities. I make an order and it lasts the entire year and when I am out, I am out until I do another order (China). The quantities are huge and they are container shipped and then they sit on my shelves for months and sometimes years. I can't afford a product with a shelf life or that is succeptable to degredation over time because airsofters are inherently unpredictable in terms of what they order and in what quantities. Also its only a very small number of inquiries I get for biobbs as compared to regular stock, so the financial justification for it just isn't there.

[Killz]

A couple of week ago I e mailed metal tech with the same question cause I am lookin into making a feild anyways this is the e mail and response.

-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 3:19 PM
To: sales@mtmfg.ca
Subject: Just one question

What are the bbs made of? I lied 2 questions is it
bio degradable?


Hi,

Bio-degradable no.
Construction Plastic

There are actually no true Bio-degradable bb's currently sold in North
America. To see what I means check this post on Arnies Airsoft. The
Bio-Val are but they are nearly impossible to get hold of. We are
currently
looking into it but they will likely run about $30 to $35 / bag.

http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/?filn.../bio_tests.htm


Richard Gallant
Email: rgallant@mtmfg.ca
Phone: 1 866 979 2774 ext 300
www.mtmfg.ca

So if we are all interested in bio bbs we should all e mail him and let them know that we will pay the extra for bbs. I dont care how much plactic is in it that aint good to litter that everywhere. Also some birds(I not a bleeding heart) have been eating them and dieing I have read. So there are side effects from what I read.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Killz

Also some birds(I not a bleeding heart) have been eating them and dieing I have read. So there are side effects from what I read.

Really? I'd challenge that.

First off, I doubt birds other than seagulls would be dumb enough to try and eat them, and second, if they were, they'd in all likelihood pass through their system. Smaller birds wouldn't be able to swallow them.

How do I know? I have a parrot and he was dumb enough to swallow one and he pooped it right out about 2 hours later with no ill effects other than a squack of surprise.

[beastman]

Originally Posted by Killz

Also some birds(I not a bleeding heart) have been eating them and dieing I have read.

Birds ( and many other animals) will eat small stones to help aid in their digestive process, ie. Chicken grit, So while not advocating feeding animals bb's, i don't think it will kill them......

[Killz]

Bioval would like to make it absolutely clear to those who have not as yet received our message. There is heavy pressure in many places in Europe and North America to use the Biodegradability problem as a tool to attack our sport Airsoft. Environmentalists have produced reports of various animal species eating the plastic white pellets and have submitted their findings to many local governments. Wild birds, most notably water foul, have been found eating normal Airsoft bbs and some of the hunted variety has been found with bbs in the stomach! Many environmental associations are petitioning their local government to force Airsoft groups to clean up after playing unless a certificate can be produced showing that the bbs used are biodegradable AND non toxic. Imagine picking up bbs after using them on 20 acres of forested land!

http://www.airsofthawaii.org/ballistic/200505/ded.shtml
Ya I take it back like I said I read it I personaly havent seen a bird eat or die from it and this didnt say they died from it sorry. But your bird ate it.

[Killz]

Originally Posted by beastman

Birds ( and many other animals) will eat small stones to help aid in their digestive process, ie. Chicken grit, So while not advocating feeding animals bb's, i don't think it will kill them......

what if in time they had 20 bbs in them and no more room for rocks I dont know how well bbs do for grinding food? I not trying to fight just plastic isnt good.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Killz

what if in time they had 20 bbs in them and no more room for rocks I dont know how well bbs do for grinding food? I not trying to fight just plastic isnt good.

No plastic isn't good. I could see a smaller bird choking on one, but its not really toxic as its non-digestable and inert. As long as the animal can pass it, its harmless. I don't believe birds with a crop would retain it, but, lets say they did, again, its inert, and the very fact that it is non-biodegradable actually stops any potential byproducts from leeching into the animal. So if a tree hugger is going on about the poisonous dangers of BBs, its BS.

Of course, I also sell bbs, so I look completely biased by saying this... and here is one for the really skeptical crowd...

[CDN_Stalker]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

Really? I'd challenge that.

First off, I doubt birds other than seagulls would be dumb enough to try and eat them, and second, if they were, they'd in all likelihood pass through their system. Smaller birds wouldn't be able to swallow them.

How do I know? I have a parrot and he was dumb enough to swallow one and he pooped it right out about 2 hours later with no ill effects other than a squack of surprise.

Good thing BBs are round and not cyndrical, otherwise his arsehole would slam shut and he do more than just a squawk of surprise.

"Rrrack! WTF!?!"

[Killz]

Hey this all I could find I couldnt find where to order them from.
http://www.nlairsoft.com/new.php
I would like to use them.