The term "BB" generally referred to the Ball bearings that were used as airgun projectiles 1886. These were a lead shotgun of BB size that is 0.180-inch in diameter. These BB guns were made up of maple wood mainly with very less metal on them.
In the year 1887 C. Hamilton who was the inventor of .22 rim fire, introduced a metal  air gun. As he was demonstrating his new invention in front of the local industrialist, Mr Lewis Cass Hough, he exclaimed in surprise-"boy that's a Daisy!" The design of the air gun was so clever that lead BB shots were also possible to use in it. This special feature made Mr Lewis Cass Hough commission the start of the production of hundreds of the little air guns in the year 1888. As the air guns gained popularity Mr Lewis Cass Hough iron mill began to produce the bb guns in full fledge under the name of "Daisy's BB guns". The windmill company of Mr. Lewis Cass Hough, reincorporated in the year 1895 as The Daisy Manufacturing Company and still continues production under the same name.
Till the initial years of the twentieth century, the lead BB shots were used as the projectiles for the Daisy gun. Later on Daisy started manufacturing its own lead shots that was smaller than the original ones and around 0.175 inches in diameter. These lead shots were exclusively the property of the Daisy Company and kids were to buy them from the company directly. With the reduction in the size of the new lead projectiles of the BB gun, there was an increase in the velocity of the projectile. This facilitated the use of spring wire that was smaller in diameter. This made the guns fire the projectiles with the same velocity and also cocked easily.
Soon other manufacturers of the BB gun too went on to produce the new version of the lead shots and the older name of BB guns stuck to them. In the middle years of the 20th century, BB guns started receiving complains of split barrels. The cause of the problem was found to be the use of oversized BB steel shots. These were manufactured by a company in Minneapolis under the name of Bull's eye. Since the steel shots were cheaper than the original BB gun shots, so they started to gain popularity. This made Mr. Hough sign a treaty with Bull's Eye in the year 1928 that entitled Daisy to be the sole distributor of the Bull's eye steel shots. This deal proved to be beneficial for both the companies as Daisy started earning a share of the profit and the American Ball company launched itself in the world market.
With time the design of the BB guns has undergone some changes to present better standards. The guns are now smooth with zero flat spots.
In the year 1887 C. Hamilton who was the inventor of .22 rim fire, introduced a metal  air gun. As he was demonstrating his new invention in front of the local industrialist, Mr Lewis Cass Hough, he exclaimed in surprise-"boy that's a Daisy!" The design of the air gun was so clever that lead BB shots were also possible to use in it. This special feature made Mr Lewis Cass Hough commission the start of the production of hundreds of the little air guns in the year 1888. As the air guns gained popularity Mr Lewis Cass Hough iron mill began to produce the bb guns in full fledge under the name of "Daisy's BB guns". The windmill company of Mr. Lewis Cass Hough, reincorporated in the year 1895 as The Daisy Manufacturing Company and still continues production under the same name.
Till the initial years of the twentieth century, the lead BB shots were used as the projectiles for the Daisy gun. Later on Daisy started manufacturing its own lead shots that was smaller than the original ones and around 0.175 inches in diameter. These lead shots were exclusively the property of the Daisy Company and kids were to buy them from the company directly. With the reduction in the size of the new lead projectiles of the BB gun, there was an increase in the velocity of the projectile. This facilitated the use of spring wire that was smaller in diameter. This made the guns fire the projectiles with the same velocity and also cocked easily.
Soon other manufacturers of the BB gun too went on to produce the new version of the lead shots and the older name of BB guns stuck to them. In the middle years of the 20th century, BB guns started receiving complains of split barrels. The cause of the problem was found to be the use of oversized BB steel shots. These were manufactured by a company in Minneapolis under the name of Bull's eye. Since the steel shots were cheaper than the original BB gun shots, so they started to gain popularity. This made Mr. Hough sign a treaty with Bull's Eye in the year 1928 that entitled Daisy to be the sole distributor of the Bull's eye steel shots. This deal proved to be beneficial for both the companies as Daisy started earning a share of the profit and the American Ball company launched itself in the world market.
With time the design of the BB guns has undergone some changes to present better standards. The guns are now smooth with zero flat spots.