What power is too powerful?

[killbucket]

Yes. FPS/BB weight. It's really as simple as that.
These charts remind me of the Thiele-Small parameters on speakers. Twenty minutes with a chart and you were replacing speaker cones that SOUNDED perfectly fine. Over time, I learned that even botched speaker boxes sound fine as long as they don't leak. So easy to get caught up in the numbers. Mention height and weight to three women and step away...
But it is important I guess to set some type of standard so there is some degree of safety from clever mechanics (Look up Smokey Yunick for some interesting reading about rule bending and flat out cheater's art).
I can see certified, un-mistake-ably identified ammo coming soon. Like the tamper-proof motors handed out at RC events.
With the weight imprinted on the bb itself. -But then somebody will ask the question: How does that ink affect accuracy?....

[2nd Bat]

Generally yes In about 90% of all circumstances that would work fine. (If uniform BBs are being used and no ones trying to kink things) (Dirty barrels, cleaned later, cheap smaller dyameter Bbs, even tape over the muzzle later removed, I've seen it all.) But it's actually best to chrono with the weight of BB they are actually going to use on the field. As mentioned in other threads sometimes (rare) a particular gun will actually shoot a heavier BB at a higher FPS. This is most common with long barreled gas powerd guns. The Tanaka Kar 98 comes to mind. Apparently the initial slower velocity inside the barrel allows the round to develope greater inertia from the same charge by the time it reaches the muzzle.

Also different brand BBs will fire at different velocities usuallly based on tolerances and quality. Also you'll want to chrono with all the guns with no hop up as this will effect the reading. Guns with fixed hop up are fine as you know with certainty what their reading is going to be on the field.

All of this is done to protect the players and really isn't an issue if you have responsible players who respect the need for safety and have the where with all to stay on top of their own weapons capabilities and respect the field regulations. Unfortunately in a large group there are always some who fein ignorance, never bother to check out their own guns capabilities or are trying to get an edge over and above consideration for others.

Mature Fields and sponsors have to protect themselves hence chrono rules and Joulles tables.

I recommend for sure that sniper rifles have particular attention paid to them and that some focus be paid to the level of maturity of those armed with so called sniper rifles. (Certifications etc.) I know alot of fields do this and I respect that greatly.