20 cal in U.K. and Europe?

[Mach 1.5]

I own...Webley Stingray, Longbow, Tomahawk, 80 and 95 in .20 cal. Great fun. Mach 1.5

[Drew451]

My only .20 cal is an Original 45 bought on here. Upon researching pellet options I found there was very little available. While awaiting some FTT'S s by post, I happened upon a selection NOS pellets in a local dealers back shop. Some of them no longer available as far as I can ascertain. Luckily, the 45 shot them all well, especially Daystates and RWS Super H Points. Went back and bought a pile more for a very reasonable price. Very, very few people ever asked him for 20 cal pellets, he said.
If ever I run out of the oldies, I'll switch to FTTs, which go well in the 45 also.

[Hsing-ee]

Always thought the 5mm calibre was a shameful way of Sheridan making profits on the dustbin pellets they sold to match their odd-calibre rifle.

Jack of all trades, master of none, the .177 and .22 are better for specific purposes, while the .20 does nothing well.

Daystate used to make a sizer to take a .22 pellet down to .20, that could be a way of widening choice, althout most pellets would be a bit on the heavy side.

[45flint]

Always thought the 5mm calibre was a shameful way of Sheridan making profits on the dustbin pellets they sold to match their odd-calibre rifle.

Jack of all trades, master of none, the .177 and .22 are better for specific purposes, while the .20 does nothing well.

Daystate used to make a sizer to take a .22 pellet down to .20, that could be a way of widening choice, althout most pellets would be a bit on the heavy side.

I’m sure there was profit to be made in pellets since they are consumed on a regular basis. But there is some logic to the 20 cal. The basic Crosman 22’s and the Benjamin 20’s are the same weight 14.3 so the slimmer 20 would seem better in flight? They certainly are less fiddly than .177?

“Master of none” could be turned to the best of both worlds? Adjust the pellet weight to the task with one gun? But impossible to buck a 100 years of tradition.

But the lack of pellet choice kills them. Bottom line is there is so little difference that the companies can’t justify a similar line of pellets to a narrow market.

[Geezer]

I own...Webley Stingray, Longbow, Tomahawk, 80 and 95 in .20 cal. Great fun. Mach 1.5

Factory .20” Webleys? Or later conversion?

[Geezer]

.20” was basically unknown in the U.K. until Sheridans were imported in small numbers in the early 60s.

The introduction of the 12 ft-lbs limit impeded imports of US pumpers.

In the 70s, outfits like Sussex Armoury started bringing in Sheridans modified (pretty crudely at first) to be sub-12.

Then you had the Airgunaids, which Gareth has covered.

There was an early 80s .20” fad based on the Diana/Original 45 being offered in the calibre.

Theoben had a go in the late 90s or so pushing the Rapid in .20”.

.20” remains a niche enthusiast calibre, as it always has been. I’d wager that most airgun owners (the ones who don’t read mags or visit forums) don’t even know it exists.

My take on pellet choice is that it’s a bit of a red herring. Yes, there are, say, a hundred (probably more) different types of pellet made in .177”, but 90 of them will be cheap plinking stuff or specialised 10M match, etc. Most serious shooters will end up with a choice of a few types from JSB, AA, FTTs and such, all in standard round head form.

I count the following pellets readily available in .20”: Bisley Pest Control, JSB Exact, H&N Baracuda, H&N FTT, HW FT Exact, Daystate Soveriegn and Kaiser. And you can still find the recently discontinued Crosman Premiers (including if you look in my ammo drawer: I stocked up when they were on sale ). So, one cheap hollow point (for rats?) and six very high quality brands in production and one recently out of production, at least one of which should work very well in any .20”.

[gingernut]

H&N ftt are 11.42 grain.
Which IMO is right for a .20.

Others eg JSB and Sovereign are over 13 grain and playing into the hands of those who say .20 is a pointless calibre.

Same with .25.
Again I use H&N which are around 20 grain.
Other pellets can be pushing 30 grain playing into the hands of those who say sub 12 ft lbs .25 is hopeless.

[Geezer]

H&N ftt are 11.42 grain.
Which IMO is right for a .20.

Others eg JSB and Sovereign are over 13 grain and playing into the hands of those who say .20 is a pointless calibre.

Same with .25.
Again I use H&N which are around 20 grain.
Other pellets can be pushing 30 grain playing into the hands of those who say sub 12 ft lbs .25 is hopeless.

Daystate Kaisers are also 11.42.

[45flint]

H&N ftt are 11.42 grain.
Which IMO is right for a .20.

Others eg JSB and Sovereign are over 13 grain and playing into the hands of those who say .20 is a pointless calibre.

Same with .25.
Again I use H&N which are around 20 grain.
Other pellets can be pushing 30 grain playing into the hands of those who say sub 12 ft lbs .25 is hopeless.

Interesting I’m been using the 11.42 and I agree they give you the speed over loading a heavier 14.3 just because? And for some reason my gun just likes them?

[gingernut]

I bet Kaisers are H&N.