Why does .177 exist?

[tinbum]

Genuine question.

We all know a .22 makes a bigger hole which is better for hunting, it is also less susceptible to pocket damage and latent homosexuality. The .177’s feeble efficiency means a significantly lower shot count in PCP’s and higher recoil for any given power in proper spring powered airguns, so why is .177 so popular?

The lack of a necessity for fieldcraft skill is an excuse in hunting, but surely target shooters should embrace the better final result of the larger pellet?

I’m not trying to start an argument, I use .20, but I sometimes look at .177 shooters and wonder if they were not loved enough as children?

[Black Beard]

Many targets are outward scoring, including most knock down targets. So there is a .5mm advantage in .177. And the pellets are cheaper.

[tinbum]

Many targets are outward scoring, including most knock down targets. So there is a .5mm advantage in .177. And the pellets are cheaper.

………And I forgot to put the counter-argument!

As Andy quite rightly says: .177 are cheaper, smaller, score higher in bench rest competitions and you can fit more on your purse!

[Filbert]

I know it must be difficult Nick, and I really don’t blame you for trying to make things sound OK. Big pellet good, small pellet bad and all that but you’re going to have to come to terms with the facts sooner or later. It’s not your fault and your parents probably didn’t help but you need to accept that your willy is really small. It is what it is and over compensating won’t change it.
I for one will never hold you responsible because it’s not your fault, really it’s not. Some women like that, honest.

[PhilD]

I've killed 100's no 1000's of things with 177.

[tinbum]

I know it must be difficult Nick, and I really don’t blame you for trying to make things sound OK. Big pellet good, small pellet bad and all that but you’re going to have to come to terms with the facts sooner or later. It’s not your fault and your parents probably didn’t help but you need to accept that your willy is really small. It is what it is and over compensating won’t change it.
I for one will never hold you responsible because it’s not your fault, really it’s not. Some women like that, honest.

There is the real answer!

[wobbly bob]

As Andy quite rightly says: .177 are cheaper, smaller, score higher in bench rest competitions and you can fit more on your purse!

NSRA benchrest competitions are scored outwards, and a plug gauge used to bring the hole to .22 whatever the original calibre, so there is no advantage in a smaller calibre ...

[T 20]

there is no advantage in a smaller calibre ...

There is in Bell Target.

.177" pellets were invented to make Bell Target easier.

[Hsing-ee]

In the Old Days the .177 was actually more accurate than the .22. Not just easier to shoot because of speed and trajectory.
The angular dispersion of impact point from a .177 was smaller than a .22. Irrespective of velocity.
Like a 6.5mm Creedmore shoots better than a .30/06.
Maybe it was a pellet thing but there it was.
No-one WANTED to shoot .177 as they were usually 9 or at best 10fpe guns but when Eddie Barber masqueraded as .177 Evangelist ‘Fred Grimwade’ and showed the readers of Airgun World that a hit with a .177 beat a miss with a .22, the first lot of hunters started transitioning. Then when FT started the .22 shooters just didn’t make the prize list. Rifles and pellets and sights developed which meant a 40 yard headshot on a pigeon or rabbit could be taken with some confidence.. in .177. Before then a 25 yard chest shot with a .22 was the thing.

Of course .177 is shit for FAC so the .22 is far from dead, and for hunting certain pests the bigger pill is the better caliber.

[tinbum]

There is in Bell Target.

.177" pellets were invented to make Bell Target easier.

Is that true? It sounds good and makes sense, but it is early and I am a little gullible

[wobbly bob]

There is in Bell Target.

.177" pellets were invented to make Bell Target easier.

A chap at the range was relating to me the other day that he was away on business last month somewhere in the back country north of Watford and walked into a local pub to find them drinking pints of Owd Roger and shooting bell target at 6 yards in the bar. He didn't mention accuracy, but found it .. um … interesting

[PCPShooter]

Genuine question.

We all know a .22 makes a bigger hole which is better for hunting, it is also less susceptible to pocket damage and latent homosexuality. The .177’s feeble efficiency means a significantly lower shot count in PCP’s and higher recoil for any given power in proper spring powered airguns, so why is .177 so popular?

The lack of a necessity for fieldcraft skill is an excuse in hunting, but surely target shooters should embrace the better final result of the larger pellet?

I’m not trying to start an argument, I use .20, but I sometimes look at .177 shooters and wonder if they were not loved enough as children?

Well yes, at UK power, for cross species hunting, we all know 20 cal is BEST !

[Dragonboy]

I moved over to .177 from .22 as I got older. Guess it was down to better accuracy. If you have an open class sub 12 competition, the top table will be all .177.

Again when it comes to hunting, a well placed head shot with.177 still results in a kill. Bigger hole size of .22 may help people with not good placement. I agree the level of fieldcraft skills needed for .22 is higher but when you are doing a bit of vermin control the longer shots that you can take with .177 gets the job done quicker.

I tried .20 but the availability of pellets was a let down. I do like mix pellets types (shape, weights) depending on the shooting scenario.

[TonyL]

I used .22 exclusively until the early 80s. Then added some .177s.

If I were to have only one gun (sub-12), it would be .177.

Apart from for short range rat shooting. I think. Where I've always championed the superlative .22 Hobby. I haven't shot a rat in donkeys' years.

[angrybear]

I believe that .177 is actually a descendent of C19th Flobert parlor or gallery rifles by way of Zimmerstutzen rifles.

The Flobert used what is essentially an empty rimfire cap with just the primer to shoot a 6mm BB a short range indoors, for training/entertainment.
This was refined in Germany where the size of BB was reduced to gain more accuracy eventually settling at 4.3-4.5mm as most popular in the Zimmerstutzen parlor rifle.
This smaller calibre was then adopted by BSA at the very start of the C20th in their first rifled airguns, as No1 bore, and became the accepted calibre for Olympic/World cup competition.