Why does .177 exist?

[Mascotter]

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?

Assuming both are shot from sub 12ft/lb, .177" shoots faster and has a flatter trajectory. If a .22" makes a bigger hole, does a .177" have more penetration at the same range and energy - which is better for hunting? Which calibre is most common in competitive target shooting and why? Does .20" have all the advantages and none of the disadvantages of the larger and smaller calibres, or is the opposite actually the case? Do all .22" shooters sexualise their ammunition, or only the anti-.177" ones?

[angrybear]

Assuming both are shot from sub 12ft/lb, .177" shoots faster and has a flatter trajectory. If a .22" makes a bigger hole, does a .177" have more penetration at the same range and energy - which is better for hunting? Which calibre is most common in competitive target shooting and why? Does .20" have all the advantages and none of the disadvantages of the larger and smaller calibres, or is the opposite actually the case? Do all .22" shooters sexualise their ammunition, or only the anti-.177" ones?

Because of the sub 12 law, every calibre has to make some sort of compromise, be it the weight, velocity, trajectory, wind deflection, retained energy, frontal area for energy transfer or risk of pass through.

Compare every aspect of performance between the 3 main sub 12 calibres and both .177 & .22 will be the worst at something,
but .20 is never last, equally it's never first,
so for HUNTING it's the best compromise.

On paper/tin some aspects don't matter like retained energy, energy transfer & pass through, while frontal area can be an actual drawback, if you need to avoid touching an outer ring smaller is better,
Targets will also be at a known range, or if random the use of LRF will be prohibited, so a flatter trajectory benefits poor range finding.
so on TARGETS .177 is obviously a better choice.

Do away with the 12fpe limit (or use lead free ammo) & everything changes.