Why does .177 exist?

[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.