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General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Airgun Gate => : Sumcat May 16, 2010, 10:32:22 AM

: Caliber question?
: Sumcat May 16, 2010, 10:32:22 AM

We have airguns in .20,.22,.25 and .177. Why .177? Why not .17? Anyone know how this came about?

: RE: Caliber question?
: rocker1 May 16, 2010, 11:02:21 AM

a 17 caliber is 4.5 a 177 is 4.5  >>>>>>>>>

: RE: Caliber question?
: pindog2000 May 16, 2010, 11:13:04 AM

yep a .17 cal is a .177 cal just in firearms terms its .17 cal  and ag its .177

: RE: Caliber question?
: arathol May 16, 2010, 01:38:30 PM

.177 is the standard set by Daisy nearly 100 years ago. The first BB guns  were made to use BB size lead shot which was .180 more or less.  Daisy began marketing guns with .175  barrels sometime around 1900. These guns used precision lead shot made specifically for Daisy. Eventually Daisy and  the American Ball Company entered into an agreement where Daisy would produce guns with   .177 barrels and American Ball would produce .175  precision steel shot for use in those barrels. Steel shot was a lot cheaper to make and produced higher velocities so naturally it seemed the way to go. Since Daisy was the market leader, all the other makers followed suit to keep up. Over the years .177 has become the standard small caliber for airguns.

: Re: Caliber question?
: jay morgan May 16, 2010, 02:04:27 PM

WOW, arathol I really am impressed with your answer,really informative,I was going with same as rest (THANK'S BUD)

: I didn't know that...
: cole5169 May 17, 2010, 12:00:23 AM

Thanks, Arathol.  
I'm always learning something here. :)

: RE: Caliber question?
: Sumcat May 17, 2010, 12:29:51 PM

Thanks Arathol thats what I was looking for. I always assumed the .177 designation originated accross the pond somewhere.