Choosing the right caliber

[Colt25]

I will start with the first caliber .177, then the next person will post the pros and cons of .20, then .22, then .25. The four small bore calibers.

Small-bore
.177 pellet
Pros: Cheap, great target shooting caliber, wide selection of pellets even at wall*mart, shoots faster than the other small bore calibers.
Cons: Not a good hunting caliber on anything over the size of a small rabbit. Does not retain energy as much as you would like for long range shots beyond 90 or so yards.

[1377x]

.20 shoots flatter than .22 while having the same fpe

[Colt25]

.20 shoots flatter than .22 while having the same fpe

And has a better ballistic coefficient than .22.

[BassManNate]

And has a better ballistic coefficient than .22.

So, why isn't .20 more popular?   

[1377x]

So, why isn't .20 more popular?   

kind of like the 357sig to a 9mm or 40sw
even though its better it just doesnt catch on
i think ammo selection is another issue

[D-R0CK]

so much more product development would have to go on at a big company like crosman for something that would barely affect their sales... i wouldn't add 50% more products (with all of the costs to engineer, make, and advertise the new difference) for barely any additional sales. it's one thing for a small niche company to specialize in, and another thing entirely for a large corporation, it just wouldn't make sense business wise.

[eric]

way more folks know .177 and .22 and nothing else .they know daisy,crosman,and gamo from all the hardware stores,box stores and anywhere else that sells BB guns  . some old timers ,due to sheridans ,will know about the .20 cal and those on the forums. .20 airguns and pellets aren't  sold locally for the most part and if so, they are expensive compared to the .177 and the .22 ---- kinda like the big bores --- ,25 cal and up. i look at it like the music scene --- more people know and like the main stream music(top 100 or what not) vs. underground (punk,oi!,ska,metals of all genres or what have you) . the pellets are like anything else --- there are atleast 15 different pellets, more if you include rebranded ones as well . test them and see what works best. most .20 barrels today will be a quality barrel so it should shoot one or more pretty well .

[arkmaker †]

.22 Easy to pick up and load for old crippled fingers like mine

Also, make a better "thunk" sound on impact, than do .177's 

[1377x]

well said eric!

[eric]

well said eric!

thanks, can you tell i am a .20 cal nut

[1377x]

thanks, can you tell i am a .20 cal nut

your posts speak for you!
yeah! i can tell you are a .20 nut

[Colt25]

So, why isn't .20 more popular?   

It really never caught on. Tough it is the overall "best" hunting caliber where you can not exactly estimate the range.

[Alrauder]

.22 Easy to pick up and load for old crippled fingers like mine

Ahh, now I know why I liked loading the .22's and .25's... So that's what it is - age...!!

Never looked at it from that angle. Guess I too am just plain getting old...!!

[Davio]

Old thread, I know but somebody just might be looking for this Walter Lothar .20 cal barrel.  I know I wish I were... 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Walther-Lothar-20-cal-barrel-blank-in-the-white-Crosman-Sheridan-Daisy-Benjamin-/190717101287?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c67a004e7#ht_500wt_1201

[1772225]

In general, I thought .22 works a little better in CO2 than .177.  Incorrect?  Half-true...