Thanks for all your input! 
Yeah, larger holes when paper punching is a good thing for my not-yet-old(!) eyes.
I also noticed, not just here on this thread, how 4 factors are influencing how people subconsciously perceive the .177 caliber as superior:
Factor 1: The physical power restriction of spring guns — pretty much the only type of airgun available until fairly recently (CO2 is even weaker).
Springers that are sold in more than one caliber often have the same power plant* no matter what the caliber: .177 or .20 or .22 or .25. *[Please correct me if I'm misinformed, I understand that exceptions exist.]
So, deciding between buying a springer in .177, or .22, or .25 is not a fair comparison of the potential performance of each caliber — because of the power restriction that favors lighter pellets because the end up getting the highest muzzle velocity, resulting in the flattest trajectory.
Factor 2: The legal power restriction in the navel of airgunning — the UK (12FPE).
Note that the restriction is like in factor 1 not a velocity restriction, but a power restriction.
So, the same reasoning applies: This is not a fair comparison of the potential of each caliber, but the potential under the most detrimental of all restrictions — a limit of the power of the gun.
(That's why most countries who aren't blessed with a Second Amendment limit the power, or the power and the velocity).
If you have a power restriction, the lighter pellets are almost always better because of their much flatter trajectory.
Factor 3: Field target shooting: It was modeled after real life hunting scenarios. But under the legal power restrictions of the UK, and under the mechanical power restrictions of spring guns.
So, obviously the discipline will favor the .177 caliber (besides the round kill zone). And even with the 12FPE restriction from the UK raised up to 20FPE the .177 still has a higher MV than the .22, and therefore a flatter trajectory.
Factor 4: 10-meter target shooting exclusively uses .177.
HOWEVER, if we didn't restrict the power — the bigger calibers would fare better than most .177 pellets — especially at longer ranges — because of their much higher BC.
Matthias
Yeah, larger holes when paper punching is a good thing for my not-yet-old(!) eyes.
I also noticed, not just here on this thread, how 4 factors are influencing how people subconsciously perceive the .177 caliber as superior:Factor 1: The physical power restriction of spring guns — pretty much the only type of airgun available until fairly recently (CO2 is even weaker).Springers that are sold in more than one caliber often have the same power plant* no matter what the caliber: .177 or .20 or .22 or .25. *[Please correct me if I'm misinformed, I understand that exceptions exist.]
So, deciding between buying a springer in .177, or .22, or .25 is not a fair comparison of the potential performance of each caliber — because of the power restriction that favors lighter pellets because the end up getting the highest muzzle velocity, resulting in the flattest trajectory.
Factor 2: The legal power restriction in the navel of airgunning — the UK (12FPE).Note that the restriction is like in factor 1 not a velocity restriction, but a power restriction.
So, the same reasoning applies: This is not a fair comparison of the potential of each caliber, but the potential under the most detrimental of all restrictions — a limit of the power of the gun.
(That's why most countries who aren't blessed with a Second Amendment limit the power, or the power and the velocity).
If you have a power restriction, the lighter pellets are almost always better because of their much flatter trajectory.
Factor 3: Field target shooting: It was modeled after real life hunting scenarios. But under the legal power restrictions of the UK, and under the mechanical power restrictions of spring guns.So, obviously the discipline will favor the .177 caliber (besides the round kill zone). And even with the 12FPE restriction from the UK raised up to 20FPE the .177 still has a higher MV than the .22, and therefore a flatter trajectory.
Factor 4: 10-meter target shooting exclusively uses .177. HOWEVER, if we didn't restrict the power — the bigger calibers would fare better than most .177 pellets — especially at longer ranges — because of their much higher BC.Matthias
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