Modern pellet gun history questions

[fatbill]

Just have a couple questions regarding the history of the modern pellet gun.
Who was the first to come up with a 0.177 caliber pellet?
Who was the first to come up with a pcp in 0.177 and in .22?
Who was the first to come up with a springer in 0.177 and in 0.22?
I know Daisy had bb guns in 0.177 caliber early on but this is aimed specifically towards pellets. Found a lot of history regarding pellet guns in the 17th century but nothing on todays modern pellet guns. THanks in advance!

[fatbill]

Still looking for replies. I know this information is really obscure otherwise I might have found it but surely someone here must know. Thanks again

[Brian Pfleuger]

Daisy standardized the caliber (http://www.daisymuseum.com/html/timeline/1920.htm) at 0.175 in the 1920s. The exact origin (http://iaaforum.org/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=12985) of the modern pellet is unknown.

[Evan Thomas]

The best online source of information on the history of air guns is probably the Beeman family's personal website:

http://www.beemans.net/

Hours of wholesome entertainment... :D

[twobit]

I had a Crosman 101 pump .22 cal pellet rifle that I believe was from around the 1940's. Very high velocity and very hard hitting. Lots of rabbits taken with it.

[Boomer58cal]

Lewis and Clark had a air rifle on their expedition west. Mini balls and Conicals sure look like pellets to me.
Lewis and Clark's air rifle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pqFyKh-rUI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Boomer

[stubbicatt]

That Giordoni Air Rifle on the Lewis and Clark expedition was a fantastic video.

[Evan Thomas]

If you want to know more about the Girandoni air rifle, you'll find a vast amount of information on the Beeman site I linked above.

It's very cool... way ahead of its time.

[g.willikers]

There's a lot of info and history about airguns at the pyramydair.com blog.