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JAK71454
Member Posts: 325 ✭✭✭
It's driving me nuts. Where did the term BB come from? What does BB stand for? Jim
Jim Kammerer
Jim Kammerer
Comments
"BB" stood for BULLETED BREECH.
Jim Kammerer
I was checking some other references and wondered if you have ever seen the BB referred to as a "ball bullet"?
The articles that I was reading were in a couple of Ophthalmic Journals (UK & U.S.) and they were concerned about the number of "BB (ball bullet)" injuries taking place in America. That was their way of writing it in the article. I'm curious if any others have seen this use of the term BB?
It's odd though that I never gave it any thought...
Best.
The term "BB" in speaking of loaded ammo did indeed originate as a short way of saying "Bulleted Breech cap" but that was first found in .22 caliber and later loaded in .32 (round ball in super short case).
However, the "BB" shot size is nominally .18" - hence .177" skirted air pellets - while the .22" shot size is "F." Frankly, I don't know the origin of the shot size nomenclature, but the two terms are not, I believe, related?
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain)
I'm sure that we're talking apples and oranges but I think that's my point. I'm not questioning anyone's information, I'm trying to figure out what the answer would be for the little copper plated balls that we referred to as 'BB's such as we shot out of our Daisy BB guns.
This is one of those things that give us flat foreheads from smacking ourselves with the palm of our hands while saying "Why didn't I think of that?" I don't remember ever questioning what the term 'BB' stood for and I don't have many notes on the subject at all. Maybe Jim can clarify if he was talking about the the Daisy version or the Flobert version.
In the mean time, does anyone have more informaion on this subject?
Best.
ADDED:
Bumping this to the top to see if anyone can add anything.
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain)
"Aim small, Miss small"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." ---unknown
http://www.airguns.net/bb.html
My take on it is that the "Bulleted Breech", and airgun BB are different terms here.
"BB
The designation of spherical shot having a diameter of .180" used in shotshell loads. The term BB is also used to designate steel or lead air rifle shot of .175" diameter. Although the two definitions cause some confusion, they have coexisted for many years.
BB CAP
The abbreviation for Bulleted Breech Cap. The original design in 1845 was a percussion cap without a well defined head loaded with a 22 caliber ball. A rimfire cartridge designed for use in Flobert rifles for indoor use. Several variations followed."
There's lots of stuff there, just look under glossary. http://www.saami.org/