Most bearings, especially for industrial applications follow an internationally recognised bearing identification system. In some cases, the bearing will have a prefix, followed by a group of numbers, followed by a suffix. Some of the common prefixes and suffixes are mentioned below: Prefix The most commonly used pellet, the .177 caliber pellet is not only a great round for casual shooting and training but is also used for professional target shooting up to a range of around 10 meters and is also used at Olympic events. Ball bearings are precision-engineered components specifically designed to enable rotational or linear motion by reducing friction between two moving parts. They consist of a set of small, spherical balls housed within a ring or raceway. These balls distribute the load evenly, allowing for efficient, low-friction movement. The primary purpose of ball bearings is to support radial and axial loads while minimizing friction and wear, thereby extending the lifespan, and enhancing the efficiency of mechanical systems. For more in depth information please refer to our Ball Bearings Guide https://uk.rs-online.com/web/content/discovery/ideas-and-advice/ball-bearings-guide The slug is quite a new addition but isn’t widely used as yet. More commonly found in higher-velocity airguns, they need more power to overcome the initial friction but have nicer aerodynamics so they tend to be more accurate and have a greater range. Shares more similarities in shape to the BB than the traditional pellet though really. Others The .22 caliber is typically used more for hunting as it has more mass to it and therefore slightly better-stopping power. Many people take it for granted that the .22 is more powerful than the .177 and this is indeed the case. In fact, it’s usually around 20-25% more power in any gun over one using the .177’s.

The airgun (or air rifle) typically shoots pellets or ball bearings (known as BB’s). If you’re choosing an airgun and don’t know what type you should be looking for then you may end up buying something that is totally inappropriate for you or for the environment you’re shooting in (or for the thing you’re shooting at). It’s not possible (in the vast majority of cases) to switch between calibers once you have acquired your gun so best do the research before you buy. Typical uses for these balls, aside from inside bearings, include cocoa grinders, spray paint agitators, one way valves and even decoration. San Francisco International Airport has 5 foot diameter ball bearings supporting the building, which helps minimise damage during earthquakes.

The .22 carries a lot more energy into the target and therefore has more of an impact when it hits. We also offer our own Thin Series Ball Bearings with a wide range of sealed, shielded and open type bearings available in all sizes. Our Thin Series will be a good choice for mechanical applications that require Ball Bearings within a limited space. It is a good question though and for a long time (about 30 years if I’m honest!) I personally thought the .22 was the most accurate. I never really questioned why I thought this though. The pellet is typically constructed from lead but can also be found made from tin or a combination of several metals. These pellets are available in several different calibers (which of course we discuss later) and are bought in tins with around 400/500 included (depends on the caliber). Steel balls like this are made primarily from impacted lengths of wire, then ground to a spherical shape. The balls are hardened and tempered through their whole diameter in an electric furnace. Grade 100 Chrome Steel, when formed this way, has a sphericity of 0.0025mm and a hardness of HRC 60-67.

Our 6mm steel balls are made from AISI 52100 Grade 100 Chrome Steel. This compound is made from Chromium, Manganese, Carbon, Silicon, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Ferrite. These chemicals together form a hard, finely grained Martensitic Steel. This alloy is remarkably resistant to corrosion and wear, making it an excellent choice for applications involving heavy loads and high speed. The truth is, no caliber is inherently more accurate than the other. It depends on the environment where you’re shooting.There are some good reasons why the .177 is the most popular. There are more different types of pellets you can use for airguns that accommodate the .177, you’ve just got far more choice. Also, the pellets are cheaper than the .22 and you get more of them in a tin. In fact, the price difference tends to work out between 25-35%, it makes a difference. mm) – for a long time, several decades, in fact, this was the largest caliber available for airguns. So, what is the most popular airgun caliber? The most popular air rifle caliber is the .177 (4.5 mm), followed by the .22 (5.5 mm and 5.6 mm). Typically, the .177 is a great caliber for shorter-range targets and training but is also used extensively in competitive shooting. The .177 pellet is the preferred choice for those with less room to shoot than others. We will examine this and other related subjects below. The .177, as we mentioned earlier, is used by professional bodies (including Olympic events) for international 10-meter shooting. The truth is that .177 airguns (well, target airguns) are more accurate at this particular range. Much longer than this though their accuracy will drop-off due to them being lighter.

When it comes to handling radial and thrust loads of small applications, Ball Bearings are the most common mechanical elements that are used. Ball Bearings are best used to reduce rotational friction when supporting loads. Bearing Shop UK provides a number of sealed, shielded or open type Ball Bearings. There are some other calibers worth a mention, although they’re hardly mentioned they do have their uses. You will be severely limited on what weapon you can use if you go for any of these though.If you’re using an airgun for hunting you’re more than likely to want a .22, if you have a .177 you’ll probably end up switching to the .22 after the first hunting session. Other Calibers Ball bearings also known as bearings and journal bearings are important mechanical components used in a wide range of applications. They are an integral part of various machines and mechanisms, from small household appliances to large industrial equipment. What are Ball Bearings? mm) – this is a large round and actually the largest available unless you’re using a PCP (pre-charged pneumatic) airgun.