BB gun

BB guns are a type of air gun designed to fire spherical projectiles similar to shot pellets of approximately the same size. Modern BB guns usually have a barrel with a bore and caliber of 4.5 mm (0.177 in) and are available in many varieties. BB shot for modern BB guns is usually steel, plated either with zinc or copper to resist corrosion, and measure 4.3 to 4.4 mm (0.171 to 0.173 in) in diameter. Some manufacturers still make lead balls of slightly larger diameter and which are generally intended for use in rifled BB gun barrels.

The term BB gun is often incorrectly used to describe a pellet or air gun. Although in many cases a BB steel ball can be fired in a pellet gun, pellets usually cannot be fired in a gun specifically designed for BBs. However, many air gun models using plastic ammunition allow for use of both types.

History

The term BB originated from the nomenclature of the size of steel balls used in a shotgun. BB sized shot was normally 0.180 inches (4.6 mm), but tended to vary considerably in size due to the high tolerances in shotgun shells. The highest size shotgun pellet commonly used was named OO or double ought and was used for hunting deer and thus called buckshot.

Gun

A gun is a normally tubular weapon or other device designed to discharge projectiles or other material. The projectile may be solid, liquid, gas or energy and may be free, as with bullets and artillery shells, or captive as with Taser probes and whaling harpoons. The means of projection varies according to design but is usually effected by the action of gas pressure, either produced through the rapid combustion of a propellant or compressed and stored by mechanical means, operating on the projectile inside an open-ended tube in the fashion of a piston. The confined gas accelerates the movable projectile down the length of the tube, imparting sufficient velocity to sustain the projectile's travel once the action of the gas ceases at the end of the tube or muzzle. Alternatively, acceleration via electromagnetic field generation may be employed in which case the tube may be dispensed with and a guide rail substituted.

The first devices identified as guns appeared in China around CE 1000. By the 12th century the technology was spreading through the rest of Asia, and into Europe by the 13th century.

Guns (miniseries)

Guns is a Canadian television miniseries that aired on CBC Television in 2008. Directed by Sudz Sutherland and written by Sutherland and Jennifer Holness, the miniseries explores the issue of gun violence in Canada.

The cast includes Colm Feore, Elisha Cuthbert, Stephen McHattie, K. C. Collins, Shawn Doyle and Lyriq Bent.

External links

Lou Grant (season 3)

This is a list of episodes for the third season of Lou Grant.

Episodes