Monday Trivia Question is: Why 17?

Pete McMiller

Pete McMiller

Well-known member
This just came up today and I can't find an answer.

This applies to the United States only as there are many (I read 24) ways to measure shot worldwide.

Shot size is determined by subtracting the diameter of the shot from .17 For example, #2 shot is supposed to be .15 so .17 minus .15 = 2 or conversly 17 minus 2 equals 15 converted to hundreths is .15" diameter.

So the question is: Why 17? Who came up with that and why? In addition, what about shot size over .17, BB, BBB, T, F etc. How did they get their designations?
 
This just came up today and I can't find an answer.

This applies to the United States only as there are many (I read 24) ways to measure shot worldwide.

Shot size is determined by subtracting the diameter of the shot from .17 For example, #2 shot is supposed to be .15 so .17 minus .15 = 2 or conversly 17 minus 2 equals 15 converted to hundreths is .15" diameter.

So the question is: Why 17? Who came up with that and why? In addition, what about shot size over .17, BB, BBB, T, F etc. How did they get their designations?
Click to expand...


because 17 is the first prime number after 13 and the first one before 19.
 
Excellent!
I don't know the answer Pete - Todd's reasoning sounds good to me, but I bet it was written down on a pub napkin not far from the waterfront...
I think the same logic can be applied to thread sizes and other mechanical measurements (size of beer glasses, as an example), they can be cryptic.

Dave
 
This just came up today and I can't find an answer.

This applies to the United States only as there are many (I read 24) ways to measure shot worldwide.

Shot size is determined by subtracting the diameter of the shot from .17 For example, #2 shot is supposed to be .15 so .17 minus .15 = 2 or conversly 17 minus 2 equals 15 converted to hundreths is .15" diameter.

So the question is: Why 17? Who came up with that and why? In addition, what about shot size over .17, BB, BBB, T, F etc. How did they get their designations?
Click to expand...


because 17 is the first prime number after 13 and the first one before 19. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

E=mc2 Where m=.17 There are only a few people in the whole world that really under stand it.

Ever since Einstein came to the United States thing have changed.

I know that doesn't help you much Pete but if you Google History of shot that might be more enlightening. Some where I have a old Gun Digest and there was a discussion about shot.

A guess... The size of the holes in the screen that they poured lead in, in the old shot towers.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Cabin fever symptom #1= musing over shot sizes. I'm not sure I can trust those math guys with that prime number stuff. Now I supose I won't sleep all night, Thanks. How are you fairing this winter except for the cabin fever? This pisswilly got to put LaCrosse on the calender but it cost me. ;-)
 
Okay, Dutch changed his answer, so I edited mine. But his sounds like a lot of bullsnot with some facts thrown in to confuse everything.

Shot size? Who knows. I think the explanation about size "0" shot at .17 and it being a baseline may be a good one. Don't know how they came up with B, BB, BBB, T and F, though.

It's probably almost as obscure as how they came up with the "gauge" designation...
 
Last edited:
At least the way it was explained to me.... 12 lead balls the diameter of a 12 ga weigh 1 lb. 20 balls for 20 ga, etc. Why they decided on a .410 cal shotgun? Think about the 4 ga! 1/4 lb of lead!!!!

Dave
 
is not exactly the phrase I'd use.

"These aren't rifles - should we use caliber?"

"No...they shoot shot, which could be varying sizes...even though the shell size is constant, it would just confuse everything..."

"Then what do we do?"

"Okay...let's get lead balls the diameter of the barrel."

"Why?"

"Well, we're going to see how many balls of that diameter it will take to make one pound...and we'll gauge each gun that way...oooo, that's what we'll cal it! Gauge!"

"Why one pound?"

"Why not?"

"uh....."

"Trust me. It works."

"All right. Have you been drinking?"

"A little...why?"

"No reason..."
 
Hmmmm...

Well a BB (a la the Daisy BB gun) is .177 and I dont think that would weigh anything close to 1/10 lb. otherwise those little BB containers that look like cardboard shotgun shells would weigh 50 or 100lb each


I have to go back up and see who asked this question...dont do that anymore, I have things to do around here
 
Last edited:
All good answers for sure except that you can't relate today's shot sizes to those of long ago and far away. I looked at tables of shot sizes last night and found 20 different sizes for # 6 for example.

Why 17? What about: Why #6 or 4's or 8's ....................what does it all mean anyway? I haven't been able to find anything on the whys of shot size.

One writer, I think it was Greener, suggested that #6 should be the standard shot size for all testing and the optimum size would be 270 pellets to the ounce. Current sized #6 shot is 225 per ounce.

Confused yet?
 
The answer to you question is this.... There is no answer. It has been lost to antiquity. Every where in the world there are different standards. Googleing shot towers. This what I found. They poured molten lead through a copper sleeve that had holes of an unknown size.
As the lead dropped it formed a sphere and fell into water and cooled. They use the same process today except they don't have to have such high towers.

The shot is sorted after its cooled by pouring it over or shakeing it over different size screens. The screens are what determine the shot size.

So if co. ABC gets there screens from a different co. than XYZ and the screen holes are just slightly different so is the shot. The numbers that are called 2,4,5,6,8,etc. To a large degree are relative No international or national standard. Since shot is sold by the pound like corn is sold by the bushel who cares what the exact size of the kernal.

So E=m2 where m=.17 Like I said before only a few if any understand it. Tom it has been a long long long winter.

The Eagle has returned to it nest and is gathering hay and straw for it. So spring is around the corner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top