.22 BB

• Name —.22 BB • Origin — France • Type — Rifle • Designer — Louis-Nicolas Flobert • Design Date — 1845 • Production Date — 1845–present • Parent — Tapered percussion cap • Case Type — Rimmed, straight • Bullet —.223 • Neck —.224 • Base —.224 • Rim Dia —.270 • Rim Thick —.040 • Case Length —.284 • Length —.343 • Primer — Rimfire • Max Pressure — 5,000–8,000 psi (34.47–55.16 MPa) • Bw1 — 20 • Btype1 — rn • Vel1 — 780 • En1 — 26 • Bw2 — 18 • Btype2 — rn • Vel2 — 780 • En2 — 24 • Bw3 — 16 • Btype3 — rn • Vel3 — 750 • En3 — 20 • Balsrc — Cartridges of the World • Illustration — A.22 CB Cap,.22 short, and.22 Long Rifle; the BB Cap is the same length as the CB Cap, but uses a round lead ball as its projectile, instead of a conical-shaped bullet.

Frenchman Louis-Nicolas Flobert invented the first rimfire metallic cartridge in 1842. Known as the 4mm Randz Court or 4 mm Flobert Short. His cartridge consisted of a percussion cap with a bullet attached to the top. Flobert then made what he called "parlor guns" for this cartridge, as these rifles and pistols were designed to be shot in indoor shooting parlors in large homes. Usually derived in the 6 mm and 9 mm calibres, it is since then called the Flobert cartridge, but it does not contain any powder; the only propellant substance contained in the cartridge is within the percussion cap. In Europe, the.22 BB Cap and.22 CB Cap are both called 6mm Flobert and are considered the same cartridge.

• Case length: •.22 BB Cap: 0.284 in • 22 CB Cap: 0.284 in •.22 Short: 0.423 in •.22 Long: 0.613 in • Bullet weight: •.22 BB Cap: 18 gr •.22 CB Cap: 18 gr •.22 Short: 29 gr •.22 Long: 29 gr • Muzzle velocity: •.22 BB Cap: 780 ft/s •.22 CB Cap: 953 ft/s •.22 Short: 900 ft/s •.22 Long: 1,060 ft/s