What is "ball" ammo?

Prof Young · January 3, 2020, 11:26 AM

When one refers to "ball" ammo as in "380 ball," what does "ball" mean?

Life is good.
Prof Young

jimbob86 · January 3, 2020, 11:58 AM

Full Metal Jacket, or solid lead round nose ..... ammo not designed to expand.

Doyle · January 3, 2020, 12:10 PM

Does anyone know how this term originated? I'm assuming it had some connection to pre-civil war round balls.

reynolds357 · January 3, 2020, 12:30 PM

Loaded 9mm and 45acp ball ammo look like they are loaded with a round ball. (My guess)

azretired · January 3, 2020, 01:24 PM

It's started as a Military term. Standard gov't issue full metal jacket 30-06, 7.62, 5.56, 45 acp, 9mm are considered "Ball ammo"

reteach · January 3, 2020, 01:44 PM

Doyle, you're correct about the origin. And as azretired says, we still use the term thanks to the military.

Before the Minié bullet was designed, ammunition for muskets, rifles and pistols was a plain round ball of lead. But the military mind is set in its ways. Even the Minié, which is cone-shaped, was designated the "Minié ball." In another example of military hard-headedness, some models of the Winchester 1866 were called "muskets" when bought by militaries around the world, even though they had rifled barrels.

So "ball" technically refers to fmj made for military use. But the rest of us can use the term "ball" to refer to any fmj.

**44 AMP** · January 3, 2020, 02:04 PM

"Ball" ammo is a combination term, both military, and civilian slang. Dates from the era when all ammo was balls. Held over in military use when projectile shapes changed from balls to bullets, though balls are technically bullets too.

When jacketed ammo was created, there was a time of "hard ball" and "soft ball". referring to jacketed and lead.

When the military began using other types of bullets, such as tracer and AP, "ball" was used to identify the basic FMJ bullet. And that's the way civilians (and GIs) refer to them today.

pack_rat · January 6, 2020, 11:44 PM

The French word for bullet is balle.
The Minié ball is a corrupted version of Minié balle,
or Minié bullet. Since it is a conical bullet, ball (as in musket ball)
does not apply. That points to poor translation combined with
common parlance back in the day.

p_r

labnoti · January 7, 2020, 12:39 AM

So what do the British call it?

**44 AMP** · January 7, 2020, 02:31 AM

Quote:

So what do the British call it?

probaby "Number (something) Mark (something)

January 3, 2020, 11:26 AM	#1
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,404	What is "ball" ammo? When one refers to "ball" ammo as in "380 ball," what does "ball" mean? Life is good. Prof Young

January 3, 2020, 01:24 PM	#5
azretired Member Join Date: March 2, 2019 Location: Arizona Posts: 36	It's started as a Military term. Standard gov't issue full metal jacket 30-06, 7.62, 5.56, 45 acp, 9mm are considered "Ball ammo" __________________ Perception is Reality Retired LEO, US Army veteran, NRA Patron Member

January 3, 2020, 02:04 PM	#7
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,839	"Ball" ammo is a combination term, both military, and civilian slang. Dates from the era when all ammo was balls. Held over in military use when projectile shapes changed from balls to bullets, though balls are technically bullets too. When jacketed ammo was created, there was a time of "hard ball" and "soft ball". referring to jacketed and lead. When the military began using other types of bullets, such as tracer and AP, "ball" was used to identify the basic FMJ bullet. And that's the way civilians (and GIs) refer to them today. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 6, 2020, 11:44 PM	#8
pack_rat Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2000 Location: AL50 Posts: 156	Lost in translation The French word for bullet is balle. The Minié ball is a corrupted version of Minié balle, or Minié bullet. Since it is a conical bullet, ball (as in musket ball) does not apply. That points to poor translation combined with common parlance back in the day. p_r __________________ "We have done the impossible and that makes us mighty." -Malcolm Reynolds

January 3, 2020, 11:58 AM	#2
jimbob86 Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 8,722	Full Metal Jacket, or solid lead round nose ..... ammo not designed to expand.

January 3, 2020, 12:10 PM	#3
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Does anyone know how this term originated? I'm assuming it had some connection to pre-civil war round balls.

January 3, 2020, 12:30 PM	#4
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Loaded 9mm and 45acp ball ammo look like they are loaded with a round ball. (My guess)

January 3, 2020, 01:44 PM	#6
reteach Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2016 Location: Texas Posts: 379	Doyle, you're correct about the origin. And as azretired says, we still use the term thanks to the military. Before the Minié bullet was designed, ammunition for muskets, rifles and pistols was a plain round ball of lead. But the military mind is set in its ways. Even the Minié, which is cone-shaped, was designated the "Minié ball." In another example of military hard-headedness, some models of the Winchester 1866 were called "muskets" when bought by militaries around the world, even though they had rifled barrels. So "ball" technically refers to fmj made for military use. But the rest of us can use the term "ball" to refer to any fmj.

January 7, 2020, 12:39 AM	#9
labnoti Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2018 Posts: 252	So what do the British call it?