February 28, 2015, 07:41 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: July 8, 2013
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Ball Ammo
Why is military ball ammo called, "ball" ammo? Is it because of the shape of the powder or does it go back to the days of round musket balls?
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February 28, 2015, 08:49 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: November 6, 2012
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I think its more the shape of the ammo. RN is more like the term we use now a days. It could come from the old musket days.
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February 28, 2015, 11:23 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: February 15, 2009
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Yes, round balls in muskets.
Ball is the standard military bullet Round is the cartridge it's in. |
March 1, 2015, 12:25 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: March 11, 2006
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It dates to the round ball fired in rifles and muskets, and is still in use today due to the soldiers penchant for keeping the names they know, and applying them to new things. "Ball" refers to the single ball, as opposed to shot (multiple small balls).
When we adopted the hollow base bullet, designed by Minie', it became the "Minnie ball" in our Civil war slang. Single projectile ammo (bullet) is called "ball" by the military, and has been since they used real balls for bullets. Today, we understand "ball" ammo to be FMJ. The standard military load. It has nothing to do with the powder, or even the shape of the bullet today.
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