Monday, February 10, 2020

What Is Ball Ammo?

Via Alex

a photo of the m1 garand with magazines and 30-06 ammo

Shooters often use the term “ball ammo” to describe cartridges with a full metal jacket bullet (FMJ). Although the jargon hints that the projectile is spherically shaped or contains some sort of hidden “ball” within, neither is true.

It’s the least-expensive ammunition—on average—available to civilian gun owners and accounts for the bulk of U.S. military small arms munitions. It’s clean, reliable, accurate and the favored fodder for practice, competition and informal range sessions.   

Modern bullet design has slightly blurred ball ammo’s precise definition, however, which can make the term confusing to new gun owners. Here’s a look at likely origins of the name, what it means and what it does not.

More @ Wideners

6 comments:

  1. I have often wondered about this although obviously not enough to research it myself. So thank you for the explanation.

    On a more personal note: for some reason every time I would read or hear of 'ball' ammo, I would be drawn back to memories of digging up musket balls in North Carolina. It didn't take great effort to find them.

    Rick

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    1. 1965-67 Havelock near Cherry Point MCAS. For a time we lived down a dirt road two miles from the highway which is now Hwy 70.

      Rick

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    2. Thanks and I remember going down a road in the back of Cherry Point and it ended up on large lake/river and you could buy a place there. I saw many traps out for crabs and shrimp.

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    3. Oh, the stories I could tell of the Alligator River and Pamlico Sound. The river runs through the Air Station to empty into the sound and the Station backs up to the sound. Time off most always meant getting out on the water. To this day I haven't forgot the Blue Crab and them crab cakes.

      Rick

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    4. Blue Crab and them crab cakes.

      Come on down and we'll take care of that and much more. Licking my chops now. :)

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