What does "Small Ball" mean?

[MuffinMaster]

I have seen a company use the term "small ball" in a bullet description but I am not too sure what that term really means or how it came about. A few of the bullets with that label are not exactly small (.452 230 gr) ..... for me. I guess it depends on the size cannon you load for.



One could have a lot of fun with this thread I think.

 

[Rule3]

It just means round. The 45 ACP are Soft Ball not Round Ball

Small ball is the 9mm round nose.

Great bullets and company

http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?pageNum_rsCWResults=2&category=5

 

[MuffinMaster]

right you are (soft ball) , so the term is interchangable round nose.

thx

 

[Rule3]

I do not know about interchangeable, just what the company named them.

The "official term" I believe is RN or round nose Lots of abbreviations for bullet shapes.

 

[ljnowell]

"Ball" ammo has always been used to decribe round nose ammo. They call the 9mm small ball because, well, its a small bullet. The 45 is a play on the old term "hard ball" which is a 230gr jacketed bullet. Softball is a 230gr lead round nose.

 

[Rule3]

I just wish that Brad would make more of the 230 gr Soft Ball in the 12 BHN lead. The 18 just seems to hard considering it is the same used in the magnum revolver bullets. They used to have some special order. Maybe now that things are a bit slower than can make some true soft balls.

 

[BruceB]

The term "Ball" comes from military usage.

US military small-arms ammunition is typically classed as

"ball"...... ordinary, full-power rounds with an inert lead-or-steel-cored bullet, and

Other types such as armor-piercing, tracer, incendiary, target-indicating.... you name it.

Some competitions require full-power "ball ammo", especially in the .45 ACP. Other matches do NOT require full-power "ball ammo". Therefore, the terms "hardball" and "softball" came to be adopted in competition circles, to differentiate between the ammo used for the the obligatory full-power stuff and the softer-recoiling "softball" ammunition.

Simple, eh what???

 

[MuffinMaster]

Learning the lingo and keeping it straight can be a bit for a newbie.

 

[BigG]

Ball is standard military small arms ammunition of whatever caliber. Not just round nosed. 30/06 ball is spitzer.

 

[Rule3]

Learning the lingo and keeping it straight can be a bit for a newbie.

Front sections of most any MANUAL They are not just load data recipe books.

 

[ljnowell]

Some competitions require full-power "ball ammo", especially in the .45 ACP. Other matches do NOT require full-power "ball ammo". Therefore, the terms "hardball" and "softball" came to be adopted in competition circles, to differentiate between the ammo used for the the obligatory full-power stuff and the softer-recoiling "softball" ammunition.

I have never once ever heard that description used. Hardball has always been jacketed ball ammo everywhere I have been. Also, as stated above, FMJ rifle rounds were referred to as Ball ammo also.

The first place I have ever seen the moniker "softball" was on Missouri Bullets website as a nickname for their 230gr bullet as it mimics the profile of 230gr hardball projectile.

I guess you learn something new everyday.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

There (MBC) small ball is a 9mm bullet that matches the profile for the 45acp if I remember correctly. I load up some short 9mm's that work well in my P210's with them. The 9mm small ball is a nice bullet if you load it correctly.

 

[BruceB]

Because we have not personally heard a term doesn't mean the term is not used.

The "hardball/softball" terminology is widely used in NRA and "military" Bullseye HANDGUN competition circles, where a shooter will often refer to his :hardball gun" or his "softball gun".

Because of the different ammunition used, and because of the DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT RULES, many dedicated competitors have TWO (or more!) .45 autos for the different types of match.

I haven't heard the "hardball/softball" terms used outside of NRA pistol competition circles.... but I was an active Bullseye shooter, and the report is accurate..

 

[LT.Diver]

Golf.

 

[morcey2]

Not golf.

Sacrifice bunts, stolen bases, hit-and-run, sac fly's, more of a National League style of game.

I've been trying to not post that since yesterday morning, but that's what immediately came to mind.

 

[ljnowell]

Because we have not personally heard a term doesn't mean the term is not used.

The "hardball/softball" terminology is widely used in NRA and "military" Bullseye HANDGUN competition circles, where a shooter will often refer to his :hardball gun" or his "softball gun".

Because of the different ammunition used, and because of the DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT RULES, many dedicated competitors have TWO (or more!) .45 autos for the different types of match.

I haven't heard the "hardball/softball" terms used outside of NRA pistol competition circles.... but I was an active Bullseye shooter, and the report is accurate..

Easy big fella, I believe you. Its just odd as I myself am a competitive Bullseye shooter and still dont hear the term. I'm guessing its just not as commonly used anymore, hence my statement "you learn something new every day." No need to get defensive.

 

[PJSprog]

Lost in all of this ...

Welcome to THR, MuffinMaster.