About Ball Ammo

About Ball Ammo

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to talk about ball ammo today. Ammunition of this type has persisted in widespread use for well over a century by many end users. Militaries, law enforcement personnel, and private citizens have utilized ammo of this type for various purposes. Today we are going to delve into what ball ammo is while covering use cases and other considerations. Without further ado, let’s talk about ball ammo.

What is Ball Ammo?

Put plainly, the term “ball ammo” refers to a category of ammunition with solid projectiles. This is to say that bullets are a consistent and uniform shape and are not meant to expand upon impact. The term is often used to describe standard, garden variety loadings for various calibers. Loadings of this type can be found in the form of pistol, rifle, and rimfire ammunition. Ball ammo projectiles are commonly found in the form of exposed lead or feature coating or jacketing. The term has military origins and was often applied as a suffix to some ammo naming conventions. Notable examples are general uses of “5.56 Ball” or “M80 Ball” in reference to 7.62 NATO and .308 Win loadings.

Is Ball Ammo the Same as Full Metal Jacket Ammo?

Notably, full metal jacket, or FMJ, type ammunition is considered ball ammo. This is to say that one of the most prevalent and affordable bullet types classifies as ball ammo. FMJ classifies as ball ammo due to the presence of a solid projectile often constructed from lead, steel, or copper. These projectiles are then encapsulated by metal jackets from brass or copper. In short, FMJ loadings and other popular projectile types like TMJ and TSJ loadings qualify as ball ammo. Most loadings with solid projectiles designed for general-purpose use classify as ball ammo. Purchase Ammo

What is Ball Ammo Used For?

As mentioned above, ball ammo is general purpose in nature. Ammunition of this type has seen widespread martial use by militaries across the globe. As such, ball ammo has been employed for training and combat use for well over a century. The Hague Convention of 1899 condemned the use of soft point (SP) bullets in warfare and deemed their use inhumane. Following this condemnation, ball ammo became standard with signatory nations across the globe, a trend which continues to this day. In the civilian world, shooters employ ball ammunition for various use types. Training, plinking, and competition are some of the most common uses for ball ammo among shooters in America.

Who Makes Ball Ammo?

Currently, ball ammo is produced by many companies. Manufacturers of ball ammo hail from various countries across the globe. Loadings of this type are found in forms loaded to military specs or in offerings tailored for the commercial market. Ball ammo offerings are quite prevalent and are available in many bulk ammo quantities. Common bulk ball ammo examples include case quantities and ammo cans of bulk 5.56 ammo or bulk 7.62 NATO ammo. Companies like PMC, GGG, Turan, CCI, and Federal are among the many producers of ball ammo. Today, one will have no problem finding ball ammo loadings for popular calibers like 9mm, .45 ACP, .223, or 7.62x39.

Can Ball Ammo Be Corrosive?

Ball ammo can potentially be corrosive in nature. While non-corrosive ball ammo loadings outnumber corrosive loadings, shooters should be aware of the existence of corrosive ball ammunition. Corrosive status is ultimately determined by the type of primer used. This is to say that there are corrosive primers and non-corrosive primers. Typically, corrosive primers are of the Berdan type, though not all Berdan primers are corrosive. Corrosion occurs due to the presence of potassium chlorate in corrosive primers. The use of this chemical essentially leads to corrosive salts being dispersed into the action and bore of a firearm. Ball ammunition can be found in corrosive form in either commercial or military surplus loadings. That being said, a majority of the ball ammo one will encounter on the market will be of the non-corrosive variety.

Is Ball Ammo Range Safe?

Another important ammo factor to consider is whether or not a loading is range safe. As with corrosion, ball ammo loadings can either be range safe or barred from use at most facilities. Ball ammo loadings with lead core projectiles will not raise alarms at restrictive ranges. This is to say that standard lead core FMJ loadings are range safe forms of ball ammo. Indoor and outdoor ranges typically disallow the use of steel core projectiles. Indoor ranges cite potential backstop damage while outdoor ranges cite increased fire hazards and ricochet potential. Due to these concerns, ball ammo offerings with steel cores are often barred from use at many of these establishments. At this point in time, there are more lead core ball ammo offerings than steel core offerings. In short, most ball ammo one will encounter is considered range safe. Purchase Ammo

Can You Reload Ball Ammo?

Generally speaking, shooters have the potential to reload ball ammo. If brass casings are utilized, ball ammo loadings have the potential of being efficiently reloaded. Granted, one must ensure that casings have not been subjected to excessive firing cycles and are in a serviceable condition. Brass is more malleable than steel and aluminum, making the material easier for reloaders to work with. The type of primer utilized is another important aspect of reloading. Boxer primers follow a consistent sizing convention while Berdan primers do not. If a ball ammo loading use Boxer primers, reloaders will have a much easier time reloading recovered casings. In summation, some ball ammo offerings are more easily reloaded than others.

Is Ball Ammo Expensive?

Ball ammo is generally affordable when compared to other types of loadings. This is due to the fact that these types of loadings use standard projectiles rather than premium bullets. Loadings featuring standard FMJ bullets will almost always be cheaper than hollow point or specialty bullets in the same caliber. Naturally, specialty projectiles such as Sierra bullets or solid copper projectiles cost more than standard ball ammo projectiles. The affordable nature of ball ammo offerings makes them well-suited to buying in bulk to shoot or stockpile. In short, ball ammo is affordable and won’t break the bank.

Conclusion

In short, ball ammo continues to be a mainstay for shooters in the modern era. Ammo of this type is excellent for many uses and is affordable for shooters of all types. Additionally, the affordable nature of ball ammo benefits shooters as the hobby is made more accessible with cheap ammo. Ball ammo also supports a wide range of calibers, catering to the preferences of many types of shooters. At True Shot Ammo we stock a wide range of ball ammo in our inventory of ammo for sale. Our inventory of ammunition for sale encompasses popular calibers and gauges like 9mm, 5.56, 12 gauge, and .22 LR. Whether you want to buy ball ammo in FMJ form or buy bulk ammo, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.