not sure, good question.

 

It is nomenclature from the early musket balls and through the years it has just been adopted for anything plain or FMJ. Pretty much not hollow point, soft point, tracer and the likes.

 

that was my understanding as well. its a military term for generic ammo and not a special round. it has been altered in meaning to meet the changing of the ammo.

 

i believe it refers to the type of powder. theres ball and stick powders. ball more powerfull but dirty

 

I always thought it was due to "ball powder"

It was called "Ball" ammunition long before ball powders arrived in the scene. Around the late 1940s early 50s.

Al

 

Back from when muzzleloaders fired ball or shot, I think.

 

It's a carry over from cap n ball days.

 

Solid core wrapped in a hard crunchy shell... It's generic military terminology that just means solid.

 

I thought it was that muskets where loaded with ball instead of shot?? Now I'm curious.

 

They can be loaded with both simultaneously. There is a specific cartridge called buck and ball where it's a musket ball with 3 or 4 .32 calibre shot.

 

Why can't they just say FMJ

 

TMJ and CMJ would also be considered ball ammo. I believe that Montana Gold is either considered T or C, but not F.

Most would know what you were talking about if you did though.

 

Several interesting reposnses on this YahooAnswers page......
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100827163726AAPZj4x

This thread from 2003 on AR15.com had a couple good answers, including the following one from one of their staff members.....
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_16/150142_Definition_of_the_term_andapos_ball_ammoandapos___.html
"When referring to ammo, "ball" is synonymous for "standard." The term comes from the time of the transition from smooth-bore muskets to rifle muskets. Originally, the rifled muskets (i.e., rifles) shot the same round lead balls that smooth-bore muskets had been using for over a century. But it didn't take too long for specialized bullets to be developed for the rifle muskets to take advantage of their increased accuracy. Though the Minie ball is among the most famous of these early improved bullets due to its wide use in the American Civil War, there were many other designs used before and since. Anyway, as these new bullet designs came into use, the word "ball" was used to refer to "standard" ammo (meaning round lead balls) vs. the new conical bullets. The term has stuck, even though the development of jacketed bullets. Today, "ball" generally means FMJ bullets, as these are the "default" or "standard" bullets used by the military."

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet

Thats why --

 

I always thought it was due to "ball powder"

 

Ball ammo refers to "hardball", which is slang for full metal jacket.

 

.45 ACP ball ammo is pretty round.

 

45 ACP is called ball because it is the standard military round. It is not a tracer round or a shot round or a blank round. Through 0ut history all kinds of projectiles have been shot out of various barrels. grape shot, chains. what the heck even rock salt. but back in the day a round ball was the most common, thus the common load was ball.

 

In a word, Tradition.

 

Which is also the reason I personally refuse to use the term Long Colt when refering to the 45 Colt round.
But, hey, that's just me.:

 

I'm still looking for a box of 45 short colt or a revolver so marked.

Traditions often are loosely based in fact. Very loosely for some.

 

S&W came out with a break open revolver in 45 S&W the late 1800's , it was shorter than the 45 colt, and never sold as well. There never was a 45 long or 45 short. the title was 45 colt and 45 S&W. Now days the term long colt is used by some people so to not confuse it with the 45 ACP. If everyone used the proper given name there would not be any confusion.

 

45 Schofield was the ammo. S&W #3 was the revolver. The problem was the #3 was designed originally for the 44 Russian cartridge which is shorter than the 45 Colt. The cylinder could not be chambered for the longer 45 Colt. Major George W Schofield believed the S&W with certain modifications would make a superior Calvary arm than the Colt Model P. He also recommended shorting the 45 Colt cartridge case to allow it to fit in the shorter cylinder of the #3. For his work he was rewarded by having the new revolver and cartridge named after him.

You can shoot 45 Schofield in a Colt, the reverse is not possible.

 

Because guys like saying ball. Less sylla-balls.

All Klingon attack and tactical commands are single syllables as well. Speed counts in battle.

 

Short but interesting snippet on "short" vs "long" colts.

As far as the OP's question; my vote goes with the musket to rifle transition, but I'm no historian or linguist.

 

JDH explained in detail what I only remembered vaguely, I very sure that his explaination is correct in every detail.

 

Just simply tradition. The term dates back to muzzle-loaders. A modern "ball round" today is simply an FMJ.

 

 

It is Military nomenclature for general use BALListic ammunition.

This is as opposed to Armor Piercing, Tracer....etc.