Ode to the lowly M1 Carbine...

[browningautorifle]

It's simple, the term "Ball ammo" isn't a civilian term. It's military. We had to order ammo according to the description. It's not a guess. It's a fact. It IS a definitive answer. The reason others will support me is because It's correct.

When you discuss propellant, that's different. Ammo isn't ordered according to propellant.

[bonnie]

Ball refers to the type of bullet. Ball, tracer, incendiary and so on.

Correct. Ball ammunition, referring to a standard FMJ round, didn't matter what caliber small arm. Spent time as MP Company Ammunition NCO and Range NCO.

[Seaspriter]

Believe me, I'm not trying to be argumentative -- just trying to understand. If Ball refers to FMJ, then why this labeling?

[vintage hunter]

The term ''ball'', as used by the military in reference to a projectiles fired by small arms, is a hold over from the old days when a standard round of ammunition consisted of a charge of powder and a single round lead ball. The modern use of the term ball is synonymous for standard and the standard bullet for the .22LR round is a 40 grain lead round nose.

[browningautorifle]

is a hold over from the old days when a standard round of ammunition consisted of a charge of powder and a single round lead ball.

I said that...and the marking on the box of .22 stating ball is correct. As in not tracer or AP... And FMJ is ball and so is a ball. Powder still doesn't have anything to do with it. You can't argue yourself into changing facts.

[bonnie]

Military Ball ammunition can use either extruded or ball powders or flake powder.

LC M2 ball (30.06) uses IMR 4895, an extruded "stick" powder.
lc m2 ball ammunition picture - Google Search

M855 ball (5.56mm) uses WC 844, a ball powder.

M882 ball (9mm) uses HPC 26, a flake powder

[imarangemaster]

...I Used it for decades as a camp gun. It was powerful enough to take out a bear or cougar to protect the kids and a great deterrent for prowling humans. They remain my favorite weapon to shoot to this day. I guess a Ruger mini 14 might be close, but the carbine is more accurate and lighter yet. They are a timeless example of American industrial art that will never be made again. We are lucky to have a few of the 6M they made.

Least someone say they are not powerful enough to kill a bear...One of my favorite M1 Carbine pictures taken in Alaska in the 1950s or 1960s... Personally, I would want something a little bigger, but it can do the job in a pinch, especially for a smaller black bear.