Golf balls size steel balls-now available

[Victor3]

 "All in all, we made out like bandits!!"

 Yup. Match grade stuff.

 However, I don't believe even a total of .5mm ball-to-ball diameter/spherical variation could be conclusively proven (other than in theory) to provide less consistent accuracy than balls varying .0000001mm, considering a smoothbore cannon of this size with standard windage.

 IMO, other variables would be far less controllable, thus cancelling out any advantage gained by near perfect balls.

[Cat Whisperer]

if this is what it takes to sell you guys a steel ball........I wouldn't like to try and sell you a camel.......one lump...or two.

I have seen some pictures of camel-mounts for weaponry.  Think it was WWI vintage though.

[carronader]

you store a lot of junk in that head of yours cat........but once again........you ain't wrong.

[Double D]

if this is what it takes to sell you guys a steel ball........I wouldn't like to try and sell you a camel.......one lump...or two.

English tea has lumps, camels have humps.... 

I have seen some pictures of camel-mounts for weaponry.  Think it was WWI vintage though.

Gordon Relief expedition used camels in 1884.

[Max Caliber]

More camel guns.

[dan610324]

it would be very interesting to see how the reaction would be if you start to crank that gatling with the muzzle just 2-3 feet away from the ears of the camel 

[Double D]

Yeah, but did Fox use camels to deliver these steel balls!

[Double D]

Are all you skeptics now convinced that the balls that Fox has made for us for use in our golf ball mortars are with in adequate tolerances for our use?   

I am reluctant to ask them to make more in other sizes as the skepticism sure doesn't leave one with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

[seacoastartillery]

     Double D,    Mike and I just ordered two full buckets, 150 balls, is that a good enough answer for you?

Don't be so grumpy!  Just get busy on that artillery piece you are working on and show a few more pics!  I already thanked you at least 4 times for doing the leg work on this ammo availability project and I certainly don't mind making it 5 times.

Thank you DD for all your effort in making these purchases possible; we really appreciate it! 

The following posting by Victor3 is accurate and should be considered by anyone thinking about ordering some of these steel balls for cannon ammo:


                           

"All in all, we made out like bandits!!"    (seacoast comment)

 Yup. Match grade stuff.

 However, I don't believe even a total of .5mm ball-to-ball diameter/spherical variation could be conclusively proven (other than in theory) to provide less consistent accuracy than balls varying .0000001mm, considering a smoothbore cannon of this size with standard windage.

 IMO, other variables would be far less controllable, thus cancelling out any advantage gained by near perfect balls.

Regards,

Mike and Tracy

[Double D]

Today is Gahendra day....Gahendra is Nepalese for...well we can't use that word here, this is a family board.

[Zulu]

Well, whatever it means, Merry Gahendra to everyone.  I wish much Gahendra and prosperity to all!
 
Zulu

[1Southpaw]

and a bucket of Fox Balls ... 

I'm ready ! 

My wife does not think that is Funny .

[Terry C.]

So, you know of course I just HAD to go to camelphotos.com...

[PaulB]

Are all you skeptics now convinced that the balls that Fox has made for us for use in our golf ball mortars are with in adequate tolerances for our use?   

I am reluctant to ask them to make more in other sizes as the skepticism sure doesn't leave one with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

The 50 I received look fantastic, much nicer than others I have ordered from another mfg. I ordered them on a friday and they were on my doorstep tuesday... great service!

[Ex 49'er]

Just got my two buckets w/150 ballz tonight. Only took 8 days to get to the best(west) coast. Nice looking ballz with a light coating of oil to stave off rust. This is a great deal. Thanks, Gary for finding them! Thanks Douglas for getting the deal!  

Wonder how many of the lot of balls are left?

[carronader]

aaaaaaaaa  the silent majority speaks !

[GGaskill]

The lot size was 1000 kg which works out to about 3200 pieces.  We should be able to do the arithmetic.  75 for me.

[brokenpole]

For the record my income tax return should be here in a matter of days and then my order for 50 of these wonderfully made projectiles will be on its way to Fox.  Now that the snow in the south seems to have ended and the temperatures are starting to warm up it is time to lay seige to some unsuspecting piece of plywood at about 150 yards.

Thanks for all the work DD.

bp

[RocklockI]

Just got my two buckets w/150 ballz tonight. Only took 8 days to get to the best(west) coast. Nice looking ballz with a light coating of oil to stave off rust. This is a great deal. Thanks, Gary for finding them! Thanks Douglas for getting the deal!  

Wonder how many of the lot of balls are left?

Thank you Ex49'er you are welcome .
Gary

[Zulu]

These are some of the balls I cast with my steel mould.  They are 2.95" and were cast out of aluminun at a friends foundry.  I cast this many more out of lead and zinc on my crawfish burner.  Somehow I never fired one when I had my Parrott Rifle.
Zulu

[Victor3]

Are all you skeptics now convinced that the balls that Fox has made for us for use in our golf ball mortars are with in adequate tolerances for our use?   

I am reluctant to ask them to make more in other sizes as the skepticism sure doesn't leave one with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

 The bottom line is that the balls are rollin' out of Fox's warehouse. If they continue to sell I'd think they'd want to make more, warm fuzzies or not.

 I'm just wondering if they're profitable. $1 each for steel balls of this size with good finish and tight diameter tolerance? That's a heluva bargain if you ask me.

 Would this type of ball (in correct diameters) be within the rules of N-SSA target competition? If so, I'd think some guys would jump on relatively inexpensive precision ammo to give them an edge over those shooting cast balls.

[GGaskill]

I don't know how much a cast 6 pounder shot costs but just multiplying by the volume factor (2.083³ which equals 9.042) says probably $10 each minimum and 12 pounders would likely be $20 each.  On the other hand, that's probably pretty cheap.  Maybe the next purchaser could ask about this.

[Terry C.]

You also have to consider that there may be a limit on the maximum size they can produce.

I've seem reference to 3" balls, but a 12-pounder is going to be 4.5" in diameter, that may be pushing their manufacturing capabilities.

How big is too big?

[seacoastartillery]

From Victor3:
"Would this type of ball (in correct diameters) be within the rules of N-SSA target competition? If so, I'd think some guys would jump on relatively inexpensive precision ammo to give them an edge over those shooting cast balls."


     Solid steel or iron balls are not allowed in NSSA competition.  See the pertinent section of their current Rules below. Maybe someone who participates regularly in their competitions can tell us exactly why this is so?


"10.10.2 PROJECTILES

a.   Projectile shall not be of a configuration that may cause unsafe pressures.  Weight of projectiles shall be limited to that amount permitted by  TABLE 10.1.

b.   Solid ferrous, combustible, explosive or pyrotechnic projectiles are prohibited."

     Victor3,  yours is not a silly idea, it's just that organizations these days are micromanaged by their lawyers.  Just a guess, but I bet some sharp legal eagle picked up on the word 'fragment' in some conversation at some meeting in the past, and 'faulty cast iron' was also mentioned and discussed.  So, to ban 'faulty cast iron' projectiles you get a ban on 'solid ferrous' which includes solid steel, solid malleable iron and solid cast iron projectiles.  When it comes to exclusions, lawyers tend to cast a very large net.  No surgical strikes for these guys, they want Nukes right away!  The reason is, of course, that if an accident occurs, they want the language of those rules they wrote to be 'bullet-proof', because the plaintiff's lawyers are going to be dissecting the Rule Book minutely.  This is all conjecture, but I bet the truth is in there, nevertheless.  

Tracy and Mike

[Double D]

Artilleryman night be able to shed light.  Perhaps ricochet and sparking factor.

These ball are soft enough for machining.  At least they can be drilled and tapped if you stick one.

[Zulu]

Wouldn't you need a pretty long drill bit and tap?  At least longer than anything I have
Zulu

[GGaskill]

You would need an extension, at least.

[dan610324]

if you drill and thread them to attach a sabot , theoretical they aint solid any longer

[Double D]

Wouldn't you need a pretty long drill bit and tap?  At least longer than anything I have
Zulu

I have the tools...now. 

[Victor3]

Perhaps ricochet and sparking factor.

 That might be. Sparking in the bore while loading and/or fire danger downrange in dry conditions could be the reason. A lot of ranges don't allow steel jacketed bullets because of fire danger. Didn't say anything about 'ferrous' in general being a no-no in the rules though, just solid ferrous.

 Maybe they only use lead, zinc or aluminum