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.5 inch ball bearings?

Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:56 pm
by igpay
Has anyone used these as ammo?
I have some from an old Magnetix set. They're apparently steel. I cant seem to find them anywhere else on the interwebs.

Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:11 pm
by SpudFarm
i have used them..
i used those from "geomag"

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:13 pm
by Brian the brain
Those are steel and yes, people have used them.I've put one trough a guitar myself.

Just get the cheapest magnet toy set you can find.
Great ammo!

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:17 pm
by bigbob12345
Ive done it too
Gives nice damage

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:36 pm
by hyldgaard
a lot of people use them as ammo because of their consistency and general "toughness". Ebay is a great source for cheap ball bearings :)

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:51 pm
by jimmy101
I've got a bunch of 7/16" stainless steel and chrome steel ones. The chrome ones were really cheap.

McMaster part number 96455K56, 100/$8

edit: can't spell for shit

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 11:22 pm
by Gippeto
I save the old ones when I rebuild chemical injection pumps. Mostly 1/4" and 3/8" , but I do get some 1/2". (316 stainless)

They work VERY well in my copper gun. :wink:

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:40 am
by THUNDERLORD
A source for something similar would be to get a bag of buckshot for reloading loading shotgun shells.

It's got to be cheaper than ball bearings. I haven't checked into it for all the info, but steel shot has become popular or copper plated lead shot also(the .32 diameter ones look like giant bb's)

The little birdshots don't look very uniform though. But that's what some bbmg's at the carnivals shoot (course they're not accurate)

BTW one time while walking outside I almost slipped on what felt just like ice and when I looked at the ground (pavement) it was covered with little steel ball bearings and was slicker than ice!!!

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:00 am
by ghostman01
you did pick them all up didnt you ??? lol free ballbs yay !!

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:30 pm
by THUNDERLORD
ajdevi92 wrote:you did pick them all up didnt you ??? lol free ballbs yay !!
No, I would have needed a magnet or vacuum, they were tiny like smallest birdshot size (sometimes called "dust").

And they were on asphalt and still slicker than ice to walk on.
They were in the parking lot/loading dock of a hospital.
Maybe they fell out of a machine or something.

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:44 pm
by SpudFarm
THUNDERLORD wrote:
ajdevi92 wrote:you did pick them all up didnt you ??? lol free ballbs yay !!
No, I would have needed a magnet or vacuum, they were tiny like smallest birdshot size (sometimes called "dust").

And they were on asphalt and still slicker than ice to walk on.
They were in the parking lot/loading dock of a hospital.
Maybe they fell out of a machine or something.
or someone had a plan with those bearings :D

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:24 am
by ghostman01
or they had already been used, lol

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:28 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
Some damage pics using a saboted 0.5" steel bearing:

Image

Standard issue laboratory safety glasses...


Image

...and the 1" thick pine board that was behind them. This was the entry hole.

Image

Exit hole

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:32 am
by MrCrowley
jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:Some damage pics using a saboted 0.5" steel bearing:

Image

Standard issue laboratory safety glasses...
Clearly those safety glasses aren't rated for operation of pneumatic weapons :roll:

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:37 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
Clearly those safety glasses aren't rated for operation of pneumatic weapons


Indeed :) They're pretty tough though, they can take a 12 ft/lb 0.22 or 0.177 airgun pellet without shattering, and apparently birdshot from a 12 gauge won't even penetrate it.