"BOOLIT" as seen elsewhere...

[BruceB]

The question has arisen, over on the Reloading Board at www.smith-wessonforum.com as to why we use the term "boolit" instead of the more-common "bullet" spelling.

Perhaps someone (or a few someones) could drop in and enlighten the residents. It's a very nice site, so kindly be on good behavior if you decide to drop in.

[wiljen]

I always just figured it was because Ken couldn't spell and nobody had the heart to tell him.

[dubber123]

Originally Posted by wiljen

I always just figured it was because Ken couldn't spell and nobody had the heart to tell him.

He He!

[kodiak1]

That's funny!!!!!
Ken.

[Jim]

It's a matter of differentiation. Manufacturers make bullets. WE make BOOLITS!!

[Pilgrim]

Jim is correct. I believe I was the originator of the term many years ago. Probably back on the Shooters cast bullet forum in fact. I kept getting irritated when communicating with members of the board whenever the term "bullet or bullets" were used as I had a hard time distinguishing WHAT KIND of bullet was being discussed. We usually went thru a rigamarole going back and forth sorting out whether we/they were talking about FLGC's, half jackets, cast, swaged, etc. After a year or so of irritation, and some trepidation, I suggested we use the term boolits for our cast bullets and then the term bullets contained all other projectiles. Most agreed with me and it stuck and we've been using it ever since. It may sound ignorant, but quite honestly, it is anything but ignorant, and has made our CB communicating via the written word oh so much more easily understood and has withstood the test of time to boot! Pilgrim

[waksupi]

Just read thier thread. Pretty funny, all in all. And far be it, for some of the participants in the discussion, to actually visit here, to see what passes between the members!

Durned full length gas check shooters, Anwho.

And I do believe Pilgrim is correct in his telling of the origins. And it sure as heck had nothing to do with cowboy shooters, in my recollection!

[pumpguy]

I guess everyone is entitled to an opinion. Some of those guys are pretty easy going and really don't care what we call our favorite projectile. I would welcome those guys here anytime. The rest of them are probably pretty well suited to staying where they are.

[waksupi]

I do detect a certain amount of "uptightedness" in some of the posts. We would most likely drive them crazy. First thing you know, we would have someone going off topic.

Snowing here tonight.

[nvbirdman]

I had the great good fortune to meet Ammohead at our local range one day and when we started talking about casting he asked me what cast bullet board I was talking about. I replied cast boo-lits, and he knew right away I was talking about this forum.

[NVcurmudgeon]

It's hard to believe but some of the posters on the S&W forum seem to be genuinely angry at our use of the term "boolits." Others have defended our ignorance, and some have even got it right. Too funny!

[Buckshot]

...............I've seen Boolit's used all over. Kind of like drawing the fish symbol in the dirt the early Christians had to do to identify themselves to each other. I don' tmean to say we're persecuted, by ANY means, but you DO know 'whense a person came' if they wirte Boolit, eh?

I've seen this site mentioned on other boards when someone had a cast question come up. Once on the Gunboards.com site the referee also mentioned as an aside. "They call them Boolits over there for some reason.

You ask a guy what kind of pickup he has and he says "A Jimmy", well you KNOW it's a rebadged Chevy, right? Same thing. It ain't a GMC it's a 'Jimmy'.

I will, here and now lay claim to the acronym FLGC, before time dims it into a past epoch, as we had historicly been using Condom, J-word, or J-bullet. Watching the movie, "The Mask" with Jim Carry (and intoducing what's her name). In one scene he pulls a bad guys underwaer up over his head and I thought, ya know that's just like a jacketed bullet. All it is is a lead boolit with it's underwear pulled up over it's head!

Anyway, yes it's a BOOLIT! BTW, I was perusing a few retailers trying to find some jacketed 375 bullets as kind of a barrel treatment for my new Hi-Wall. Egads, and gadzooks! I couldn't find ANY ANYWHERE that were less then $30/100! Some were twice as much. Well Screw that! I thought maybe RP or Win might have had some for like $18/100 but I suppose those days are long gone.

...............Buckshot

[NVcurmudgeon]

I embraced the distinction between bullets and boolits as a means of avoiding circumlocutions. (There, that will give our critics pause, a five syllable word.)

[GLL]

I have been a member of the S&W Forum for a number of years, but just do not understand why all of the fuss was made about the term "boolits" in the first place! Most of the guys (and girls) over there are pretty laid back though. I learn a lot from both sites !

I love Buckshot's "Jimmy" analogy !

Jerry

Pre-War S&W .38/44 Outdoorsman

[Erich]

Hi all!

I've ghosted your site for years now because it so often has good info. I never signed up, though, because I don't cast and don't really consider myself to be a particularly advanced handloader (though I suppose I've learned some things over the last 20 years) and didn't want to slow you all down.

Anyway, I've been using a lot of cast bullets lately (mostly from a friend in TN, of late) and have even been using the term "boolits" to describe them (I suppose I picked up on the nuances of what you were saying in my visits here) when I saw an invitation on the S&W Forum to sign up over here and followed up.

Not sure what all the fuss is about over there, but you know how things get sometimes. Anyway, hope you don't mind having me around - thanks for the invite and the cool place you've developed here - and all the good info I've gleaned here over time.

cheers, erich

[Bret4207]

Hey Erich and welcome. I know you from several of the handgun boards. Good to have you aboard.

[454PB]

Welcome, Erich. Even non-casters can gain a lot of knowledge here, and FLGC shooters (I like that Buckshot!) can share theirs here. Most members don't talk about it much, but they have some FLGCs on the shelf. I joined here for the cast information, but darned if some small knowledge of BP and milsurp rifles haven't crept in. I'm certainly not smart enough about them to answer any questions, but at least I know enough now to ask some.

[Erich]

Thanks, gents!

[Buckshot]

..................Hi Erich, and a warm welcome to the board. Just what we need, another peestol guy, sheesh

.................Buckshot

[Jim]

Converts! Hot Diggity!!