Tracer ammo

there are two different kinds of tracers, short range and long range. short range ignite in the barrel and burn out quickly, long range have delayed ignition and ignite about 75-125 yards away. I've fired both in limited quantities, I dont know what it is about long range tracers that causes them to delay but while experimenting with 30-06 tracer bullets, dropped into 303 casings(not a good idea) only about 30% of them actually ignited because tracers require hotter burning powder to set them off.
 
Banger:

Shooting tracers is against the law in most places; if not against the law, they are a fire danger and shouldn't be shot. Shooters get enough of unearned flack about sparks starting fires. We don't need the bad publicity of a fire started from tracer bullets.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
"Perhaps the stuff that makes it to the civilian market is different, I dunno...I've only fired rounds that were USG issued"

I don't know either, all my tracer was IDF issued, and made in Israel, the US, Belgium, and a few East Bloc countries. I've never used any gunshow tracer ammo.
 
tahuna, never heard of differences in long range and short range tracers, but that certainly could provide an explanation to the discussion. US Army only trains on one type...IIRC the tracer burnout for 5.56 is 600m, 7.62 around 900m.
 
Guys.. Thanks for all the info. A few things...

First, since my original post, there has been considerable dialog concerning the inherent fire danger associated with tracer ammo. These warnings are certainly well founded and I appreciate the sentiment. Let me assure you that I’m a highly responsible person that would take extra precaution in firing tracer rounds. In fact I have a good size pond on my farm that I was planning to fire the rounds.

Secondly, someone suggested that there may be legal issues with firing tracer rounds. As far as I know, it is not illegal in Alabama. I’m certainly no attorney so if anyone has specific knowledge to the contrary, I obviously would like to know.

If you will recall from my OP, I merely purchased these rounds out of curiosity more than anything. My concerns were with potential harm to the barrel. This thread has sparked quite a debate over whether the round fires in the barrel or once in flight. I know someone mentioned that the military uses countless tracer rounds so that would suggest it’s safe use. That certainly sounds reasonable, however, with it’s massive budgets, I don’t think that they are so concerned with barrel life on their rifles so much as they are with either killing the enemy or training to kill the enemy. I’m not so sure that’s good reckoning in determining tracer safety. With all of this said, I’ll probably just fire one or two rounds just to satisfy my curiosity and that will be the end of it.

btw.. someone asked about the cost, I paid $10.00 for a box of 20

Thanks for all of the replies and info.
 
Tracers dont really put too much wear and tear damage on a barrel... be warry though that tracers are inherently less accurate than actual FMJ rounds. Considerably less accurate.

The tracer itself doesn't really light until a few feet (most definitely closer than 75m for US made military tracers, I'd say it's more like 15-20m) out of the muzzle, and then it burns out at 900m.

as for fires, I've been present at a number of range fires caused by tracers ricocheting off of a berm, and into dry grass. Pinestraw catches really quick too. It DEFINITELY happens, just something to be warry of.
 
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It always depended on how many tracers we had, but I tried to keep 3 in the middle and 5 at the end of my mag so I had an idea of round count. At one point it seemed we had more tracer than ball so my mags were tracer:ball:tracer:ball with 2 on top, 3 in the middle and 5 on the end.

Tracers are so bad about making fires we always had a fire detail on standby to put out the fires made by 240's and 50's in yakima. Saw some ranges get shut down on knox for a bit to for the same reason, in those dry summer/early fall months. But it really depends on what you're shooting into...really dry grass/pinestraw vs spring vegetation. Never had a problem with the green stuff burning.
 
"First, since my original post, there has been considerable dialog concerning the inherent fire danger associated with tracer ammo. These warnings are certainly well founded and I appreciate the sentiment. Let me assure you that I’m a highly responsible person that would take extra precaution in firing tracer rounds. In fact I have a good size pond on my farm that I was planning to fire the rounds."

I believe you but be aware that your rounds may skip off the water and continue down range. The flatter the angle the more likely this becomes. I wouldn't of believed it but I've witnessed it myself.

I'm just going to shoot my tracers straight up in the air and watch them come back down.:D

Hobie
 
Those are extremely dangerous.

Contact me via PM and I will give you my address to send them to

Of course you will have to pay all the shipping and haz fees, but I will take it from there!
 
Also, to dispell some popular rumors.... 5.56 and 7.62 nato tracers do not blow up car gastanks. I've tried with the later.
:(
 
just go down to the Gulf coast and fire it over the Gulf, tracers skipping over water at night is a sight to behold !! and you sure as hell will not start any fires.., stay away from ranges and forrests/woods.
Click to expand...
I hope there are no boats out there...
 
yeah tracers shouldn't do any damage to your gun or barrel as they don't ignite or light up till a certain distance. I just been buying tracer bullets by themselves and loading them up myself as they can fit a couple of my guns and alot cheaper than what they sell the loaded ones for. The .22LR tracers are fun to shoot!
 
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