What Primer for Tracers?

G

gene10pntr

New member
First...what makes the tracer ignite and leave the "trail"? Every body tells me it's the coloring on the tip...I tell them it's the metal they are made of. Who's right?

Second...If you used a magnum primer,could you burn a little less powder and stay away from a less compressed load? I'm still what I consider a newer re-loader and loading up a compressed load makes me a little nervous still.

Thanks!
Gene
 
Neither of you
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There is a compound in the base of the projectile. When the heat and pressure pushes thru the protective cup, the compound starts burning and thats what gives the color light you see.

The tip is a easy way to determine what the round is. Violet is a IR tracer, Red is a red tracer, orange is a orange tracer, green is a Armor peircing, blue is a Incendiary.

What caliber are you loading for first?

For 223 / 5.56 they use WC844T for tracers.. but we have used WC844 and WC846 to load several thousands of tracers with in 223 and 308 with no problems with either.
 
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Gene, I have one question. Why? Unless you are loading them for SHTF I would not even bother loading them. There are many ranges that won't let you use them due to fire issues. Also If you are going to use them if you are using thermal or NV you will still run the risk of setting the corn stalks or bean stubble on fire. A couple of guys that I know thought it would be great to film through their thermal scopes and one of the guys had to run through the field and put it out. The video of him running through the field was as cool as watching the couple shots that they took with the tracers.
 
Well Well Well...guess IDK what I'm talking about either then! LOL Any way...I don't think I have any thing to worry about then because there is no compound in the base of the bullet. I got them from Sages and another company that I don't remember who now? American Reloading maybe??? The bullets from both places do not have any thing in the base. So I guess I have two bags of worthless bullets to shoot.

We were just going to shoot them in our home range which is only 100yds long any way and have a little fun with them. No danger of fire there either.

I had them loaded up with 23.5grns of H355,seated at 2.250 and a light crimp. The barrel has a 1:9 twist and 16in long if that makes any difference ad used 41 primers. It is an AR .223 too...forgot to add that info.

So having all these bullets to load,does any body have suggestions on what to do with them? From every thing I've read,they're not an accurate bullet to begin with.

Thanks for setting me straight too!
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Gene
 
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Sooo they're kinda like a rocket then? Once the bottom of the bullet or the cup burns through the compound ignites leaving the colored trail...is this correct now???
 


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