kawi kid Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 has anyone ever tried to make or load them? im thinking about doing some night shooting for giggles and seeing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 (edited) First, tracers are illegal in Ohio. Generally speaking, they start fires. Whodathunk. edit: rephrasing this... not illegal to own and fire. But it is unlawful to use tracer ammunition on any division of wildlife owned, controlled, or administered property. Second, I used to know the chemistry of tracers, and most of the chemicals needed are a bit unstable, difficult or dangerous to work with, and hard to buy. Meaning that you'd have to sign for them, if you could find them.Tracers are a little bit of fireworks type chemicals packed into the butt of the bullet. There's a tiny amount of ignition type material over that to get it started. And a tiny amount of sealer type stuff to keep it there. The shape and ballistics of the tracer bullet isn't the same as a regular bullet. Meaning you generally can't just drill a hole in the base of the bullet.If you look hard enough, you can buy real tracer bullets. One or two bucks each?Also, tracers don't start lighting up till they are like, 50 to 100 yards away from your position. The best use for tracers (IMO) is for a sargent or leutenant to have only tracers loaded, and to use them to mark a target for everyone to fire at.Odd factoid: Tracers don't travel the same ballistics as regular bullets. So pilots and gunners in WW2 would have to know that and compensate when firing. There's at least one case of a P-38 pilot that loaded nothing but tracers, and was hosing enemy fighters with fire (literally). He didn't have any trouble aiming. Edited July 3, 2010 by ReconRat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-bus Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 I'm pretty sure I've seen .22s in the "Cheaper than dirt" catalogues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 (edited) XM856 for .223. (edit: 5.56mm, not .223, as Todd#43 pointed out) Easy enough to find, it's about 8.50-13.00 for a box of 20.Quality will vary, it's rejected military ammo. Edited July 3, 2010 by ReconRat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidgetTodd Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 Fort Knox, Grove City OH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevysoldier Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 Tracers work both ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 XM856 for .223. Easy enough to find, it's about 8.50-13.00 for a box of 20.Quality will vary, it's rejected military ammo.Actually, XM856 is 5.56 not .223. I've got about 100 rounds of it. $10.00 for a box of 20 at a gun show.I figure if the shit hits the fan, I'll load every 5th round as a tracer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 (edited) Actually, XM856 is 5.56 not .223. I've got about 100 rounds of it. $10.00 for a box of 20 at a gun show.I figure if the shit hits the fan, I'll load every 5th round as a tracer.lol, quite true... shall we explain to everyone about those chamber pressures again?Factoid: try not to use mil-spec ammo (.556) in civilian rifles of the single shot, lever action, and bolt action type. It's not good for them.Factoid 2: some people on the internet say these tracers get their bullets hammered back into the shell casing.Do not fire any round that the bullet has seated itself farther down into the case. It raises the pressures to an unsafe level. Edited July 3, 2010 by ReconRat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd#43 Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 lol, quite true... shall we explain to everyone about those chamber pressures again?Factoid: try not to use mil-spec ammo (.556) in civilian rifles of the single shot, lever action, and bolt action type. It's not good for them.Factoid 2: some people on the internet say these tracers get their bullets hammered back into the shell casing.Do not fire any round that the bullet has seated itself farther down into the case. It raises the pressures to an unsafe level.The 5.56 round shouldn't be used in any rifle chambered for the .223, civilian or military. Action type has NOTHING to do with it.Interestingly, there is a new, improved 5.56 round that's starting to be shipped - the XM855A1 to replace the XM855. Supposedly its "environmentally friendly"http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/115897/us-army-begins-shipping-new-5.56mm-cartridge.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 (edited) crap... double post... Edited July 3, 2010 by ReconRat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 Interestingly, there is a new, improved 5.56 round that's starting to be shipped - the XM855A1 to replace the XM855. Supposedly its "environmentally friendly"http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/115897/us-army-begins-shipping-new-5.56mm-cartridge.htmlSounds like the Marines got tired of waiting after several XM855A1 failures...Army's Proposed New M855A1 to Use Solid Copper Bullet (It didn't use it)U.S. Army Issues New M855A1 Ammo to Troops in Afghanistan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawi kid Posted July 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 ok thanks i guess ill just try to get some for the .22 and not worry about the .243 either way ill still have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.