Reloading for 30 cal tracer

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saskminer

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I got a bunch of 30 cal 147 grain tracer from a fellow CGN'er and reloaded 50 rounds. Out at the range the results were underwhelming to say the least. Only 25% of the tracer actually lit off, and just a couple really lit off strongly. We were shooting 600 yards to be sure the tracer had enough time to light up.
Currently reloading 147 grain tracer: LC brass, #34 primer with 43 grains H4895. Shooting it with my M-305 in semi auto mode.
Reading online I'm wondering if I have enough powder to make the tracer light off or maybe something else??

Any ideas?
 
I have the same problem, hard to see them even when almost dark.Maybe need a hotter powder like cordite.
I KNOW they light,put a few in the vice and light them with an acetylene torch and they're pretty bright.
 
M1-Garand said:
I have the same problem, hard to see them even when almost dark.Maybe need a hotter powder like cordite.
I KNOW they light,put a few in the vice and light them with an acetylene torch and they're pretty bright.
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I was reading that you can puncture the protective cap on the underside of the bullet which makes it light more reliably. I might try a handful like that.
 
saskminer said:
I was reading that you can puncture the protective cap on the underside of the bullet which makes it light more reliably. I might try a handful like that.
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You can try this but it may cause it to ignite in the bore. I have had no issues loading them with 748 for the 308 or with 296 & 4227 for the 300 blackout. It also depends on the condition and how they were stored.
 
I have used 47.5 grains of IMR 4795, in my .30-06 tracers that I made and used 10 years ago, and had about a 60-70 % success rate. DO NOT damage the protective cap inside the tracer projectile. That is designed to prevent the tracer from initiating for the first 100 yds down range. This is done so the firer's position on the battlefield is not easily identified by the enemy. These projectiles have been demilled from live cartridges and not stored in the best conditions, therefore you have an elevated failure rate. Also IMR 4895 has been a standard .30-06 military propellant since World War 2.

During a World War 2 re-enactor match in December 2007, I was able to hit a 2 gallon milk jug at 435 yds with the 8th tracer from my Garand.
 
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saskminer said:
This is winter fun only. We live far enough north that snow starts in October and ends in late April if we're lucky. Shooting tracer in fire season is inviting disaster.
Just for fun we tried to light one of the rounds off. All I can say is.... Spectacular! My son invoked JC in the video.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1kh0Kyp7oalYXloalF6OEZMeExtem1MQndUbVdaTlJ2M2RB
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A few findings from surfing the old interweb:
* Puncturing the cup should not affect the tracer round at all. It was designed as long term protection of the tracer element
* Ignition is delayed by the construction of the round - not the cup
* H4895 @ 43 grains should be fine for ignition
* Shoot at least 100 yards to allow proper ignition
Time to try it. We will be at the range this weekend with test rounds. I'll vary the charge +2 grains and also shoot 5 rounds with punctured cups.

Should be fun to see what works because winter is long and boring...
http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/infantry/rifle/762mm_ammo.html
 
I hope you get the chance to try it out. I tried the same with Lake City brass and 4895. But I had only 100 meters to play in. No luck with it yet. Will try 300.
 
so can someone set the record straight ? are tracers legal ? and if so then what is the difficulty of purchasing manufactured ammo ? why does no-one carry it ?
 
Rust said:
I hope you get the chance to try it out. I tried the same with Lake City brass and 4895. But I had only 100 meters to play in. No luck with it yet. Will try 300.
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So it was off to the range for a test.
43 grains of H4895 and a tracer with a punctured cup produced dismal results. Only one of five rounds lit off, and it was a dim trace.
45 grains of H4895 with an intact tracer produced over 50% lit tracers. 25% were strong tracers you could see burning buried in the dirt 600 meters away.

45 grains is pretty well max in the Lake City brass so experimenting is over. All further loads will be 45 grains H4895 (at least in the M305).
 
Hi FLHTCUI,

The object of the post was to point out that tracer will start fires in bush and grass, depending upon what it hits.

People who fire it at 600 yards or more in the bush may not be inclined to go and check to see if they have set anything on fire, and BC has enough forest fires.

I have set the grass on fire at the old Blair range in North Vancouver with surplus German tracer ammunition.
 
saskminer said:
So it was off to the range for a test.
43 grains of H4895 and a tracer with a punctured cup produced dismal results. Only one of five rounds lit off, and it was a dim trace.
45 grains of H4895 with an intact tracer produced over 50% lit tracers. 25% were strong tracers you could see burning buried in the dirt 600 meters away.

45 grains is pretty well max in the Lake City brass so experimenting is over. All further loads will be 45 grains H4895 (at least in the M305).
Click to expand...

So I thought I should close out this thread to say that I tried Hodgdon BL-C(2) powder @ 45 grains. 5 out of 5 tracers lit ;)
I also tried 45.5, 46, 46.5 and 47 grains of powder but they all were 50 to 70% lit.
I'm over the moon happy with 45 grains of BL-C(2) powder. It doesn't beat up the gun and best of all the tracers work great!!

Now I have to find more tracers...
 
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