tracer reloading.

Craig0ry

Craig0ry

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I have some 223 tracers I decided to load yesterday but they didn't do to well. Only had 1 in 5 actually ignite. Iam thinking I need a faster hotter powder. I was using rl 15 but it didn't seem to cut it. Can you guys give me some suggestions? I was thinking maybe blc-2 but iam not the most knowledgeable on powders.
 
I bought 400, .310-.311 dia. 170 gr. tracer projectiles of unkown origin at a gun show and can't get one of them to light, have some pulled tracer projectiles from WW2 .303 ammo and they will not light. Have some .223 surpluss tracer and they all lght with a charge of Varget.
 
Buying tracers online is one of those "buyer beware" things. I have seen some purchased throughout the years that have worked flawlessly and others that barely function at all. You are not dealing with a new product, but one that has come from de-militerized small arms ammunition, and you have no idea why it was de-militerized.
 
As mentioned, in my 30 cal stuff I probably get 80% reliability, but they don't light till much closer to 200m, at least 150m. So if your shooting 100 yard targets, you won't get to see anything.
 
Pardon my ignorance, but I thought tracer was prohibited.

If not - where do you get them and what do you have to do differently to load them?
 
I have a bunch of 223 tracer tips and not all light up reliably. I usually shoot them at 500m gongs with the scope set at lowest (5.5) so I can see the full trace if/when they do light up.

Loading for tracers is no different than loading for any other FMJ of similar weight.
 
harbl_the_cat said:
Pardon my ignorance, but I thought tracer was prohibited.

If not - where do you get them and what do you have to do differently to load them?
Click to expand...
PROHIBITED AMMUNITION
Former Prohibited Weapons Order, No. 10

1. Any cartridge that is capable of being discharged from a commonly available semi-automatic handgun or revolver and that is manufactured or assembled with a projectile that is designed, manufactured or altered so as to be capable of penetrating body armour, including KTW, THV and 5.7 x 28 mm P-90 cartridges.

2. Any projectile that is designed, manufactured or altered to ignite on impact, where the projectile is designed for use in or in conjunction with a cartridge and does not exceed 15 mm in diameter.

3. Any projectile that is designed, manufactured or altered so as to explode on impact, where the projectile is designed for use in or in conjunction with a cartridge and does not exceed 15 mm in diameter.

4. Any cartridge that is capable of being discharged from a shotgun and that contains projectiles known as “fléchettes” or any similar projectiles.
Click to expand...

So incindiaries would be prohibited, tracers are not.
 
harbl_the_cat said:
Pardon my ignorance, but I thought tracer was prohibited.

If not - where do you get them and what do you have to do differently to load them?
Click to expand...

NARCAN has just decided that they wont allow them to be imported. Welcome to police state Canada.

OP, is there a layer of foil over the tracer material on the base? I got some pulled 30cal military tracers and the seller told me to pick out the foil so that they light immediately.
 
Never reloaded them before but I bought a case of 7.62x39 tracers and about 95% of them lit up around 100 yards. Best part about it is I might have just picked a lucky crate as they were not supposed to be tracers
 
I've got a bunch of .224 and .308, and they light up OK, though they need full-pressure loads to ignite, and usually won't light up until about 200 yards out.

Trace is a cool toy for the first few rounds, but be careful; they start fires really easily. Save them for rainy days, or days when there's a layer of snow on top of everything
 
What Prosper said. First time we tried some many years ago we were shooting at a backstop 100m away. Couldn't see them light up, figured they didn't work. Disappointed to say the least, as we were packing up noticed backstop was ablaze!! Success :dancingbanana:
 
randas said:
NARCAN has just decided that they wont allow them to be imported. Welcome to police state Canada.

OP, is there a layer of foil over the tracer material on the base? I got some pulled 30cal military tracers and the seller told me to pick out the foil so that they light immediately.
Click to expand...

The seller obviously has very little knowledge on the manufacturing of tracer ammunition. The foil is designed to protect the pyrotechnic composition. Leave it in. Most tracer ammunition is designed so the pyrotechnic composition will NOT light up immediately upon firing so as not to identify the position of the shooter, but to ignite between 80-120 meters downrange.
 
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