.223 Tracers

04 December 2011, 18:00

milt

.223 Tracers

I started reloading some .223s using some 62 grain tracer bullets. These bullets are very long so when they're seat to Max overall length I know the powder is compressed in the case. I've been aftraid to fire the fearing overpressure. Would under-filling each case be a problem as long as the tracer round makes it out of the barrel?

04 December 2011, 19:55

craigster

Use a starting load listed for 62 grain bullets and you'll be good to go.

04 December 2011, 23:54

bartsche

Years ago I ruined a pristine 30 cal. 4 groove 03A3 barrel by shooting about 100 rounds of tracer ammo through it. FYI

roger

05 December 2011, 00:23

Antelope Sniper

Milt, are you starting with max loads??
If you are, that's a strategy for disacter.
Back off 10% and work up carefully. If you are still uncomfortable, back off some more, (but not to less then a 60% load density) This is how you protect yourself from variations in powder lots, brass thickness, and chambers.

Bases on your questions, I must ask, do you have a loading manual, and have you read it?

05 December 2011, 01:54

craigster

quote:
Originally posted by bartsche:
Years ago I ruined a pristine 30 cal. 4 groove 03A3 barrel by shooting about 100 rounds of tracer ammo through it. FYI roger

Roger,

I have heard of this happening, and not saying it didn't happen to you, but I still have a hard time believing it. All the tracers I've loaded and fired never lit until they had exited the barrel. I've removed the tracer compound from milsurp bullets and as near as I can tell it's pretty much the same as the stuff road flares are made from. Even if they do light up in the barrel they can't add all that much heat or pressure to what's already going on in the barrel. Or can they?

05 December 2011, 10:07

wwjmbd

Can you buy tracer bullets to reload with? and if so where?

05 December 2011, 20:34

craigster

quote:
Originally posted by wwjmbd:
Can you buy tracer bullets to reload with? and if so where?

http://wideners.com/itemview.cfm?dir=278|281|1146

Shipping to Canada might be problem.

06 December 2011, 07:36

bartsche

quote:
Originally posted by craigster:
quote:
Originally posted by bartsche:
Years ago I ruined a pristine 30 cal. 4 groove 03A3 barrel by shooting about 100 rounds of tracer ammo through it. FYI roger

Roger,

I have heard of this happening, and not saying it didn't happen to you, but I still have a hard time believing it. All the tracers I've loaded and fired never lit until they had exited the barrel. I've removed the tracer compound from milsurp bullets and as near as I can tell it's pretty much the same as the stuff road flares are made from. Even if they do light up in the barrel they can't add all that much heat or pressure to what's already going on in the barrel. Or can they?

Hardly any lit up anywhere; in the barrel or in the air. They did ,however deposit a lot of granular material in the barrel after each shot. The rifle went from something around 1.000" to over 3.000" at 100 yds.Oh! It happened all right.

roger

06 December 2011, 07:53

Antelope Sniper

Bart,

How old were they?

06 December 2011, 08:02

craigster

Yup, bet the "granular material" was what did it in. Bummer.

06 December 2011, 21:15

bartsche

quote:
Originally posted by Antelope Sniper:
Bart,

How old were they?

Don,t really know. This was about 1958 and someone made up a whole machine gun belt of tracers. I suspect they were WWII vintage.

roger

06 December 2011, 22:56

N E 450 No2

I have shot a lot of tracers with no problems, except starting some fires...

However here is a random thought. When fired the pressure on the back of the bullet is, say several thousands...

So do you really think that any of that tracer material gets out the back of the bullet, before it leaves the barrel???

If thise tracers were WWII they no doubt had corossive primers.
The chunks od stuff left in the barrel would have been unburnt powder.

06 December 2011, 23:22

Antelope Sniper

Back in the day when I was an M60 gunner, we ran the tracers every 5th round...when we used them. We were always told you didn't want to run them any more often then that, because it was hard on the barrels, but I don't recall what the reason was.

07 December 2011, 23:05

bartsche

quote:
Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
I have shot a lot of tracers with no problems, except starting some fires...

However here is a random thought. When fired the pressure on the back of the bullet is, say several thousands...

So do you really think that any of that tracer material gets out the back of the bullet, before it leaves the barrel???

If thise tracers were WWII they no doubt had corossive primers.
The chunks od stuff left in the barrel would have been unburnt powder.

Very possible.

roger