FMJ vs. Tracer: Need help to ID

[tradja]

Recently I found a low price on 1K surplus pulls for 9mm 115gr. THey were described as mostly FMJ, with a few tracers mixed in.

I got the bullets the other day, but I really don't know how to tell what's what. Some (few) of them are black and smooth on the base, some (most) are various grades of powdery white, and many are black with a hole:


Can anyone tell me which are tracer? What are the holes for?

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[ReloaderFred]

On my old, poor quality monitor, it looks like the bullet on the left of the picture is a tracer. The bullet in the middle is a hollow base FMJ, and the one on the right isn't clear, but looks like it may be a plain base FMJ. I just can't see it clear enough to know for sure.

Where did you get these? I've never seen 9mm tracer offered for sale, though I have fired them before.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Odd Job]

Here is the place to get definitive info on cartridges and their components:

http://cartridgecollectors.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=fd5a9e7e81036f0edeffd5c9fc621135

 

[tradja]

Here is the place to get definitive info on cartridges and their components:

Neat site, thanks.

I know what a tracer is, I just want to identify which of this mixed lot are.

 

[RecoilRob]

Grab one with pliers, apply propane torch to base for a bit. You WILL know which is the tracer...for sure!

I've lit some 30'06 WWII pulls that wouldn't light when shot. They DID light when hit with the torch. Bright, red hissing flame. Pretty cool actually.

 

[scrat]

Wow thats cool. kinda wish i had one just to try it out

 

[ReloaderFred]

You have to wait until next month to do that..........

Fred

 

[Sunray]

No colours on the bullet point? Should have a red point. Although not always.
I'd bet the 'powdery white' is the trace element. The black holes were tracers until the element fell out. It'll do that. Leave the torch on the work bench.
Same site, but a different page.
http://cartridgecollectors.org/intro9mm/

 

[tradja]

Where did you get these? I've never seen 9mm tracer offered for sale, though I have fired them before.

Here. Reasonable, timely shipping. Faint collet marks on all bullets, but not bad.

Grab one with pliers, apply propane torch to base for a bit. You WILL know which is the tracer...for sure!

Great tip. This should clear it up. I might even shoot video for y'all's amusement (unless, of course, the fire department won't let me back into the house until they're finished )

No colours on the bullet point? Should have a red point. Although not always.

Yeah, this is what I had expected, but the only visible difference between the bullets are the bases as depicted above.


OK, off to the fire pit. Let's see what happens...

 

[tradja]

Well, I torched about 8 different-looking bullets until molten lead flowed out the base, but none of them ignited.

I give up. I'm just going to treat these all as FMJ.

 

[Odd Job]

If you post the images on the IAA forum I mentioned, you'll get an ID straight away, I bet.

 

[tradja]

If you post the images on the IAA forum I mentioned, you'll get an ID straight away, I bet.

I just registered over there. As soon as I get activated, I'll post the image and see what I get. Thanks for the lead.