Powders for 308 tracer

[mag41uk]

I have a pile of pulled 144gn tracer bullets.
I have been using Viht n140 and n150 but have poor results getting them to ignite.
I suspect these powders aren`t hot enough.
I have searched here and on google and see mentioned WC powders.
The problem is,I am in the UK and dont have access to these powders.
What have you guys been using to get them to ignite relaibly?
I can get AA,Winchester,IMR,Hodgdons.
Cheers,
Tony

 

[Ditchtiger]

WC846T Surplus used to work for me but lately nothing is lighting.
Have had Hodgdons H380 work for lighting.
Did some looking for powders and found that burn rate does not have much to do with burn temperature.

Good luck.

 

[mag41uk]

Thanks for the reply.
I did wonder whether Winchester 748 may be the same or similar to WC846.
Trouble is powder here in the UK is 3 times the price you guys pay!
It could be an expensive trial!
Tony

 

[FROGO207]

Most of the tracer pulls I have will not light at all no matter what propellant I use so I just use them as regular blasting ammo food. I have 12K or so to use up these days.

 

[medalguy]

So do I. Except I bought 20K of the M62 bullets when they were real cheap. I found shooting them in a sand pit is safe way of using them up as blasting ammo in my 1919A4. Anwhere else and you run the risk of some of them lighting and starting a fire.

I'm getting maybe 10% of them to lite at best. I did also buy some .30-06 M25 tracer bulets and get around 90% lite rate out of those.

 

[Centurian22]

Just throwing out a random idea here: I know for accuracy you generally 'pack' or tap the back of a round or magazine to make the powder seat against the primer. If tracer ignition is the goal (over extreme accuracy / consistancy) would it help or make a difference to tap/pack the rounds or magazine Forward to make the powder sit against the back of the bullet? Or tip the gun forward just before firing.

Another idea: try both a high volume vs a low volume powder (within the safe loads obviously). I would think a high volume powder that would fill most of the case might give it a better chance to ignite the tracer.

I would love to hear anyones thoughts on these idea's. Best of luck!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks for the reply.
I did wonder whether Winchester 748 may be the same or similar to WC846.
Trouble is powder here in the UK is 3 times the price you guys pay!
It could be an expensive trial!
Tony

W748, BL-C(2) and WC846 are all very similar. BUT, WC846T is pull-down powder from military 7.62X51 tracer ammo and is slightly different than WC846 so if you are having trouble finding the right powder for tracers WC846T is the powder to use.

 

[FROGO207]

I have 10 LBS of WC 846T (sticky propellant) that I had purchased to make tracer rounds and the M62 pulls I have still do not light with any reliability. I got them for a really good deal so no loss but I wish they were more reliable as far as tracing goes.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have 10 LBS of WC 846T (sticky propellant) that I had purchased to make tracer rounds and the M62 pulls I have still do not light with any reliability. I got them for a really good deal so no loss but I wish they were more reliable as far as tracing goes.

Now that stinks. You bought everything you needed but still no-go! Damn...

 

[FROGO207]

That will not stop me from using them up and ignoring the painted tips on the projectiles. I will assure you that they will shoot just fine as they are.

 

[medalguy]

Here's another trick you can try and it's worked pretty well for a lot of guys. Pierce the copper cap at the back of the tracer bullet with a simple straight pin before loading it up. That is supposed to greatly increase the lite rate. Now, I haven't done this myself, because I already have a lot of tracer ammo, and I bought the pulled tracer bullets reeeeaaaallllllllyy cheap so I could just blast 'en in a sand pit in a BMG. Generally I don't care if the trace lites or not.

 

[blarby]

Anyone ever tried dots of magnesium powder mixed with matchhead powder on the back of these ones that don't light ?

Magnesium gets plenty hot......instantly......

 

[Naterater]

VARGET or IMR 4895

It lights 100% of mine. I have the 142gr. M62's from Poly Gun Bag that cost $80 for 500. I've fired about 100 so far.

They're sold out at the moment: http://polygunbag.com/bullets.html

 

[FROGO207]

Blarby the match head part would be really abrasive on your barrel IMHO. I feel this would not be worth damaging your barrel. If any one tries this I would recommend cleaning the barrel soon after using it as it would attract moisture and rust the barrel similar to the effects of black powder as I understand it.

 

[mag41uk]

Thanks for all the replies guys.
The piercing of the base sounds good.
I will pick up some BLC2 and 748 and revisit loading for tracer bullets.
I will report back in due course.
Its not easy to shoot these in the UK!
It has to be done on a military field firing range and only if its been raining for a week.Well its been raining here for two months or more.
Cheers,
Tony

 

[Ditchtiger]

Here's another trick you can try and it's worked pretty well for a lot of guys. Pierce the copper cap at the back of the tracer bullet with a simple straight pin before loading it up. That is supposed to greatly increase the lite rate. Now, I haven't done this myself, because I already have a lot of tracer ammo, and I bought the pulled tracer bullets reeeeaaaallllllllyy cheap so I could just blast 'en in a sand pit in a BMG. Generally I don't care if the trace lites or not.

I tried drilling with an 1/8th. bit, a 1/4" into the tracer and still no go.