Reloading tracers

[Adventurer_96]

I'm interested in picking up some surplus 55gr tracers from Pat's, the ones that are really cheap, mainly to fill up some loose 5.56 LC brass I've got laying around. He mentions that you should use a hot stick powder to improve your chances of igniting. I wonder if the W844T surplus tracer ammo would work?

Also, I've read Art's comments here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=238926&highlight=tracers

Any other inputs as to barrel life?

I'm just thinking they'd be fun for a plinking round.

 

[mugsie]

Remember - tracers work both ways!

 

[ReloaderFred]

Check your state laws and see if they're legal first. They do set fires.

I've loaded tracers in 5.56 with H-335, and they all traced just fine, but I'm really careful to only shoot them on the range, where our backstops are sand and pretty well stops them. Even with the sand, they sometimes go in strange directions after impact, though.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[donttellthewife]

ReloaderFred,

I am in the Portland area and travel to the coast from time to time. I would love to shoot some tracers at your range, do they allow steel core or steel jacket bullets. Could you please PM me with location, fees, ect..

Thanks, Ron

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Tracer ammunition is always illegal to fire on state land in Utah (other than on military reservations). Currently, due to fire restrictions, tracers ammo is prohibited to fire and all state and private land.

 

[Adventurer_96]

Jorg, thanks, but I was asking about loading them, not about restrictions on shooting them in UT.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I was hoping to save you the trouble of loading up a bunch to use as a plinking round only to find out you can't use it to plink anywhere in the state.

 

[Clark]

There was a 308 in my family that got a rotten bore from some kind of flare or tracer shot and then not cleaned.

Now I am so paranoid with my expensive 223s, that I only shoot tracers in a chrome lined bore Bushmaster upper.

I have never had any trouble getting them to light with IMR4895.

 

[bobaloo]

Hi-Tech recommends IMR 4895, that's what I've been using.

 

[Adventurer_96]

Tracer ammunition is always illegal to fire on state land in Utah (other than on military reservations). Currently, due to fire restrictions, tracers ammo is prohibited to fire and all state and private land.

I was hoping to save you the trouble of loading up a bunch to use as a plinking round only to find out you can't use it to plink anywhere in the state.

Well, assuming what you wrote is true about state land always being off limits, and the current fire restrictions (which I do believe), then yes maybe I wouldn't be able to shoot them this summer anywhere in the state. But, maybe I'd wait until winter, or shoot in another state, or shoot on a military range, or (insert option here).

While I appreciate you're trying to help out, my only point is that I'm looking for specific technical info on loading tracers. I'd just like to see the thread stay on topic. Thanks.