Shooting 30-06 tracers and AP

[RCBS]

1) I purchased some 30-06 M25 tracers made in St. Louis during the 60s-70s and described as " boxer primed and non-corrosive". To me, it describes the primer, not the tracer compound.
Can the tracer compound be corrosive or harmful in any way even if they ALWAYS ignite at some point beyond the muzzle? At what distance from the muzzle does this "model" tracer ignite?

2) The APs are black tipped and described as being made in St. Louis i.e. SL/53 or SL/54.
I have read that AP's are harden steel or tungsten cored, then covered with a) steel and copper or b) lead and copper. Since lead would appear to be a military no-no, it would seem that the steel core is clad in copper. That would seem to be OK if the copper jacket was thicker than the depth of the rifling, so no rifling could contact the steel core. Can shooting this specific ammo in military or sporter arms damage the rifling or other parts of the guns in any way? Thanks.

 

[NG VI]

Lead is not a no-no for military use, just exposed lead. And any steel-jacketed bullet is going to use very mild steel for the jacket. My guess is totally fine for a modern rifle, and most older ones as well.

 

[Art Eatman]

I've never hurt a barrel by using tracers. Kinda fun, really.

The copper on AP is thick enough such that the lands don't get rubbed by the steel core. Rifling is, what, about 0.004"? Something like that. I disremember.

 

[woodsoup]

Tracers don't ignite until they are 25-50 yards down range.

AP rounds are usually tungsten or hardened steel wrapped in gilding metal to prevent damage to the barrel.

 

[Orlando]

You worry about nothing, have fun at the range
There are different types of tracers, some ignite almost immediatly , others not until hundreds of yds

 

[RCBS]

woodsoup wrote:
Tracers don't ignite until they are 25-50 yards down range.

I read that some ignited 100 yds. down range and were intended for machine guns, and if true, I was wondering how to tell the difference.

 

[Orlando]

The M25 tracer was a fast igniting tracer

 

[Jeremy2171]

woodsoup wrote:
Tracers don't ignite until they are 25-50 yards down range.

I read that some ignited 100 yds. down range and were intended for machine guns, and if true, I was wondering how to tell the difference.

M1 tracer had red tips and was not sealed at the base and lit at the muzzle... you won't find many of these as they quit making them at the end of WW2...most of them are duds these days...

M25 Tracer has Orange tips and the base is sealed and will not light until 75-100yds downrange...

 

[KodiakBeer]

Tracer fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz8uWlqRnvA

 

[hps1]

The copper on AP is thick enough such that the lands don't get rubbed by the steel core. Rifling is, what, about 0.004"? Something like that. I disremember

Believe you are correct, lands are .300, grooves are .308 IIRC. Any rate have shot lots of AP through M1's. When we couldn't get M-73 match, AP was next choice.

Never shot the tracers in a rifle, good to know they do not ignite while in bore.

Regards,
hps