Shooting Tracers?

[Drewcat]

Does anyone have any information on the potential for damage to a barrel when shooting tracers? In particular, will shooting .223 tracer ammo in a quality (Rock River Arms, Varmiter) chrome lined barrel do any damage?

Thanks for any info.

 

[30Cal]

The trace doesn't start until well after the bullet has left the barrel (something like 50-100yds downrange), so I wouldn't sweat it.

Ty

 

[ranger7]

I've purchased small quantities of the older red tip and newer orange tip tracers. I wasn't very impressed. I fired them in daylight at a 200 yard range and they were barely visible. Unless you plan to shoot them at night, I don't think they're worth the extra cost.

There is also a substantial fire risk unless you are firing at a thoroughly rain soaked or snow covered range. A fire can start at the area where the bullet imapacts initially or where a ricochet lands.

Alan

 

[nbkky71]

Hornady used to make Vector tracer ammo some time ago. I never fired any but it was supposedly safe for your barrel.

 

[jobu07]

I've seen more than a few hills catch fire from tracer fire

 

[buttrap]

I would think that if tracer rounds tended to wreck gun bores they would have stopped putting them in belt feeds in the late 1800s

 

[mbs357]

Just to be curious, since the original conversation seems to be over...
What is the anatomy of a normal tracer and how does it work?
^.^

 

[50 Shooter]

Tracer compounds are corrosive so be sure to clean your rifle really good to remove any left over residue.

Tracing compound is primarily Magnesium with oxidizers like Potassium perchlorate, and coloring nitrates like Strontium nitrate ( red ), Barium nitrate (green ), sodium nitrate ( yellow ). The igniter section is magnesium powder that is finer with more oxidizer to help get things started.

 

[JA]

There are dozens of formulas for tracer and igniter compounds used by the US military. All consist basicly of a fuel,oxidizer,and binder. Some formulas also have 1-2 other chemicals to added to control the rate of burn and/or intensifly the color or briteness. The fuel is magnisum powder which depending on the formula can be powders that have from 1-3 sizes of particles or a mix of powders with different size particles. The oxidizer can be one of several again depending on formula and color to be produced. The binder can be one of several chemicals but most formulas use steric acid.
The closure cup is thin copper disk but paper disks have also been used. It is pressed in the rear of the bullet to assure the tracer/igniter compounds stay in place and are not damaged during handling or feeding into the friearm.
The tracer compound is pressed in first followed by the igniter compound and closure cup.
Even though ignited before leaving the barrel most tracers don't burn through the closure cup and ignite the tracer compound till the bullet reaches 75-125 yards. This is the reason you don't see them burning till the bullet gets that far out.
The amount of residue from a tracer left in the barrel is zero.
With chamber pressure of 50,000 psi how exactly is tracer residue supposed to fall out the back of the bullet and stay in the rifles bore to do any damage?

 

[spacemanspiff]

i picked up a box of 30'06 tracers last fall and shot them at night. i was guessing that we were seeing the tracer light up within 25 yards.

another day someone at the range had tracers for .45acp, they were visible immediately.

 

[50 Shooter]

JA,
Like you stated in your post, tracers do light up in the barrel. It doesn't matter how much pressure you have, residue will be left over in your barrel. Tracer compound is hygroscopic and can/will attract moisture which will lead to rusting if left in your barrel.

I wouldn't say it's going to rust immediately just that the possiblity is there if you shoot tracers. Just be sure that you clean them very well to get rid of any of the residue.

 

[JA]

The heat from the burning powder charge heats up the closure cup igniting the igniter compound in the tracer bullet. It doesn't burn through the closure cup till after the bullet has exited the barrel. Even on tracer bullets that don't have a closure cup the ash/residue doesn't fall out the back of the bullet but stays in the bullet and is blown out the barrel by the high pressure gases with the bullet.
Tracer residue isn't left in the barrel like corrosive primer residue because it is not mixed with the burning powder gases.