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Posted: 12/7/2010 3:38:25 PM EDT
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I bought several thousand tracer projectiles in both .223 and .308 just to shoot but I get bored easily and will begin trying to get them to light eventually. What powders will light these and are there any loads floating around? I have searched around a little and only came up with IMR-7383 for the powder and no load data whatsoever.
Also, they stick to magnets quite strongly so I know they have a steel core but does that mean they are AP? I bought them to shoot at steel plates and I'm starting to think that is a bad idea 
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Pat's Reloading has WC844T and WC846T powder which the military uses for tracers. 844T for .223 and 846T for .308. It's a surplus powder that you have to reduce charges and work up EVERY different Lot number. The burn rates DO vary and one lot of surplus powder may be hotter os slower than the next. The T stands for tracer powder and its supposed to have a little hotter flame temperature to ignite the tracer mix. I've read that it has a little different density too. But you'd have to buy an 8 lb. jug plus haz-mat and shipping.
I've had no problems igniting tracers with surplus standard WC844 or Hodgdon H335 in .223/5.56 and no problems igniting tracer with IMR4895 powder in 30-06. It mainly depends on the condition of the tracer bullets and if the tracer compound has deteriorated from conditions of storage, age, and handling. |
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Do you have to use a certain powder for tracers? I never thought about it, but I don't see why it owuld matter. Please explain. with the 62gr pills I had the bullets each have a some copper disk. The flame has to cut though this disk to ignite the compound. |
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Quoted:
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Also, they stick to magnets quite strongly so I know they have a steel core but does that mean they are AP? No they don't have a steel core if they are tracers. Odds are the bullets just have a steel jacket. No they are not AP. Just cut one open and confirmed the lead core. So my next question: is a bimetal jacket harder than a copper one to the point that it will wear on a chrome lined barrel more? Basically, I bought these for a cheap round to shoot plates with my SPR. It's starting to look like I should have gone with the M80 ball 147gn lot but for what I paid for these, it's worth just to have laying around. |
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