Centerfire Tracer Rounds Question

[Jman]

I've been advised that the tracer rounds are very corrosive. Is this true? If so, what is the best method of cleaning afterward? How soon must it be cleaned to prevent corrosion?

[redneck1377]

I got no idea about tracer ammo. but what if you fire a round or two of regular ammo. thru. the gun to remove the tracer fouling

[Jman]

I have no idea. I have some 1962 stuff for my M1 Garand that I'm leary of shooting in it for the corrosion reason. I don't want to do any damage to that gun. I don't know the composition of that type of ammo or if it's even the same as newer tracer ammo. I watched a guy shoot some through his AR 15 a few days ago and it was pretty impressive. But not if it causes problems in the barrel throat or action of the rifle. I was hoping someone on here had some knowledge of these rounds.

[SmokeyBear]

I fire them all the time. As long as you give your firearms a good thorough cleaning after shooting them it shouldn't be any different than shooting any other type of ammo. I find it much easier to clean after shooting any ammo if I spray the parts of the gun that were exposed to any corrosive materials down with a good quality solvent as soon as I can after I'm done shooting. I then clean the gun thoroughly as soon as I get home, or sometimes even in the field. I don't clean my guns any different when shooting tracers than I do any other time. Just give them a good scrubbing until all the "gunk" is gone and oil the parts that need oiled.

[killinmammals]

load them every 4th round or so and you will be fine. Don't load them one after the other in rapid fire. They are fun to shoot when its almost dark:D

[Jman]

That was the first time I had ever personally seen them fired and it was pretty neat. It wasn't really that close to dark and you could still see them very well if you were standing 30 feet to one side of the shooter.

[SmokeyBear]

That was the first time I had ever personally seen them fired and it was pretty neat. It wasn't really that close to dark and you could still see them very well if you were standing 30 feet to one side of the shooter.


You should see them when you are crawling on your back in a sand pit covered with barbed wire with those tracer rounds flying at what looks like only inches above your head!!!:eek: Now that will just totally freak some people out!!!:D

[Jman]

Smokey, I don't prefer that view :D .............but I am very thankful for those who have.

[headoftheholler]

Careful with tracer rounds, can be very corrosive and under the right conditions will start fires if the proper backstop is not used.

[philipfleek]

Not being a smart a$$, but what are they used for? Why do ya need em?:confused:

[headoftheholler]

Not being a smart a$$, but what are they used for? Why do ya need em?:confused:
Military only. They can be used to direct fire for a platoon, if loaded as the last round will signify that the clip is empty on rifles that do not hold open when empty. No real world use besides killing time and killing rifle barrells.

[redneck1377]

tracer bullets is just what the name suggest, its is fire over the enemy head so they [the enemy ] can trace its path

[philipfleek]

Military only. They can be used to direct fire for a platoon, if loaded as the last round will signify that the clip is empty on rifles that do not hold open when empty. No real world use besides killing time and killing rifle barrells.
Thank you i really didn't know

[gds]

I've fired thousands of them through five different uppers on my Colt M16 and do not see any damage to the barrels. Even firing 120 rounds and not letting off the trigger. The barrel gets hot, I take the upper off and put another one on and keep shooting. One time I tried to put two 120 round drums through the same upper, let me just say don't try that. I buy the tracer bullets and load my own. I can't say if your amo is corrosive or not. When your finnished . Just give your gun a good cleaning. Have fun.:)

[headoftheholler]

I've fired thousands of them through five different uppers on my Colt M16 and do not see any damage to the barrels. Even firing 120 rounds and not letting off the trigger. The barrel gets hot, I take the upper off and put another one on and keep shooting. One time I tried to put two 120 round drums through the same upper, let me just say don't try that. I buy the tracer bullets and load my own. I can't say if your amo is corrosive or not. When your finnished . Just give your gun a good cleaning. Have fun.:)
If not mistaken, the corrosive rounds were cheap surplus. Two 120 round drums? Wow, what were you shooting at?

[gds]

A hillside full of metal knock down targets.:):):):)

[biggun]

Tracers are big time fun. But, will start fires if its dry. Do be careful.

[KentuckyWindage]

Tracers are a cool thing to see if you've never seen them before. However, as 2 others have already mentioned in this thread, be very careful when you use them, as they can and do start fires.

When I was in the Army, I don't remember ever having a night fire range when we didn't have to shut down the range at least once to go put out a fire. I would suggest if you're going to shoot them, keep it to only a couple per session and have a good backstop behind your target that will stop the round. Maybe even put a paper target on a sandbag or two to shoot at.

[biggun]

Oh forgot. The bullets themselves are not corrosive its the primers in the old ammo that is. There is a cutoff date for each country of about when they stopped using corrosive primers. If your headstamp is newer than that countrys date you should be good. This info is available on the internet.

[Valley Station]

Guaranteed, sure fire way to catch the woods on fire. Be very careful were you shoot it.

[Crockett]

They are definitely a fire hazzard. I was shooting stuffed animals with my .22 with tracer bullets and one of the suffed animals caught on fire.

[trust me]

They are definitely a fire hazzard. I was shooting stuffed animals with my .22 with tracer bullets and one of the suffed animals caught on fire.

Bet that made it hard on your taxidermist.

[killinmammals]

They are definitely a fire hazzard. I was shooting stuffed animals with my .22 with tracer bullets and one of the suffed animals caught on fire.
So you have stuffed animals...like teddy bears and stuff?:D:eek:

[Crockett]

Bet that made it hard on your taxidermist.
Stuffed animals like teddy bears and stuff; not like stuffed deer, turkey etc.

So you have stuffed animals...like teddy bears and stuff?:D:eek:
Well not anymore but the time I'm talking about was back around when I was 18 or so and I don't remember the the stuffed animal was from my childhood or my cousins. All I do remember is that after pumping a few tracers into it it looked like it was smoking. The next thing we knew it was a ball of flames.

[killinmammals]

Stuffed animals like teddy bears and stuff; not like stuffed deer, turkey etc.


Well not anymore but the time I'm talking about was back around when I was 18 or so and I don't remember the the stuffed animal was from my childhood or my cousins. All I do remember is that after pumping a few tracers into it it looked like it was smoking. The next thing we knew it was a ball of flames.
Haha...I just had to mess with you on that one! I bet it was fun pumpin them full of tracers though!

[newshooter05]

i have fired a lot of red ones and been fired upon with green ones. they are pretty going out but fuguly coming in. they will start fires even in green stuff and i can't say i ever seen any damage to my 14 when i fired em or to the squads 60. just cleaned em like we usually do.tracers are kinda like blooper rounds , kinda useless here .
david