Uncle Bill
Member
I’ve been told that tracer ammo is ok in a gas operated rifle like a M1or M1a. True or false?
Question about tracer ammo
- Thread starter Uncle Bill
- Start date
Speedo66
Member
I can’t give you a definitive answer, but we fired some tracer ammo through out M-1’s while I was in the Army Reserves.
No damage that I know of, we used the rifles later with no apparent ill affects.
No damage that I know of, we used the rifles later with no apparent ill affects.
tark
Member
It is perfectly safe to fire tracer ammunition in any M-1 or M-1a ( M-14) however, decades ago some tracer ammunition ignited the trace while the bullet was still in the bore. This could leave a residue. I don't know if this was harmful to the bore or not. Most modern tracer ammo ignites the trace well after the bullet has left the bore. It presents no problem in a gas operated rifle.
Know that many states outlaw the use of tracers. California is one, for obvious reasons.
Know that many states outlaw the use of tracers. California is one, for obvious reasons.
Tracers are usually prohibited in most of the west (including Idaho, where the OP is) during fire season.
lysanderxiii
Member
All tracer burns in the bore. It is just that the trace compound is layered in the cup, the first layer is the ignition layer, it burns very quickly and very hot to ignite the second layer (sub-igniter) which burns without a visible flame, the third layer is the visible trace.
Space Ghost
Member
Modern tracers, are designed for modern military weapons... that are all semi-auto (or select-fire) so, yeah, you're fine.
Just guessing you're not talking about 100+ year old WWI tracer ammo...
Just guessing you're not talking about 100+ year old WWI tracer ammo...
FL-NC
Member
Tracers have been used in every type of mil weapon probably since tracers were invented- autoloading firerarms like rifles, machine guns, and submachineguns. Probably even handguns.
Zygodactyl
Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2020
- Messages
- 262
Tracers really show how easily a bullet is deflected. When I was on the Third Army Rifle team we were practicing at Ft. Benning or whatever Woke name they gave it now. The team Captain mistakenly drew tracer ammo instead of match. We tried to practice with it, but at 600 meters it wasn't very accurate. When the bullet penetrated the target, it went off at a tangent. It was almost OK for 200 and 300 meters, but it also deflected going through the paper as well as ricocheting off the berm and ground. We spent most of the time putting out the fires it started.
C-grunt
Member
Tracers really are eye opening about deflection and ricochets. Get a few guns going on a machinegun range and it looks like the target is shooting AA guns.
lysanderxiii
Member
And that is every fifth round, there are four more for each of those traces you can't see . . .
lysanderxiii
Member
Everything shoots tracers
Yes they do make a nice nice display when they ricochet up into the air.
I think we started more fires with tracers at Ft Irwin/NTC than anywhere else I was stationed at. Even though it was the Mojave desert, there was a lot of scrub for us to catch on fire.
To stay on topic. Tracers won't hurt a rifle or the gas system. We would have seen issues a long time ago if they did.
Dave DeLaurant
Member
Tark and Bearcreek are certainly correct about tracers being a no-no in the People's Republic. Many outdoor ranges also ban steel jacketed bullets as a matter of policy, due to concern about ricochets off rocks causing sparks. FWIW, one of the ROs at my local outdoor range told me they had to put out a grass fire that they believed was started in that manner. Now they check all ammo with a magnet.
This range has had other safety concerns as well -- the top of the hill behind the butts isn't owned by the club and is routinely used to graze cattle. The club has hosted a number of rather expensive barbecues after unintentional downrange bovicide.
This range has had other safety concerns as well -- the top of the hill behind the butts isn't owned by the club and is routinely used to graze cattle. The club has hosted a number of rather expensive barbecues after unintentional downrange bovicide.
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Kingcreek
Member
Shot some tracers at a kinda private dump once. Had one hell of a time putting out the fires. Until then I didn’t realize that you could ignite a magnesium alloy wheel with tracers.
redneck2
Member
I’ve read that the trajectory of tracers is significantly different from the rest of the ammo in a machine gun belt. For example, the tracers used in WW II aircraft had a different point of impact from the other rounds. Looking at the above bullet cut away that makes sense as the tracer would be significantly lighter
That might be true when talking about older tracer rounds. The NATO M856 tracer rounds were developed from the get go to have the same trajectory as NATO M855 round. Though the M856 tracer bullets are longer than the M855 bullets which required the use of the 1-7 twist barrels to stabilize the longer M856.
And I have also shot enough rounds out of the M60 machine gun to know that the tracer round has the same trajectory as the ball ammo. The same goes for the M2 50 cal.
redneck2
Member
I’ve read that was an issue in the .50 cal guns on WWII fighters. Pilots assumed the regular ammo POI was the same as tracers and if they were trying to lead an enemy aircraft most of the rounds were off target. Dunno.
Tracers and non-tracers have the same POI out of an M-60 so far as I was ever able to tell.
Bcwitt
Member
The pellet typically dosent even ignite for 100yd or so. Is long gone from the gun by the time it ignites.
lysanderxiii
Member
False see post #5
Bcwitt
Member
My 50bmg dosent trace till 200yd or so. My service weapon didnt either. Mabey you should tell my tracer rounds thay are doing something wrong.
Smaller tracers such as the M856 (5.56x45) and the M62 (7.62x51) will start to burn a lot sooner than M17 (50 BMG) does.
