In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

tracer bullets

tsamuellertsamueller Member Posts: 11 ✭✭
edited May 2010 in Ask the Experts
Can you deactivate tracer bullets safely by soaking them in water, oil or tumbling? I was given some pulled bullets but don't wish to load active tracer rounds.Any help is appreciated on dealing with this.
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • tsamuellertsamueller Member Posts: 11 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    hello

    I got a deal on some pulled tracer bullets
    But now I am nervous about shooting them Will they hurt the bore of my gun?
    Thanks


    T Mueller[:)]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dcs shootersdcs shooters Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    NO, they won't hurt a thing.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by tsamueller
    hello

    I got a deal on some pulled tracer bullets
    But now I am nervous about shooting them Will they hurt the bore of my gun?
    Thanks


    T Mueller[:)]


    No.

    They won't damage your bore just from being fired.

    If you're worried about potential corrosion, just clean your gun after shooting these.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,163 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most tracers don't light until well downrange. The bullet jacket material may cause slightly more wear than commercial bullet jackets but not enough to cause a problem except for an extremely accurate target type rifle.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HerschelHerschel Member Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Tracer bullets are capable of causing fires. If the impact area contains dry grass, leaves or brush you should be prepared to put out fires.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ammo guyammo guy Member Posts: 810 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Tracers work best with single base propellent as it is hotter than double base. This helps to "light" the tracer element. No the tracers made since the 50's do not light in the barrel and will not harm the bore.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I wouldn't worry about it.

    There's a good chance that firing tracers will start multiple fires, & that often leads to an arson arrest. Conviction for a crime punishable by > 1 year in jail disqualifies you from ever owning a gun, so the condition of your bore will no longer be a concern.

    That could be why you got a deal on them.

    Neal
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not to continue to flog you for a straight up answer- no, they will not hurt your bore. Yes, range fires are a REAL hazard- used to run a couple of military machinegun ranges, and we have burned off so much brushland that Smokey the Bear was looking for us. 7.62 NATO tracers burn out at about 960 meters- so hitting anything short of that leaves a bullet with about a 30 inch tail of HOT flame still burning. Watching those rounds float down range, hit a solid object and take a 60 degree turn from the normal line-of-flight........ .50 cal burns further, has more tracer element to burn. The all time fire starters were the .50 cal APIT (armor piecing incendiary tracers) since they were ALL APIT, but the 5-1 ball/tracer in the M-60 has lit up a lot of ranges as well. I did not have to worry about paying for the cost of putting out a forest fire- you do.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tsamuellertsamueller Member Posts: 11 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sounds like solid advice
    I only will only shoot in to the sand bunkers on my range so no worry on starting a fire but just the same I do not think I will purchase any more tracer rounds


    Thanks for all the replies

    Mueller
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • varianvarian Member Posts: 2,263 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    shouldn't hurt barrel at all if properly cleaned. buddy of mine had about 50 acres of timber burned because of these. be careful
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bullets do ricochet from gravel pits.
    Shooting tracers will give you a risky proof of that fact.
    Shoot them out over the ocean to be safe.
    APIs are ok but APITs aren't
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cpermdcpermd Member Posts: 5,273 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Shoot em.

    Keep a close fire extinguisher.

    Run like hell if u can't extinguish it.

    End thread and run.

    12 years state jail time You are now a Gr Gr Ma

    CP
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cpermdcpermd Member Posts: 5,273 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    These chicks are hot but ours are sweeter
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.