DIY tracer ammo

[chickapow]

Hi everyone,

A few things before asking this...

1) I don't know about the safety or danger of doing this.
2) Don't know if it's legal to add this to ammo or if the chemicals are legal to buy
3) Just curious

In short, if it's a stupid idea don't bite my head off, I'm just asking

I was reading a little about tracer rounds and see they add phosphorus or magnesium to the cartridges to make the string of light/colour for the tracer.

Would adding a few grains of phosphorus tracer round to your cartridge when you do the powder charge give you the same result?

Years and years ago I thought you could buy a few of these things from science/chemical supply places. Not sure if that's still the case.

Seemed like a cool thing to try/do as part of shooting. Just for fun.

I know this is outside the scope of normal shooting/reloading, but does anyone know?

[MeccaOz]

I knew an older gent who had an old .303 and some tracer ammo that was bought back from the war.

He was telling me how he lit up one farmers crop with the stuff... Wont do that again

I did see in the states when I was there you could get tracer ammo even in .22LR, apparently a lot of folks with semi's use it like every 3rd or 4th round so they can do some rapid fire and see the arc of the bullet. As to your question... YouTube mate, there are a few things you might glean from that place, yes it is possible.

[Shotfox]

I wouldn't go there. But what's you fascination with tracers and incendiaries? Planning a war?

[SendIt]

I was reading a little about tracer rounds and see they add phosphorus or magnesium to the cartridges to make the string of light/colour for the tracer.

I don't think that's quite right.

In 'proper' tracer ammo I believe there is a cavity in the rear of the bullet that contains the tracer material. This remains in the bullet and burns as the bullet moves forward so you get the tracer line.

If you just added a material to the powder I think that you'd get a burst of extra flame/colour out the muzzle and nothing on the bullet (that's totally untested by the way to me, just my thinking).

[chickapow]

I wouldn't go there. But what's you fascination with tracers and incendiaries? Planning a war?

Just curious, not "fascinated".

I have no interest in using incendiary ammo, I thought tracer ammo at the range could be cool for seeing shots drift and that kind of thing.

No wars pencilled in the calendar

[chickapow]

In 'proper' tracer ammo I believe there is a cavity in the rear of the bullet that contains the tracer material. This remains in the bullet and burns as the bullet moves forward so you get the tracer line.

I see.

The bits I read were about shooting them and a little on what chemicals make what colours. Didn't go into the actual construction of the things so you could be right.

I just assumed it went in the case with the rest of it.

[Monty]

He was telling me how he lit up one farmers crop with the stuff... Wont do that again

"So I cleared all the rabbits out as promised... But..."

[MeccaOz]

I was reading a little about tracer rounds and see they add phosphorus or magnesium to the cartridges to make the string of light/colour for the tracer.

I don't think that's quite right.

In 'proper' tracer ammo I believe there is a cavity in the rear of the bullet that contains the tracer material. This remains in the bullet and burns as the bullet moves forward so you get the tracer line.

If you just added a material to the powder I think that you'd get a burst of extra flame/colour out the muzzle and nothing on the bullet (that's totally untested by the way to me, just my thinking).

Thats always been my thought on it too.

[MeccaOz]

He was telling me how he lit up one farmers crop with the stuff... Wont do that again

"So I cleared all the rabbits out as promised... But..."

HAHAHA, I dont think the farmer saw it that way, good thing he and the other old boy were good mates, but I think it cost tracer guy a bit of "time on the farm"

[Warrigul]

Firing tracer at all is a very bad idea, the base of the projectile is packed with a compound that once ignited by the powder charge stays ignited for 900 plus meters so if it is dropped short it will start a fire.

[Westy]

Firing tracer at all is a very bad idea, the base of the projectile is packed with a compound that once ignited by the powder charge stays ignited for 900 plus meters so if it is dropped short it will start a fire.

How did it go again

1 -FMJ
1 Armour Piercing
1 Tracer
1 Now repeat
But man that was years ago,I think you get just over a 1k with tracers Warrigal,set the crop on fire now thats f***ing Funny

[Oldbloke]

I was reading a little about tracer rounds and see they add phosphorus or magnesium to the cartridges to make the string of light/colour for the tracer.

I don't think that's quite right.

In 'proper' tracer ammo I believe there is a cavity in the rear of the bullet that contains the tracer material. This remains in the bullet and burns as the bullet moves forward so you get the tracer line.

If you just added a material to the powder I think that you'd get a burst of extra flame/colour out the muzzle and nothing on the bullet (that's totally untested by the way to me, just my thinking).

This is correct.

EDIT: I think some of the trace elements used to vary the colours are carcinogenic. This is an area of pyrotechnics that can be dangerous and difficult to predict the out come. Not an area for amateurs.

[ex_reven]

Tracers are projectiles with red phosphorous in the arse end of the jacket I believe.

The phosphorous is legal to own in small quantities I believe, but incendiary ammo is in the weapons prohibition act list IIRC.

[chilliman]

I was reading a little about tracer rounds and see they add phosphorus or magnesium to the cartridges to make the string of light/colour for the tracer.

I don't think that's quite right.

In 'proper' tracer ammo I believe there is a cavity in the rear of the bullet that contains the tracer material. This remains in the bullet and burns as the bullet moves forward so you get the tracer line.

If you just added a material to the powder I think that you'd get a burst of extra flame/colour out the muzzle and nothing on the bullet (that's totally untested by the way to me, just my thinking).

would those ingredients be harmful to your nice shiny new rifle (rifling/action/stock)?

[SendIt]

This is correct.

Cheers for the confirmation.

[salate]

I was reading a little about tracer rounds and see they add phosphorus or magnesium to the cartridges to make the string of light/colour for the tracer.

Would those ingredients be harmful to your nice shiny new rifle (rifling/action/stock)?

I do know they use phosphoric acid to remove rust. I guess that means phosphorus is ok?

Anyone a chemistry teach who can confirm?

[Blackened]

EDIT: I think some of the trace elements used to vary the colours are carcinogenic.

Certainly poisonous.

Phosphorus, peroxides, barium chlorides etc. They're not renowned for their health properties....

[Warrigul]

EDIT: I think some of the trace elements used to vary the colours are carcinogenic.

Certainly poisonous.

Phosphorus, peroxides, barium chlorides etc. They're not renowned for their health properties....

Shooting residue in general isn't exactly a health tonic.

[Shotfox]

I still think "Do it yourself" AND Tracer Ammo should not be in the same sentance. Sounds like it will end in tears.

[Oldbloke]

Tracer ammo uses a composition (s) (not generally available to the public) rather than a single substance, pressed into the rear of the projectile. Any error in the composition, burn rates or ignition timing could result in disaster. Some substances used in that industry are hazardous to health and would require procedures be in place to ensure that there are no adverse health effects, chronic (long term) or acute (immediate). Therefore this is an area for experts only.

Stick to reloading where there is plenty of good advice, manuals & data from the makers of the components. They spend heaps of money on quality control & testing to help ensure our safety.

[Chronos]

you can buy commercial shotgun tracer ammo here i believe, made by fiocchi




why i don't know buy what ever floats your boat i suppose

Chronos

[headspace]

Tracer is usually loaded into machine gun ammo at the rate from memory at 1every 3 to 5 rounds. It's pretty tough on barrel life and is designed for the machine gunner to "walk" his rounds onto the target. At night it also tends to give away your position. Definitely not the sort of thing sporting shooters need. It's only used in ball or FMJ ammo due to the compound being applied in the rear of the projectile. Colours were red or green. We used red tracer in 40mm anti aircraft weapons.
JD

[on_one_wheel]

I watched the episode of myth busters where they tried to ignite a fuel tank with tracer rounds, so that makes me a full blown expert in the matter of tracer rounds.

They said it was phosphorous in the tip of the projectile witch was ignited by friction as the projectile moved through the air, at one point they thought that they had to move back to allow the projectile more time to ignite. A quick search on google pictures showed me nothing but pictures of projectiles loaded with a phosphorous charge in the rear.

While they did not manage to blow the tank up or even cause it to burn, they did nealy start a grass fire.

They sure would be fun things to let off, It would give a great prospective of how fast projectiles move through the air.

As fun as it may sound, I don't think Ill be taking any chances with trying to make or find tracer rounds, loosing your licence for silly stuff like that would suck.

[on_one_wheel]

you can buy commercial shotgun tracer ammo here i believe, made by fiocchi

Now that would be fun around the camp fire!

[Blackened]

Shooting residue in general isn't exactly a health tonic.

Indeed it's not.

All the more reason not to add anything more to the concoction I guess. Not something I'd be doing either way.

[remnt]

I still think "Do it yourself" AND Tracer Ammo should not be in the same sentance. Sounds like it will end in tears.

But brightly coloured exciting tears?

[kritch]

At night it also tends to give away your position.

Unless there are foxes out there spotlighting for hunters I think that's ok

[Gregg]

why i don't know buy what ever floats your boat i suppose

To "see where you are missing" if I'm reading that tiny writing right.

[bunnybuster]

Close the subject and walk away.

Be Safe BB.

[chickapow]

Don't stress BB.

Like I said I was strictly asking out of curiosity and expecting that it might be a complete no-go of an idea.

No one's about to do anything stupid