Green tracer ingnition help

[DrJekyll]

I have some 30 cal russian green tracers that I sized down for .308, I tested a few with 43 grains of imr4895 and could not get them to light. I was told when I bought them that they were lighting with this combination. I could have possibly put a light crimp on them, would that cause them not to light.

[rugman59]

In a rifle cartridge, I can't see how light, heavy crimp would make any difference in how hot the powder burns.
I know that seating depth can greatly change pressures, but??
I burn 4895 in my AR15 all the time, and I know it's a pretty hot powder.
OH,, a crimp in the BULLET!:bucktooth::bucktooth:
Do you have any before and after pics of the rear of the bullets?
I wonder if maybe the foil could have ' thickened' from being compressed equally on it's circumference????

[DrJekyll]

Heres the weird thing. The back of the bullet is open, and you canactually see the tracer compound. It is packed very hard, and it can be scraped. I lit about 10 of the bullets with a torch and they all lit and burned bright and long

Steve

[cnkillerclown]

maybe an excessive crimp made the stuff fall out into the powder charge??:question:

[Kali Komrade]

Sounds like it may be the wrong powder to get it to light... I haven't heard much about using 4895 to light tracers it has to burn hot enough infact I don't believe its a stick powder I believe its going to be a ball powder...

[bajamike]

I always heard a tight crimp and put the tracers in a ammo can with desicant for a week to pull moisture from them before loading. I also have heard that the barrel friction plays alot in lighting them ala a fast acceleration rather than a slow burn. Then again I have hard alot of things. I load some .223 that they say won't light and quit a few do. The lee factory crimp die is must. I have a bunch of 30 cal. orange tip sitting in a can waiting for try. The com block green tracers are very bright and smokey would be cool to get them to take off.

[ArizonaBeagle]

I use Hodgdon's H-335 for my .308 (7.62x51) and .223 (5.56x45) tracers and always get reliable lighting.
The thing about the tracer tips that don't have the foil cover is that they seem to absorb moisture and are difficult to light. The drying out may be a good idea. (I live in Arizona, so moisture is not normally a factor)
Hotter burning powders seem to be the best answer.
I don't think the crimp should have any effect on tracer ignition.

AZB

[DrJekyll]

Hey AZB,
Can you give me your load info for .308 and .223 using the H335

[rugman59]

I live in Oregon and it's pretty wet here even in the summer. I make star and smoke compounds to play with now and then. If I leave them out for one blasted day they don't want to light!
That desiccant in the can sounds like a good idea!:smile:

[ArizonaBeagle]

Hey AZB,
Can you give me your load info for .308 and .223 using the H335

Hodgdon's manual lists H335 for .223/55gr bullet @ 24 - 26 grs. I use 24 gr.
For .308 they list H335 @ 41 - 44grs. for 150gr.(147) I use 42 grs.
All military cases. The volume in commercial cases is appreciably larger.
That works for me......cycles M16 and 1919A-4 reliably. YMMV

AZB

[anm2_man]

I've reloaded thousands of .308 & 30-06 with Military pull down 4895 with good success. Tracers always lit. So it may have something to do with humidity. If I open up a m25 projectile, the tracer compound will fall out. Its more of a powder. You said that the Russian stuff was hard, which would lead me to believe that there maybe a moisture in there since you can light them up with a torch. The only other question is how long was your range ? Most military tracer rounds are designed NOT to light up for at least 100 yards. This is designed to protect the shooters position.

The IMR4895 should work with no problem.

[DrJekyll]

I started shooting from 125 yrds, then went back to 300 yrds

[rugman59]

I started shooting from 125 yrds, then went back to 300 yrds
Any luck yet?

[DrJekyll]

It is going to be a while yet. Just gearing up on info, so I can get it them loaded soon

Steve

[bill2390]

Us Texas boys would like to know what works to-I really am starting to believe these tracers are DUDS! I hope you can prove me wrong-Bottom line if you come up with the right combination please post for all of us who have these projectiles. Thanks

[DrJekyll]

Bill,
I ordered a cannelure tool today, so I can get a nice tight crimp on them, hoping that helps in lightin them. I really want them to work but if not, I guess they arent bad bullets