The construction of a standard cartridge is known to most men since school from pre-conscription training. But the design, purpose and the possibility of using special-purpose bullets still cause many questions. In this article we will talk about what the tracer bullet is used for, how it differs from the usual one and what features it has. We also answer the question of whether there are such ammunition for use in pneumatic weapons.
Destination
Tracer bullets appeared before 1914. Their main difference is that they leave behind a smoky or fiery trail and thereby make it possible to adjust the shooting, which brings considerable benefit in repelling attacks from the air and shooting in the dark. At first, the tracer bullet left behind a visible trace no more than 300-400 meters long. However, in 1918, the visibility of the highway was increased to one kilometer.
Device and principle of operation
The tracer bullet contains a special densely compressed compound inside which, when fired, is ignited by a powder charge and, burning up in flight, leaves behind a distinct bright trace that is clearly visible at any time of the day. Depending on the components and the time of preparation of the mixture itself, the glow of the flight path can be yellow, green, raspberry and orange. As a rule, a domestic-made tracer bullet contains an antimony-lead alloy in the form of a core in front and a tracer composition pressed into several layers in a small cup in the back. Foreign analogues have a similar, very similar to the device described above. Note that if, instead of lead and antimony, the bullet core is made of steel, then such a tracer bullet acquires armor-piercing properties.
Features
As the luminous composition burns out in flight, the weight decreases and the center of gravity of such a projectile shifts. This circumstance causes a significant increase in dispersion and makes the tracer bullet somewhat unbalanced. This leads to a loss of accuracy of the battle and a decrease in penetration. At the same time, such a projectile also has an incendiary property. As a result of burning the tracer, aggressive chemical elements are released that have a destructive effect on the bore. Therefore, such bullets are practically not used in sniper rifles, and in the clip alternate with the usual every 4-5 pieces.
Tracer bullets for pneumatics
Owners of gas small arms are often interested in where ammunition can be purchased so that you can shoot in the dark. Let's just say: tracer bullets for airguns are not made, and therefore it makes no sense to look for them in stores. Some people post recipes on the Web for how to make them yourself. This option, in principle, although possible, however, is far from safe. Instead of exposing yourself and your weapon to unnecessary risk, it is better to purchase as an alternative a bullet such as “Flare” or “Combat”. Despite the fact that during the flight they do not leave a mark, when they hit the target there is a flash, and thereby you can adjust your accuracy.