If they weren't, what would be the disadvantage of having them?
2006-09-03 05:56:17 · 13 answers · asked by Dan 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Tracers were normally put at every fifth round. There would be no sense in putting them at every round except to make a nice light show as they had no real penetration value except at extremely close range.
2006-09-03 06:26:02 · answer #1 · answered by dreamwever4u2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason all rounds are not tracers is that they are more expensive to make and the air forces were not the only ones using these bullets the army was and they don't want every bullet to be a tracer as it allows the enemy to trace back to your firing position not a problem in planes. So it was agreed to space the tracer rounds on a belt in a M-60 it's every 10th round in a .50 cal it's every 5th round why the differences I am not sure probably just the services trying to be different.
2006-09-08 15:16:01 · answer #2 · answered by brian L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As most everyone has noted, only every 5th round was a tracer. Cost was one factor, but also the additional heat and wear were factors as well.
Tracers have a slightly different ballistic trajectory than standard rounds. The burning tracer element releases gas into the air at the base of the bullet, which very slightly reduces the drag on the round. (There were experiments with using something similar to extend the range of artillery rounds, before rocket-assisted projectiles were introduced.) So a tracer will maintain its velocity better than a standard 'ball' round (though they were probably using API (armor-piercing incendiary) rounds rather than FMJ rounds in aircraft-mounted .50s back in WWII), and so over a fixed range, the tracer rounds will impact slightly higher than the non-tracer rounds.
(BTW, there are now night-vision tracers, which are nearly invisible to the naked eye, but show up on night vision goggles, so they're less likely to give your position away. Doesn't do much good in the daytime, though.)
2006-09-10 16:15:01 · answer #3 · answered by SShenold 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Silverstand hit the nail right on the head. They are not only more costly, but they also create more heat in the barrel. I'm not sure about the airplanes, but the M-60 machine gun has the tracer rounds at every fifth round.
2006-09-03 13:08:32 · answer #4 · answered by jinxybear 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm no fan of tracer rounds! While they have some value in showing you where your rounds are hitting they have a SEVERE drawback! The show the enemy EXACTLY where you are located! Makes it much more likely for them to successfully return fire! No thank you!
Give me a good set of NVGs ANY night!
2006-09-03 13:18:32 · answer #5 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, as they are more expensive to make. Not sure about then, but its like every 5th round is a tracer now.
2006-09-03 12:58:02 · answer #6 · answered by Silverstang 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the heat in the barrel is the best reason why thewr arent all tracer rounds. i think it was magnesium that burned off the tip the give the tracer effect. not to mention it does give away your position
2006-09-06 09:34:57 · answer #7 · answered by polyesterfred 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you just seem to see a lot of tracers in WWII dogfight footage. The majority of plane-to-plane ordinace was regular 50-cal. bullets.
2006-09-08 19:29:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you are on the receiving end of a tracer you do not see it coming the magnesium is not on the tip it is on the but of the shell.
2006-09-07 09:12:48 · answer #9 · answered by weejon70 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it was every fifth one. At the speed they are firing it will look like everyone is tracer.
2006-09-03 13:12:35 · answer #10 · answered by Thomas S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋