I asked this over at ARFcom, and didn't get an answer, So I'll try you fellas. I've got 500 orange tip tracer bullets to load. I'm pretty sure they are the M62 from .30-06 ammo. Does anyone have a safe load for using these bullets for .308? I'd like to use Varget because it works so well in a lot of loads. I think these bullets are 145grn. I loaded one round with 45grns of Varget, seated to the top of the cannula, OAL being 2.800", this length will fit the mags on my LR.308, but the load was definitly compressed. My basic reloading manual shows 47grns of Varget to be a compressed load for a 150grn bullet. It also shows 45grns of Varget to be a compressed load for a 175grn bullet. Any ideas? Also, will Varget light the tracer okay? This is the LR.308, my girlfriend bought it for me on my birhthday this summer.

First of all, please don't "think" about the dimensions and weight, MEASURE them! Be sure of your weight and diameter.

Then I'd suggest looking at the tracer bullet length, from the cannelure to the base, and compare that to the 150 grain bullet used in the loads you are referencing. I'd think that the tracer would be a bit longer because of its design. That is what is determining the volume of your combustion chamber, which, along with the weight, affects the pressure. Honestly I'd stick with minumum loads if you are just shooting tracers for fun.

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

Honestly I'd stick with minumum loads if you are just shooting tracers for fun.

That would be my advice, too. I can't think of any other reason to shoot tracers, as they are useless for hunting and exhibit poor accuracy. Plus, I have heard that they are not easy on your bore. Competitors shy away from them like they carried plague. I don't have any experience with them myself except in a military setting.

I was planning on shooting some at our sillouette range this winter. I thought it would be nice to see the trajectory to the steel targets out to 1000 yards.

GUTS wrote:

I was planning on shooting some at our sillouette range this winter. I thought it would be nice to see the trajectory to the steel targets out to 1000 yards.

Maybe with Tannerite?