So, a friend of mine was telling me that I should look into buying tracer rounds for my AR. Other than the "cool" factor, what would be the purpose? Do ranges (outdoors) even allow them? I know their use and history, I just don't see the practicaliy if I'm only going to be shooting at the range.

 

Thoughts? Opinions?

I thought you couldn't have them in the People Republic. But other than the cool factor, I see no practical use for them.

In Jersey I believe you can own them but not shoot them.

Their practicality is to let you know where your fire is being directed. It makes more sense for a gun being shot fully auto than a semi-auto AR being aimed. On the other hand, there is the "cool" factor...

Tracers work both ways....

You can own them here but cannot shoot them in nj

I appreciate when people are making video reviews when they use them, but other than that I'm not sure I could even follow it from my gun to the target (or general vicinity around the target that I'm more likely to hit).

 

 

MC

Like others have said, you can own them.. but not discharge them in NJ as a civilian.

 

Even if they where allowed to be discharged legally (only for LEO or Military per the statues).. a lot of ranges won't/wouldn't allow it because of fire concerns.. dry brush + incendiary rounds = big potential problem.

 

So yeah.. other than the cool ha-ha factor for when you go to PA, its not really much of anything to talk about.

 

So I've heard.. many brands wont light up for 50 yards or so.. so you have to be shooting at a somewhat long distance for them to work..

 

Then there is the internet talk about how the phosphors on the round might be corrosive.. so it would be a good idea to clean the gun thoroughly after use.

 

If it was me, I might buy a box or two for the occasion when I could shoot them legally.. but wouldn't spend any kind of major cash on them.

Tracers work both ways....

 

Somewhat true. They typically dont light for about 100 yards for that purpose

Get you some IR tracers and NVG for the night zombies!

How many NJ ranges even allow night time fire?

A tracer in daylight is rather silly.

 

Most indoor ranges I see have rules specifically prohibiting the use of tracer rounds.

 

Most outdoor ranges you must leave before/at sunset.

 

So not sure where you can really get their full effect even if they were legal to shoot

in New Jersey.

I recall that many yeas ago a soldier told me that in Vietnam, the last 3 rounds in a magazine were tracers to let you know that you were out of ammunition. Of course, I'm sure after a while, the Vietcong would learn this as well, so it doesn't seem like sound tactical advice.

 

I see a purpose for those chemlight shotgun shells that you sometimes see when people are shooting skeet to determine exactly what they are doing wrong, but unless you are marking targets or shooting a fully automatic weapon, I don't see much civilian use other than the cool factor.

I see a purpose for those chemlight shotgun shells that you sometimes see when people are shooting skeet to determine exactly what they are doing wrong, but unless you are marking targets or shooting a fully automatic weapon, I don't see much civilian use other than the cool factor.

 

Very common to see them in use in the trap and skeet fields years ago as training aids.

I remeber watching several You Tube videos concerning tracer rounds. They looked interesting to say the least.

I believe the discharge law did exempt certain shotgun tracers, but I'm at work now so I can't easily pull the stature up.

 

 

A range that allows them is another story though.

So it doesn't sound like they are particularly practical, but does anyone know why they are illegal?

2C:58-10. Incendiary or tracer ammunition

No incendiary or tracer type ammunition shall be discharged anywhere in this State except for law enforcement purposes by law enforcement officers in the course of their official duties or by members of legally recognized military organizations during the actual course of their official duties in or upon military establishments or ranges constructed or maintained for such purposes. Nonincendiary shotgun tracer ammunition may, however, be used on a trap or skeet field for target purposes. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the carrying or possession for distress signal purposes of a visual distress signalling device approved by the United States Coast Guard aboard a private or commercial aircraft or any boat.

 

So it doesn't sound like they are particularly practical, but does anyone know why they are illegal?

Same reason a bayonet lug is illegal on AR?

Because it's armor piercing and meant to kill cops?

It's New Jersey.

It's the cool factor. They really do look neat. Also teach you how many of your rounds leave the range if you don't put them all into something that will trap them.

 

M856 light up around 75 meters and M196 light up right out of the barrel. The problem with M196 is that most of the ones on the market are old and sometimes you get a lot number for which most of the rounds don't light. .50 BMG pulled military bullets light right out of the barrel. Piney Hill .22 RF light right out of the barrel and are awesome but expensive. Haven't shot .30 tracers as a civilian. Northern Arizona Munitions makes them in all colors and calibers and they light right out of the barrel but they are VERY expensive.

 

How many NJ ranges even allow night time fire?

A tracer in daylight is rather silly.

 

I was shooting tracers in daylight with a friend a few days ago and it was awesome. They were M196 and it looked like Star Wars.