Spotter/Tracer loads in 82A1/M107

[Jon Long]

In the last year I have sold my bolt action .50 and just have my M82A1 now. I have a few hundred rounds of loaded spotter/tracer left which I am contemplating the future of.

These are the usual spotter/tracer loads of 170-180 grains, pushing ~1800 fps or so. As anybody successfully used these types of rounds in their 82 or 107?

Certainly I would think you'd want to load them individually one at a time. Semi-auto would be a definite no-no with the primer tip in these things.

What I am most curious about is if the reduced charge has enough power to cycle the action properly and reliably? I would not want to be shooting these if the brass is not going eject properly and/or get smashed up by the bolt.

I'd be inclined to keep most of them if people have successfully used them individually in these rifles. If there are short-stroke issues or failure to eject than I'll probably sell them off.

Thanks for any info

[m82a1pa]

I shoot them pretty regularly in my 82. Loaded with 185 gr, surplus IMR5010, chrony'd at 1850 fps. Never had a misfire or failure to cycle the action.

[Jon Long]

Interesting, thanks for the info.

So no issues in cycling or ejection due to the reduced load? That's cool, guess I'll keep 'em.

[legend82]

Third site i've seen your question Jon, guess you are covering the bases To answer about the spotter-tracer, others have said and i concur that you should be good to go. I have an 82 and Talon S.T. also. Have fun and blast away

[Jon Long]

Haha... yes I did post this on ARFcom, Biggerhammer, and here...

Figured somebody at one of these places had run these through a Barrett by now!

Good to hear they are running fine through the 82/107s. I've heard several reports now (one from each site actually!) that they are cycling the gun just fine and are a blast to shoot (literally).

I'm still a little girl when it comes to that primer tip prematurely detonating so I'll probably run them individually instead of the magazine.

Thanks for the report!

[Espada]

Nothing "girly" about your interest in a massive explosion next to your eye !

But, to help your perspective on it, the original round, M48 I think, is a shorter .50 cal. cartridge ( having the same trajectory as the main round ) which is used as the "spotter rifle" mounted on top of a 106 m/m recoilless rifle. The rifle is coaxially mounted with the 106 bore. The gunner sights on target, but usually fires a spotter round ( or however many necessary )to insure a first-round 106 hit.

The "trigger" is mounted on the elevation (or traverse; going from 40-year-old memory here) wheel; a knob is pushed to fire each spotter round from the semi-automatic rifle {which is the point I'll eventually get to ( ) }, and when the weapon is on target, the knob is pulled, firing the main round... happens quick... push, adjust - push, adjust, pull to fire the main round, and move out smartly to collect souvenirs.

Finally, the point ! The spotter round is designed to be used in a semi-automatic rifle. It won't go off even in the unlikely event of a failure to feed... the primer up front is not that sensitive.

Kick ass !

[tbuck]

That should answer your question but it dosen''t hurt to check in other places. Just sounds like a very safe and responsible gun owner.

[Jon Long]

tbuck -- Thanks, yes my question was answered quite well at all three places where I posed it.

The consensus is they work great in cycling the 82, so I'm keeping my stash!