[dogmeat]

Hey all, first time post, long time reader, great and informative site. Recently picked up some surplus ammo maybe some of you experts could help me identify. 5.56 mm fmj{ no colored tips} linked ammo with headstamps on some saying R A 5 6, and some saying F C 6 6. writing on ammo can says 900 cartridges/ 5.56mm linked / 1-tracer, xm196 /4-ball ,m193 lot ra 503IT. questions 1. does all tracer ammo have colored tips ? 2. Is this ammo safe to shoot in my mini14?{it looks to be in good shape, just need to de-link it} 3. who made and when? thanks in advance for your comments, dave

 

[Yote]

Dogmeat,

Here's a link that has info on headstamps:

http://www.harringtonmuseum.org.uk/USACart...tHeadstamps.htm

or

http://www.totse.com/en/bad_ideas/guns_and...s/headstmp.html

It sounds like you have tracers every 5th round. I think you'll wanna separate 'em out. They'll foul your barrel in a hurry. The designation m193 will tell you what bullet weight/type you have. Maybe someone here has that info.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em,

Yote

 

[mikr]

Dave, I'd be more inclined to believe that they aren't tracers mixed in there....I am not very familiar with those particular stamps but know of someone who is, I'll ask.
The ammo can doesn't mean anything as far as IDing those particular rounds, but hey, light off a few at more than 100 yards to see if a tracer burns, and unless all you shoot are tracers, just clean the rifle good and you'll be fine. Even military snipers train with a few tracers yearly, through their rifles.

As far as the (M27) links, how many rounds are linked? I'd be glad to pick those links up from you, as I can actually use them. Delinking is as easy as grabbing one round and slightly pulling the forward part of one round back towards you, in a 90 degree fashion. It's quite easy to link/delink, I've probably done more than 5,000 this year

 

[mikr]

The "X" in XM196 would mean that Federal/ATK made tracers available to civvies, and to my knowledge that is not the case. XM193 is available however, and an excellent mil-spec round coming in at 55 grains--Talon made reloads of M196 (tracers) but those are not designated "X"M196, just plain old M196.

Yes, most tracers have an identifier (unless polished off before reloads)--RA I don't have an answer to yet but FC66=federal 1966?? Hmm, I'll check up on that.

 

[cajungeo]

Welcome to the forum Dog. Yes all military tracers have colored tips. If I remember they are red or orange. Look at your linked ammo to check. I have shot many in an m-14, they seem to heat up the barrel faster. We started a fire with tracers at Camp Pendleton, as it was dry there. It is an awsome sight at night when 75 Marines set up interlocking grazing fire with tracers. Be careful with them.

Yote, thanks for those links, it saved me some time.

 

[mikr]

Cajungeo is correct-red designates M196 (55gr) and orange designates M856 (62gr).

 

[dogmeat]

thanks all for the info. bullets don't have colored tips, but are in belted{linked} order 4 ra cartridges, 1 fc cartridge and so on through out. ammo seems to be about 100 rds per belt, guess I'll just have to go out and shoot afew. thanks again I'll give you guy a range report soon.

 

[cajungeo]

Hey dog are you going to do our belt feed mod to your mini?

Just kidden hehehe But wouldn't that be something?

 

[mikr]

Like the Shrike system?

 

[mtnwatcher]

if he's got a factory barrel, he better not. might shoot off his big toes when the barrel droops from the heat!!!

 

[bioman]

I have some surplus ammo that I picked up as tracers. The plain white box is marked: 5.56 mm tracer M196. The bullet does have a red tip, the headstamp is LC 76.

I guess the only way for dogmeat to be sure is to fire one.