Tracer Projectiles in Black Powder Cannons

[cannonmn]

Do you think the Mk 20 tracers, made for 20mm guns, would ignite if placed in the rear end of a projectile and fired from a blackpowder cannon?  I have tried some tracers made for WWII 40mm guns, in blackpowder cannons, and they did not ignite.  Here's our open-air test of the Mk 20 tracers.  You don't get a good idea of what the burn looks like because the light is so intense it "blooms" the camera's optics.
 

 

[bluelake]

I think it would depend upon the pyro material used.  Different nitrates or peroxides of metals could be used, depending upon the color desired (ex: strontium is often used and has a red color when burned).  They are used in fireworks pyrotechics for the colors we see with those displays and are fired by black powder charges, so I think it's possible.  The reason, maybe, yours didn't ignite is because some have a delay built in, so as not to reveal a shooter's position (maybe that is why it took a relatively long time for the ones in the video to ignite).  You might want to try just a pure strontium powder instead of using an actual tracer.

[RocklockI]

It looks very cool .but I wold not launch anything with those in it. Now I might take them apart.............
Can you prick the foil protective end and maybe 'prime it a little' with something ...not sure what......
Maybe you could think of something ?
 
Imagine one of those zipping through a fuel tank !!!
Gary
 
So you wouldn't have any extra would you John ? 

[KABAR2]

The foil maybe inhibiting ignition with BP next time you try firing on cut through the aluminum before hand... that may be all it takes...

[JeffG]

I have experimented with tracers. Igniting something on the back of a projectile can be tricky. Somethings act like little rocket engines, and push it waaaaaay  off course. Something painted on gets blasted off on ignition. Check with the local fireworks shop for something of color; blue,green and red. But locate it on the front ala cannon fuse. The blast will ignite it, but not destroy it. Hint: PVC tube and Gorilla glue are good starts. Have fun!

[Victor3]

 Poor Ed. 


 I agree with Kabar; remove the foil. 12ga tracer slugs (exposed compound) easily light with just a match.

[bluelake]

That makes sense.

[Iron Balls]

12 gage scare cartridges have a wade between the "cracker" and the powder with a 1/16" hole in it. This allows a small amount of blast through to ignite the cracker, but not enough to destroy it.

[cannonmn]

Gary asked if I had any extras, and the answer is yes.  A can of 100 of 'em is one of about 100 items we currently offer on Gunbroker.
 
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=345550200

[KABAR2]

Thinking a little more on this if one wanted a little time delay remove the foil and take a peice of fuze incased in clear pvc tubing hotmelt glue it over the tracer element and it should be good to go...I used to make timedelay on pyotecnics this way and it worked reliably....

[RocklockI]

Personaly I would use a black powder slurry, after pricking the the foil as I suggested in response #3 .
I would not want any delay! The thought of that thing coming down sizzling away onto pretty much anything would stop me from trying it.
 
Fun to think about , NOW IF I had a lake to shoot into that would be differant . But then agian if the tracing was to locate the projo  .....well then it may be safe but they are under water now and pretty much unrecoverable.
 
John You definatly have some interesting offerings online!
Gary

[cannonmn]

...have some interesting offerings online!
Gary

We sell WmD*
 
*Weapons of moderate Destruction

[Victor3]

Personaly I would use a black powder slurry, after pricking the the foil as I suggested in response #3   . I would not want any delay! The thought of that thing coming down sizzling away onto pretty much anything would stop me from trying it.

Might not want to do that, seeing as how many tracer compounds use potassium perchlorate. You don't want to mix it with sulfer for safety's sake. At least not if the thing's going to be sitting on a shelf for a while...