The bullet is a Hornady Vector, a bright 124 grain (about 0.28 ounces or 8 grams) tracer bullet with a muzzle velocity of 1000 feet per second/ 305 metres per second. They were discontinued about 20 years ago.

Vectors consist of a thin rod of magnesium, weighing only a grain or two, drilled into the base of the bullet. Magnesium burns brightly and quickly, and the bullets are visible immediately after leaving the muzzle. They provide a bright trace for about 0.5 to 0.75 seconds and a maximum illuminated flight of 150-200 yards (the bullets themselves can travel well over a mile if carelessly shot into the sky). Traditional military tracer ammunition has a much larger proportion of pyrotechnic material (including phosphorous) that makes up a significant percentage of the bullet's weight, burns much hotter and longer, and often doesn't fully illuminate until the bullet is dozens of yards down range. Military small-arms tracer ammunition burns for several seconds to a thousand yards, give or take, and can present a significant fire hazard. Even if this wasn't a snowy, winter landscape, these bullets are safe (from a fire danger standpoint) compared to military tracers. Still, ALWAYS avoid shooting even "safe" tracer ammunition into dry vegetation.

The berm is about 130 yards/120 metres from the muzzle. A 9mm bullet drops about 5"/12cm over the distance between the muzzle and the berm which optically is not much and gives the impression of a flat, laser-like trajectory over the distance that the bullet flies. The pistol is a Beretta 92FS. The clip was recorded with a Nikon D7000. The location is Livingston, Montana, USA.

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