New CCI Pistol Shotshells at SHOT Show 2024

Some new shot cartridges caught this correspondent’s eye on the CCI a part of the Vista Outside exhibit on the SHOT Present. There have been three displayed: a 10mm providing utilizing 109 grains of #9 lead shot, a 9mm utilizing 43 grains of Hevi Bismuth, non-lead shot, and a .38 Particular utilizing 80 grains of Hevi Bismuth, non-lead shot.

The 10mm is to fulfill these with 10mm handguns who discover a shot cartridge helpful for his or her wants. The Hevi Bismuth hundreds are to fulfill prospects who need to make certain about their standing on the legislation, the place lead shot is prohibited. A CCI consultant mentioned many of the demand for the Hevi Bismuth hundreds comes from the western United States. Testing of the Hevi Bismuth hundreds exhibits comparable outcomes to present lead hundreds.

This correspondent has sources who’ve experimented with the Tungsten Tremendous Shot (TSS). The efficiency of TSS is way, far past lead shot. TSS is extraordinarily dense, 18.3 grams per cubic centimeter, in comparison with about 11.3 grams per cubic centimeter for lead shot. TSS is about 60% extra dense than lead, which provides it an amazing ballistic benefit. TSS seems to be a pure for pistol shot cartridges, that are primarily restricted by the small volumes of shot out there. Due to the distinction in density, the same shot cartridge might slot in 60% extra shot. Due to the mixture of hardness and density, shot sizes could be dropped by a minimum of two ranges for related terminal results.

This correspondent requested: Why not change to TSS? Pistol shot shells are already comparatively costly as a result of they’re produced in such small numbers. The elevated price of utilizing TSS shot would primarily be in the price of the shot. Lead prices about $2 per pound, TSS about $42 per lb.  The quantity of shot in a pistol shotshell is small, about 1/4 ounce for the bigger calibers. With TSS, it may very well be elevated by 60% to .4 ounces. 16×2.5 is 40 photographs per pound, or about  $1 extra per shot. With small, arduous shot, severe patterns at additional ranges turn out to be seemingly. Dropping two shot sizes roughly doubles the pellet depend. Including 60% extra throw weight means about twice as many smaller however efficient pellets.

The individuals at CCI can learn the analysis and do the maths higher than this correspondent. They’ve examined TSS in pistol caliber shotshells. My supply advised me the outcomes are a lot superior to steer shot. The issue shouldn’t be a technical drawback. TSS and pistol shotshells are an attractive match. The issue shouldn’t be an financial one. Pistol shotshells are utilized in sufficiently small portions that most individuals can afford one other greenback a cartridge. The issue is authorized. Tungsten Tremendous Shot has been dominated by the ATF to be an armor-piercing materials. It’s banned to be used in pistols due to the outdated “cop killer” laws handed when Joe Biden was a senator. Anybody who produces a shotshell for pistols utilizing TSS is prone to be shut down by the ATF.

It’s doable an exemption, as it’s particularly helpful for sporting functions, may very well be granted. It’s extremely unlikely below the Biden administration.

That is technological progress stopped by bureaucratic political video games. Such is the issue with passing laws based mostly on emotion and technological ignorance. Emotion and ignorance had been the mixture utilized by President Biden when he helped cross the “cop killer” armor-piercing bullet ban as a senator.

About Dean Weingarten:

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a navy officer, was on the College of Wisconsin Pistol Group for 4 years, and was first licensed to show firearms security in 1973. He taught the Arizona hid carry course for fifteen years till the purpose of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has levels in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Division of Protection after a 30 12 months profession in Military Analysis, Growth, Testing, and Analysis.