CCI Ammunition adds six new Hevi-Bismuth centerfire handgun shotshell loads to its pest control product line. Product details and availability can be found on the brand’s website.
Pest Control Bismuth Shotshell
The new Hevi-Bismuth pest control centerfire handgun shotshells are loaded with the Catalyst lead-free primer and HEVI-Bismuth pellets. At 9.6 g/cc, the shot carries nearly the same density and downrange energy of lead but adheres to all non-toxic ammunition requirements. They are designed to produce effective short-range patterns on pests and are packaged in 10-count boxes.
“You don’t get to choose when or where you’ll encounter dangerous, damaging pests, but you’ll always be prepared to take them out with our HEVI-Bismuth centerfire handgun shotshells,” said Chris Laack, CCI’s Handgun Product Manager. “They’re loaded with HEVI-Bismuth pellets alloyed and cast in Sweet Home, Oregon, by our affiliate company, HEVI-Shot Ammunition, and it’s the best bismuth shot in the industry. This product is intended for those required to use lead-free options.”
Part No. / Description / MSRP
3790B / 9MM LUGER BISMUTH SHOTSHELL / $27.99
3738B / 38/357 MAG BISMUTH SHOTSHELL / $26.99
3744B / 44 SPL/REM MAG BISMUTH SHOTSHELL / $34.99
3746B / 45 COLT BISMUTH SHOTSHELL / $34.99
3740B / 40 S&W BISMUTH SHOTSHELL / $29.99
3745B / 45 AUTO BISMUTH SHOTSHELL / $32.99
CCI ammunition can be found at dealers nationwide and online. For more information on all products from CCI Ammunition, go to www.cci-ammunition.com.
As prominently listed on CCI’s website, shotshells may not function reliably in your 9mm gun.
https://www.cci-ammunition.com/handgun/cci/pest-control-shotshell/6-3790.html
The quite small ‘fine print’ in the warning section on the back of the packaging explicitly states, “May not cycle semi-automatic firearms.”
That said, I bought a few boxes of CCI 9mm shotshells on sale many years ago. Tested them at the range in one of my semi-auto 9mm’s and they worked just fine & surprisingly cycled the action.
So fast-forward a few years and I’m out varmint hunting. While walking along looking off in the distance for a place to set up, I almost step on a rattlesnake. I take off sprinting about 10 yards all while screaming bloody murder like a small child. After coming to my senses, I pull out the 9mm and cycle the action to load a shotshell. I close the distance on the snake and squeeze off a round.
So for those who don’t know, these shotshells are comprised of 3 parts (minus the aluminum case, primer, and powder): the shot, the cup (the ‘bullet’ looking exterior which holds the shot), and a plastic disk (the wad) which pushes all of it out.
Anyways, the round goes off and the snake is now flopping all over the place. I decide to put another round of shot into the snake to finish it off. I look at the slide on the gun and it isn’t in battery. I tap on the back of it and it won’t go in. So I pull back on the slide to eject the round and that’s when disaster strikes. Pulling back on the slide separated the case from the cup on the second round. All the fine #12 shot spilled all over into the internals of the gun and magazine. After yelling some expletives, I take off my backpack and pull out a .22LR pistol and put some 36g HP’s into the snake until it stops moving.
So what had happened with the 9mm? I broke the gun down and eventually pieced together the sequence of events. As the first round was fired, the wad blew all the shot out the front of the cup thus leaving the sides of the cup in the chamber. As the action cycled, it separated the case from the sides of the cup. So now fire-formed inside the chamber was the sides of the plastic cup of the first round. The action cycles and the second round obviously can’t load because the chamber on the barrel is now restricted. Me tapping on the back just makes it worse. And finally, pulling back on the action separated the case from the cup on the second round and all the fine #12 shot fills up the gun.
So if anyone has a better way of getting fire-formed plastic out of ones handgun barrel that doesn’t involve baking it at 450 and scraping it out, please let me know…
Why waste ammo? Just grab it.
How often do people have to shoot snakes? Where I live, the snakes try to avoid you. The ones around here are also good to have near your house. If you want to end one, then grab a shovel or a hoe. If you’re away from your house, don’t worry. It’s unlikely the snake will chase you. If you feel the need to shoot it, use your regular carry ammo.
Where I live, we typically get snakes on the property often. I always let the gopher, coachwhip, and king snakes go free, but rattlers meet a timely end.
FWIW, I almost always use a standard .177 pellet gun (one shot to the base of the head, with one follow-up from only two inches to ensure a quick dispatch), but I’ve used simple .22LR snake shot very effectively. 9mm is unnecessary.
I agree that 9mm is unnecessary. I only meant if you felt the need to shoot one while you out, away from home, and all you had was your carry piece.
Garden hoe is the best caliber.
My dad went after a snake with a string trimmer once. We had sausages for breakfast the next day.
Ok, we didn’t, but we could have. Snake didn’t have a chance.