SAAMI Accepts Two New Cartridges

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute., (SAAMI)—the organization dedicated to promoting firearm safety by creating standards that ensure safety, reliability and interchangeability of firearms, ammunition and components—has announced acceptance of a new shotshell and new centerfire rifle cartridge for standardization.

Developed by Federal Ammunition, the 12-Gauge 1 3/4-inch shotshell was introduced with a maximum average pressure of 11,500 psi, with a 15/16-ounce No. 8 lead shot load traveling at a velocity of 1,145 feet per second (fps), a 15-pellet No. 4 lead buckshot load traveling at a velocity of 1,200 fps and a 1-ounce lead rifled slug at 1,200 fps.

Federal’s Shotshell Product Director Rick Stoeckel explained at an announcement a few weeks ago, “This is big news for our new Shorty Shotshell ammunition. The 12-gauge 1 3/4-inch cartridge has been around for more than a decade, but it was never brought to SAAMI to be considered by its Technical Committee. Once we decided to start manufacturing this load, we immediately submitted it to SAAMI for industry standardization. We’re excited about this approval and we deeply appreciate SAAMI’s support.”

Aguila also markets a line of very popular shorter-in-length shotshells. Phil Massaro tested that company’s No. 1 Buckshot load for Shooting Illustrated recently and concluded, “At 10 yards—probably longer than any in-house confrontation would occur—I got a 10-inch pattern from the improved cylinder barrel, more than sufficient to keep the pattern in a human silhouette yet wide enough to take advantage of the benefits of the scattergun. That long tube holds 13 Minishells, and if I need more firepower than that, I may have to call for reinforcements.”

The centerfire cartridge recently accepted was the 6.5-284 Norma developed by Nosler. It has SAAMI specs of  a maximum average pressure of 58,000 psi, with a 130-grain bullet traveling at a velocity of 2,900 fps. The cartridge is a favorite among long-distance shooters.

More information on both cartridges can be found here.