doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Has anyone had any experience with CIC shot?

Hi all. Has anyone had any experience using corrosion inhibited copper shot like the stuff sold on Boss Shotshells? I am particularly interested in their safety in old barrels. Copper is quite soft, so I would think it would be fine. With bismuth being so expensive, I was hoping this might be a good alternative.

Thanks -Johnny

I guess I should be clear. I am talking about the shot in particular for handloading appropriate low pressure loads, not the CIC loads they have for sale.

There was an issue earlier this year about whether it was an approved, non-toxic shot, but, I believe that has been settled.

Copper is pretty soft, way softer than steel, but, that doesn’t mean it will be without issues in older guns. Might be best to check with the manufacturer, and hope you don’t get a mealy mouthed lawyer approved non answer.

I’d be most curious as to the possibility of bridging with a copper shot, and what they might coat it with to perhaps negate that possibility.

Best,
Ted

I've read the non-tox shot regulation and the two memoranda the USFWS has issued this year. The CIC shot approvals are for Cartridges manufactured by Enron-Metal and Boss. I can find no approval of CIC shot for use by reloaders.

That's a bit confusing. I was under the impression that the shot itself is what would be approved, or not. What would it matter whether it was loaded in factory shells or reloaded at home?

I don't know. They seem to be referring to shot. I don't even see any mention of cartridges or reloading here. https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/f...-approved-nontoxic-shot-requirements.pdf

Another article from Cornell.law lists it as an approved shot and says nothing about hand loads being illegal.

If you could link the document where you read that only cartridges manufactured by Enron-Metal and Boss were approved that would be great. I would like to read it. That sure is confusing.

June 26, 2026 USFWS memo approving Boss CIC shotshells

The April memo by USFWS said CIC shot used for waterfowl hunting had to have a fluorescent coating AND be loaded in a translucent shotshell, to facilitate detection in the field using a portable device (a UV light I think). Boss appealed, and the above linked memo gives specific approval just to the Boss shells because they passed inspection, although not translucent. Looks like reloading of CIC shot needs a translucent hull plus a fluorescent coating on the shot. Rather complicated and confusing.

Did BOSS appeal or did they submit a cartridge in a translucent hull that met the requirements of the April Memorandum"

From the April Memo:

"The following apply:
• Only shot types and coatings that appear in 50 CFR 20.21(j) are legal for use.
• Pure copper shot is NOT approved.
• CIC shot is the only copper-based shot type that is approved. To qualify, it must:
o Contain at least 99.9% copper,
o Include required benzotriazole (BTA) and fluorescent thermoplastic coatings,
and,"
o Be loaded in a translucent hull and wad, clearly labeled by the manufacturer"

From Boss' approval:

"MATERIAL COMPLIANCE WITH POLICY:
After reviewing the manufacturer’s Material Certificate of Compliance dated June 23,
2026, along with the accompanying Certificate of Compliance dated April 19, 2026, and
other included documents, compositional information, coating specifications, and field
identification features, and after physical examination of submitted product, the FWS has
determined the following:

• The submitted shot product consists of a copper core of 99.99 percent oxygen free
copper coated with a benzotriazole corrosion-inhibitor consistent with the
mechanisms used in approved CIC shot formulations.
• The fluorescent material incorporated into the shotshell provides a reliable means
for enforcement officers to identify the shot type in the field.
• The materials, construction, and identification features meet the functional
requirements for nontoxic shot as defined in 50 CFR 20.134."

Note the phrase "After reviewing the manufacturer’s Material Certificate of Compliance dated June 23, 2026, along with the accompanying Certificate of Compliance dated April 19, 2026" stating "certifications" by the shot manufacturer and BOSS that the product meets the requirements for non-toxic shot. This is something that a reloader cannot do.

The issue is identification of CIC shot in the field and currently the only method is the manufacturer's certification combined with the fluorescent coating of the shot.

Use reloaded CIC shot at your own risk of violating the law requiring non-toxic shot.

Split Reed article

This article sheds some light on the subject. I haven’t seen the Boss CIC shells but article says they are red, still identifiable by fluorescence, maybe the hull is treated?