IWA 2024 new products from RWS: first pistol cartridge,  lead-free CINESHOT, new calibers for DRIVEN HUNT and HIT series

Ammunition manufacturer RWS has five new products for the IWA OutdoorClassics 2024: in addition to the market launch of the manufacturer's first pistol cartridge, there is also a new air rifle pellet line. In addition, the popular CINESHOT practice cartridge is now also available as a lead-free variant. The lead-free RWS HIT hunting ammunition will be available in new, trendy calibers in future. We have taken a closer look at the details of the new products and provide you with a complete overview here.

First pistol cartridge from RWS: "COUP DE GRÂCE" in 9mm Luger

With the "COUP DE GRÂCE", RWS is expanding its product range to include pistol cartridges. This decision follows the company's many years of experience in the field of rifle cartridges. The new development is inspired by the RWS DRIVEN HUNT (see below) in the SHORT RIFLE variant.

RWS opted for the popular 9mm Luger for the initial caliber selection. The decisive factor here was the ballistic properties. These include efficient energy transfer, controllable recoil and a decent magazine capacity in most pistols. The ammunition should be particularly suitable for popular sub-compact handguns and fulfil the specific requirements of "Fangschuss", that is the finishing shot in German hunting practice.

The newly developed cartridge is characterised by a 7-gram (108 grs) all-copper hollow point bullet design that offers reliable penetration while achieving a high degree of expansion. The monolithic bullet construction is designed to penetrate the rinds of even strong sows. In addition, the bullet can expand to up to 2.5 times its original diameter. This prevents over-penetration and thus reduces the risk of collateral damage. RWS has designed the new cartridge for complete energy release in the target, which ensures a quick effect when firing a finishing shot. A nickel coating on the bullet reduces deposits in the barrel, while a special case coating is intended to improve the sliding properties and thus cartridge reliability.

Fewer emissions in shooting cinemas: RWS CINESHOT is now lead-free

RWS is also launching another new addition to the CINESHOT line. It now goes by the name of CINESHOT LEAD-FREE and is characterised by two main features: the lead-free bullet made from 100 per cent zinc and the GREENFIRE primer technology. The new cartridge is designed specifically as a cost-effective option for regular training while reducing emissions at the same time.

The new ammunition alternative comes with a zinc bullet and a mild steel jacket with tombac plating, which aims to reduce wear and tear during intensive training. The combination of these components with GREENFIRE primer technology is intended to ensure a high level of health protection during indoor training in the shooting cinema.

The CINESHOT LEAD-FREE is characterised by a consistent load and precise bullet geometry. This results in high accuracy and sufficient pressure to also function in all standard semi-automatic rifles. A special coating on the bullet aims to minimise friction in the barrel and thus enable intensive training with less barrel fouling. The GREENFIRE primer technology has been used for years as a lead-free solution in shooting sports.

In addition, care was taken to ensure that the loads can be used for fast and long shot strings in shooting cinemas. A low bullet weight in particular contributes to this. The RWS CINESHOT LEAD-FREE is available in the following calibers at launch:

Caliber overview: new RWS CINESHOT LEAD-FREE

IWA 2024: more calibers and a SHORT RIFLE variant for the lead-free RWS DRIVEN HUNT hunting ammunition

At the IWA 2024, RWS is also presenting an expansion of the product range with regard to the popular DRIVEN HUNT driven hunt cartridge. A number of new variants of the DRIVEN HUNT cartridge are now available: more calibers and Short Rifle versions. The latter are aimed at hunters who use short rifle barrels and silencers.

The bullets are made of copper and nickel plated to ensure corrosion resistance. They have a flat orange tip, which should ensure rapid mushrooming and thus an immediate effect with a high residual weight of the bullet, even over short distances.

The SHORT RIFLE variants come with eye-catching nickel-plated cases. They offer adapted loads for short barrels: a fast-burning powder and an optimised bullet weight, which compensates for a possible loss of speed and energy when firing from short barrels and increases the effective range. The following calibers and SHORT RIFLE variants are now available (the new additions are underlined):

These RWS DRIVEN HUNT loads will be available from 2024

New trendy calibers for the RWS HIT lead-free hunting cartridge

Three new calibers have now been added to the existing product range of the RWS HIT bullet: 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55 SE and .243 Win. The RWS HIT bullet enjoys a good reputation among hunters. RWS reports a lot of positive feedback from hunters. In response, RWS is now offering three additional calibers that are designed to cover a wide range of hunting situations.

The lead-free and nickel-plated copper deformation bullet RWS HIT with an orange-coloured tip is based on a solid concept. The predetermined breaking points are designed for specific calibers to enable controlled mushrooming even over longer distances. A high residual body weight is designed to ensure deep penetration and reliable shots, even in the case of bone hits.

Some variants of RWS HIT ammunition are specially adapted for short barrels and silencers and are available as SHORT RIFLE versions. The ammunition is recommended for hunting various domestic game species and can be used for medium to heavy game in particular.

The new calibers in the RWS HIT series are now available from specialist retailers. The following loads will be available (the new additions are underlined):

RWS HIT: complete caliber overview for 2024

Premiere at IWA 2024 – Sport and hunting air rifle pellets: new Super Field Heavy from the RWS Field Line

RWS has also added a new pellet type to its Field Line product line for air rifle shooters, which is aimed at owners of high-precision and high-performance air guns. The Super Field Heavy round-head diabolo pellet is intended to complement the existing range and find its place between the Super Field and the Super Field Ultra Heavy. It is claimed to be particularly characterised by accuracy and versatility over various ranges.

The company states that the Super Field Heavy was developed with the requirements of modern PCP air guns in mind. Its optimised shape and weight distribution are intended to enable reliable performance and consistency in these gun systems.

The new RWS Super Field Heavy is aimed at a wide range of applications: it is suitable for sport shooting, especially field target shooting, and also (where permitted) for hunting. Commenting on the development of the RWS Super Field Heavy, Stefan Rumpler, Product Manager for airgun pellets and rimfire cartridges, said: "The introduction of the RWS Super Field Heavy not only emphasises our ongoing commitment to innovation, but also builds on the solid reputation of the Super Field product line. Shooters can rest assured that they are getting proven quality and performance."

The pellets in the Super Field Heavy series are now available from well-stocked specialist retailers. As usual, they are also available in different pack sizes. An overview of the RWS Field Line can be found here (the new Super Field Heavy are underlined):

At a glance: pellets from the RWS Field Line

Further information on ammunition from RWS can be found on the manufacturer's website.