American Handgunner Nov/Dec 1981

cane ammo to what we in the U.S. consider(and rightfully 'so) ridiculously high pressure.After several phone calls to France Iwas finally able to learn that pressures areapproximately as follows: 9 mm-45,000psi; .38-50,000 psi; .357-54,000 psi; .45ACP-unknown.The manufacturer claims that Arcane.38 ammo is labeled plus P in Europe; consideringthat 19,900 psi is plus P in thiscountry I should certainly hope so! Donot, I repeat, do not shoot. 38 Arcaneammo in anything but a .357 Magnum revolver.That I almost tested it in a .38 airweightstill gives me the shudders!What is maddening about this whole situationis that the Frenchmen know thereare U.S. powders which could achieve velocitieswithin 100 fps of what their ammunitionis now loaded to, and do sowithin normal pressures. HS-6 is probablyideal, but it is not available in France. So. they use a French single-base pistolpowder known as GS-7. It is green in colorand has a burning rate about like Unique.This is a little bit too fast to be optimum,but it bulks out the case perfectly. But sodoes HS-6. You would think they wouldimport some!To this they reply that only Bullseye and2400 are available in France, and that theArcane ammo achieves its high pressurefor only a few milli-seconds. Not longenough, they claim, to blow up a gun. I forone don't plan to find out they are wrong.The .45 ammo I tested has a bulge aroundthe unsupported portion ofthe case whichis so large it looks almost like a belted magnumrifle case. To this they responded thatit is combat ammo, not for target practice!I reloaded some of the.45 ACP bulletswith 15 gr. of HS-6 and got 1500 fps andapparently normal pressures.The accuracy of the Arcane ammo issurprisingly good. I did not conduct a formalaccuracy test, but instead fired at anIPSC Item silhouette in the roll-over proneposition at 50 yds. All calibers put 3 or 4out of 5 shots into the center 5 zone. Eventhough this ammunition is at least 300 fpsfaster than any other ammo on the market,in my pistols, with my grip no major sightadjustments were necessary.Despite their eccentric attitude towardspressure, the French manufacturer has asane policy towards the sale of this ammunition.It is strictly for police, militaryor other state, federal or legitimate para- .military organizations. It is not cheap. InFrance I believe each round sells for about$2.00 U.S. This is largely due to the antiquatedmethod they use to make the bulletitself, which is turned on a lathe, ratherthan an automatic screw machine.If they receive an order for a millionrounds they can afford to have them madein a more efficient manner. Then the costshould come down below what the KTWbullets sell for, since copper is cheaperthan the bronze alloy used in them (and Iwould think a lot easier on the bore ofyourContinued on page 6644 AMERICAN HANDGUNNER· NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1981