Specialized Ammunition for Close-Range Precision: The CCI 3740 .40 S&W Shotshell

Are you seeking a highly specialized and effective solution for nuisance pest management or very close-range small game hunting with your .40 S&W handgun? The CCI 3740 88 Grain #9 Shot Shotshell is meticulously engineered for these specific applications, offering a distinct advantage over traditional handgun ammunition. This unique shotshell provides a controlled, reduced-penetration option, making it ideal for situations where a conventional bullet would be overkill, unsafe due to over-penetration, or simply impractical for targeting fast-moving, diminutive threats.

Imagine encountering a venomous snake in your garage, a persistent rodent in your shed, or a destructive squirrel too close to your home. In such scenarios, using a standard hollow-point or full metal jacket bullet carries significant risks – potential for ricochet, damage to property, or unintended harm to non-targets. This is precisely where the CCI 3740 shotshell shines. It’s designed to deliver a pattern of fine #9 shot, maximizing the chances of hitting small, agile targets while minimizing the risk of excessive penetration, making it a responsible choice for both effectiveness and safety in confined or sensitive environments.

Understanding the Unique Engineering of CCI Shotshells

What makes the CCI 3740 shotshell so effective and reliable for its intended purpose? It boils down to CCI's innovative design and commitment to quality. Unlike standard handgun rounds that propel a single projectile, the shotshell is loaded with many tiny pellets, similar to a miniature shotgun shell.

Key Design Elements and Their Benefits:

• Rigid Plastic Shot Capsules: At the heart of the CCI shotshell design are its rigid plastic shot capsules. These capsules encapsulate the #9 shot pellets, holding them together as they travel through the barrel. The crucial innovation here is that these capsules are designed to break upon exiting the muzzle, or even more reliably, as they engage with the rifling inside your handgun's barrel. This controlled breakup ensures the shot disperses quickly, creating a pattern that significantly increases the probability of striking small, fast-moving targets. This mechanism is vital for turning a handgun designed for single-projectile accuracy into a wide-spreading, pest-control tool.
• Flexible Base Wad: Preventing gas blow-by is critical for consistent performance and ensuring all the propellant's energy is efficiently directed. The CCI 3740 incorporates a flexible base wad that forms a tight seal against the barrel walls. This innovative feature ensures that combustion gases remain behind the shot column, maximizing velocity and pattern consistency. Without this, gas could escape past the shot, leading to reduced muzzle velocity and an unpredictable shot pattern, diminishing the effectiveness of the round.
• Reliable CCI Primers: Every successful shot begins with a reliable primer. CCI has long been renowned for producing some of the most consistent and dependable primers in the ammunition industry. The CCI 3740 shotshell benefits from this heritage, utilizing primers that ensure dependable ignition shot after shot. This reliability is paramount, especially when dealing with unexpected pest encounters where immediate and certain performance is crucial.

These integrated features work in concert to deliver a highly specialized round that stands apart from conventional handgun ammunition, providing a unique capability for .40 S&W firearm owners.

Optimal Applications: When to Choose CCI 3740 Shotshells

The CCI 3740 .40 S&W Shotshell is not a general-purpose round for defensive use or traditional hunting. Its specific design makes it excel in niche situations where precision and reduced over-penetration are paramount.

Primary Use Cases:

1. Nuisance Pest Management:
   • Snakes: This is arguably the most common and effective use. For non-venomous snakes found too close to residences or for humanely dispatching venomous snakes from a safe distance, the shotshell offers a spreading pattern that is difficult to miss at close range. The #9 shot is sufficient to neutralize snakes without posing a significant risk of ricochet off hard surfaces or over-penetration into structures.
   • Rodents (Rats, Mice, Chipmunks, Gophers): Whether in barns, sheds, garages, or garden areas, small rodents can be a significant nuisance. The CCI 3740 provides a humane and efficient method of dispatching these pests at close quarters, minimizing the risk of property damage from a through-and-through shot.
   • Small Birds: For birds that have become pests in barns, attics, or other enclosed spaces, a shotshell can be an effective way to remove them without excessive risk to structural integrity or collateral damage.
2. Very Close-Range Small Game Hunting:
   • While not suitable for typical hunting scenarios requiring long-range precision, the CCI 3740 can be used for very small game like squirrels or chipmunks at extremely close distances (typically under 10 feet). It offers a more humane alternative than a single bullet, increasing the likelihood of a clean kill due to the spreading shot pattern. It's essential to understand the limitations and ensure ethical hunting practices.

Why is it superior in these scenarios?

The primary advantage is reduced penetration. A conventional .40 S&W bullet, designed for deep penetration, could pass through a small animal or pest and continue with lethal force, potentially striking unintended targets or damaging property behind the initial target. The fine #9 shot, however, disperses its energy quickly upon impact, providing sufficient stopping power for small creatures while rapidly losing velocity and penetration capability, significantly mitigating risks in populated or enclosed environments. This characteristic makes it a far safer option when dealing with pests in or around buildings, vehicles, or areas where bystanders or valuable assets might be present.

Technical Specifications and Performance Insights

Understanding the numbers behind the CCI 3740 helps to appreciate its capabilities:

• Caliber: .40 S&W: The .40 S&W is a popular handgun caliber, often chosen for its balance of manageable recoil and effective stopping power. By offering a shotshell in this common caliber, CCI provides versatility to owners of .40 S&W firearms, transforming a standard sidearm into a specialized pest control tool without needing a different firearm.
• Bullet Type: Shotshell #9 Shot: The "bullet type" here refers to the actual projectile load. #9 shot is the smallest common size of shot, consisting of numerous tiny lead pellets. This small size contributes to a dense pattern at close range, ideal for spreading out and hitting small, erratic targets. It also ensures rapid energy dispersion, limiting over-penetration.
• Bullet Weight: 88 grains: This refers to the total weight of all the #9 shot pellets combined within the capsule. This relatively light total weight contributes to the high muzzle velocity.
• Muzzle Velocity: 1250 fps (feet per second): This is a relatively high velocity for a shotshell handgun round. This speed helps to ensure the shot pellets carry enough energy to be effective at their intended close ranges before their energy dissipates. A higher velocity also contributes to a more consistent pattern as the shot leaves the barrel.
• Muzzle Energy: 305 ft lbs (foot-pounds): This represents the kinetic energy of the shot load at the muzzle. While this energy is significant, it's spread across many tiny pellets, rather than concentrated in a single point, which is why it's effective for small targets without deep penetration. This energy is more than sufficient for dispatching small pests.
• Casing Material: Aluminum: CCI often utilizes aluminum casings for their shotshell and practice ammunition. Aluminum cases are lightweight, cost-effective to produce, and help keep the overall cost of the ammunition down, making it more accessible for regular use in pest control scenarios.
• Rounds Per Box: 10: This typical packaging size offers a convenient quantity for individual use, ensuring you have enough rounds for multiple pest encounters without needing to purchase bulk quantities unless desired.

These specifications highlight a carefully balanced design that prioritizes effective pest neutralization and safety in its specific applications.

Why Choose CCI for Your Pest Control Ammunition Needs?

CCI (Cascade Cartridge Inc.) has been a leader in specialized ammunition for decades, particularly known for its rimfire ammunition, primers, and unique shotshells. When you choose CCI, you're investing in a brand with a proven track record of innovation and reliability.

• A Legacy of Specialty Ammunition: CCI was one of the pioneers in developing handgun shotshells, recognizing the specific need for this type of ammunition. Their long-standing expertise in this niche ensures that their products are refined and effective.
• Consistent Quality: CCI maintains rigorous quality control standards across all its product lines. This means that each CCI 3740 shotshell you load into your firearm is manufactured to precise specifications, ensuring reliable ignition, consistent patterns, and dependable performance every time. For critical applications like pest control, where an immediate and effective response is often necessary, this consistency is invaluable.
• Innovation: The design elements like the rigid plastic shot capsules and flexible base wad are testaments to CCI's innovative approach to ammunition challenges. They aren't just loading shot into a handgun case; they're engineering a system for optimal performance within the constraints of a handgun barrel.

For anyone serious about having a dependable and responsible solution for nuisance pests or very small game, selecting CCI offers peace of mind through proven performance and brand integrity.

Getting Your CCI 3740 .40 S&W Shotshells

When you're ready to equip your .40 S&W handgun with this specialized capability, securing your ammunition from a reputable source is crucial. For reliable access to the CCI 3740 88 GR Shotshell #9 Shot, look no further than DEGuns. As a trusted retailer, DEGuns offers a wide selection of ammunition and firearms, ensuring you receive genuine CCI products with efficient service. Their commitment to customer satisfaction makes them an excellent choice for fulfilling your ammunition needs.

In summary, the CCI 3740 .40 S&W 88 Grain #9 Shot Shotshell is more than just another box of ammunition; it's a precisely engineered tool designed to solve specific challenges. It's the ideal choice for firearm owners seeking a responsible, effective, and safe method for managing nuisance pests and very small game at close ranges. Its innovative design, including the unique shot capsule and flexible base wad, combined with CCI's legendary reliability, ensures that you have a specialized solution ready when you need it most, transforming your .40 S&W handgun into an indispensable asset for those specific situations.

Always remember to observe all firearm safety rules and local regulations when using any ammunition.

Product Specifications and Details

Feature	Specification
Brand	CCI
Series	Shotshell
Model	Pest Control (3740)
Caliber	.40 S&W
Bullet Type	Shotshell #9 Shot
Bullet Weight	88 gr
Muzzle Velocity	1250 fps
Muzzle Energy	305 ft lbs
Rounds Per Box	10
Casing Material	Aluminum
Application	Pest Control, Small Game Hunting
Boxes Per Case	20
SKU	79867
UPC	076683037404