Powerful Stopping Power

A brief moment, game on the move: the moment for the CDS.

It’s still quiet in the forest. Voices sound muffled through the trees; somewhere, a car door slams shut. Then silence returns. The hunters have taken their positions. A short while later, the first drive begins. Dogs can be heard in the distance; nearby, leaves rustle. Suddenly, there’s movement among the trees. Now, sometimes there are only seconds left.

These are the kinds of situations for which the Blaser CDS was developed. CDS stands for Copper Deformation Shock. It features a lead-free deformation bullet whose strengths lie where a quick and reliable stop is required at close range: in forest and driven hunts, but also, for example, during the search for wounded game. “With the CDX, we have a classic all-around bullet for practically any hunting situation. With the CDS, we’ve deliberately focused on stopping power at shorter ranges,” explains Hansjörg Streitel, Brand Manager at Blaser.

Advantage: Specialization 
At first glance, the unusually rounded shape of the CDS bullet stands out. Due to its design, it has comparatively high air resistance. The bullet loses speed and energy more quickly in flight than a more aerodynamic projectile. It thus differs significantly from the CDX’s aerodynamically optimized bullet for long distances. And that is precisely the intention: it is designed to demonstrate its performance where shooting distances are short. “Namely, at ranges up to 200 meters,” says Hansjörg Streitel. A look at the ballistic data illustrates the different characteristics. The CDS in 8,5x55. exits a 600-millimeter-long test barrel at 900 m/s. At 200 meters, the velocity is 621 m/s. With the CDX, on the other hand, the velocity is still 777 m/s at 200 m.

Fast response, deep penetration
What happens upon impact is crucial. The large Triple-Hydro-Jet plastic tip and the wide cavity with internal notches initiate very rapid and pronounced deformation. The bullet rapidly expands, thereby quickly transferring energy to the game’s body. This pronounced shock effect is also what gives the CDS its name. The near-complete retention of the bullet’s weight is intended to enable both deep penetration and a reliable kill.

This specialization is particularly important during driven hunts. Here, the conditions differ significantly from the calm shot taken while sitting in a hide. Short shooting windows, thickets, or natural narrowings are often located right next to open areas. The fact that the CDS is designed to be structurally more robust against minor disturbances in its trajectory does not alter a fundamental rule of hunting. Hansjörg Streitel: “A clear line of sight to the game is always a prerequisite for a responsible shot.”

Trusted technology 
The Blaser developers didn’t have to start from scratch with the CDS. Much of what it incorporates is based on insights gained during the development of the CDX. This includes the special copper alloy, which is also used in the CDS. Another common feature is the guide band technology. Not the entire bullet body makes contact with the barrel. Instead, it is primarily the circumferential guide bands that reach the caliber diameter. The reduced contact area minimizes friction in the barrel and enables, among other things, higher velocities. Another common feature is the further-improved coating on both ammunition lines. It further reduces friction, thereby ensuring better barrel protection and fewer barrel residues.

Back in the woods. To those few seconds when waiting suddenly turns into intense concentration. When game appears, one thing matters above all else: trust in your own equipment. The CDS was developed precisely for these moments.

Initially, the CDS is available in .308 Win., .30-06 Springfield, .300 Win. Mag., and 8.5x55 Blaser.