The Plumb Center lead-free wadcutter from Kabbadi Ammo promises great accuracy at a lower cost.
This report covers:
- What does “good” mean?
- How do they control the cost?
- New technique?
- Cost of the pellets
- Will Pyramyd AIR stock the Kabbadi line?
Today we begin looking at a new brand of airgun pellet from Kabbadi Ammo, an Indian pellet manufacturer. The Plumb Center wadcutter is 100 percent lead-free to appeal to jurisdictions where lead pellets are outlawed. For the past five years Kabbadi has supplied them to several African nations, and to Russia.
They are also available in a limited quantity in the United States. They have been tested by certain JROTC marksmanship teams in California’s Imperial Valley with good results.
What does “good” mean?
In previous years 440 points was either the top individual score in the NRA Sportsman rifle class or close to it. This year (2024) the top shooter using Plumb Center pellets, Anne Wesson of the JROTC marksmanship team at Cesar Chavez High School in Bakersfield, shot a 431. It brought her close to but not in the top ten competitors.
Other JROTC teams have reported similar results. A high team score 4650 – 296 was posted by Highland High School, also in Bakersfield. The top team nationally this year was Granbury High MCJROTC from Texas, with a 4,700 – 313. So the pellet is competitive.
How do they control the cost?
Kabbadi will not divulge its processes to make lead-free pellets, but it is almost certain they rely on different heavy metals that are not toxic to humans. Gold, for example, is much denser than lead and also non-toxic but obviously cannot be used for this purpose. The same is true for Platinum and Palladium. Bismuth is another heavy metal that is currently being substituted for lead in many cases. It is non-toxic, but in today’s marketplace it’s still more expensive than lead.
Tin offers another possibility. It currently leads the world when it comes to lead-free pellets. But tin costs significantly more than lead and thus is not the ideal substitute for lead when cost is an issue. However—and this is an important however—tin and lead combine easily in the fluid state. Still, any alloy would still have some lead in it and could not legally be labeled as lead-free.
Iron is less dense than lead and has not yet been explored for use as a material for making airgun projectiles. Don’t scoff until you learn that certain types of iron can be combined without melting which saves the cost. Casting and/or cutting preforms for swaging also slows down the process, so other techniques that avoid those steps can speed things up. In the pellet making business time is money.
New technique?
It has been rumored that Kabbadi may be using a combination of processes such as layering with nanobonding or even using dross from the more cost-prohibitive materials. NASA has used the dross that results from gold casting this way. It often contains heavy metals that are otherwise unrecoverable. That is a “use it or loose it ” solution that’s being explored by several manufacturers around the world. It is known that a Kabbadi engineer was formerly employed by NASA, so we wonder if the technology went with him/her.
Cost of the pellets
Currently lead-free pellets cost two to three times as much as those made from lead. A tin of 500 lead-free target-grade wadcutters currently runs around $50. A tin of 500 Kabbadi lead-free Plumb Center pellets sells for $26, retail and $21 to registered clubs. Ms. Anne Wesson said, “My team uses only Kabbadi Plumb Centers and I think with time they will take us to the Olympics.”
Will Pyramyd AIR stock the Kabbadi line?
Now that I have your attention the question is—will Pyramyd AIR be carrying the Kabbadi line of lead-free pellets? I haven’t been told but I have reason to believe so. Apparently someone from Air Venturi met with Kabbadi officials in Nuremberg at the recent IWA trade show. Owner Val Gamerman promised to let this blog know for certain tomorrow. So we don’t have long to wait!
B.B.
Alway welcome a new accurate pellet. Now I wonder what is it made off?
Certainly, lots of the West’s garbage ends up in India. Wondering if that might be part of the material source?
-Yogi
I wonder if Anne Wesson had shot R10 pellets, if she would have placed higher?
No April 1st blog tomorrow, I sure miss them. Maybe this was it!!!!
-Y
Yogi,
Perhaps it was. I guess when Val weighs in we will know for sure.
BB
Well, I can’t wait until the day after 31 March to hear more about it!
Tom,
Plumb dum pellets is their budget line. I’ll read this tomorrow again for proper timing.
Siraniko
PS They also make darts named Plumbata
Siraniko,
Plumb dums? Are they similar to Plumb Finished? 😉
BB
Tom,
Turns out the Plumb dums are hollow points. With Plumb domes being round nosed pellets.
Siraniko
Trick or Treat? There’s something fishy about this deal. Humm . . . Orv.
“My team uses only Kabbadi Plumb Centers and I think with time they will take us to the Olympics.”
BB,
Wow; that’s some high praise there! 🙂
I would try some for sure.
Blessings to you,
dave
Dave,
Me too! Especially after reading what Ms. Anne Wesson did with them.
BB
Amen to that! 🙂
There are some talented people in India, and I think they have found a market for replicating items that have been discontinued from manufacturing world-wide.
Picked up a perfect replica, painted as original, metal replacement gas tank for the delaminated fiberglass one on my 1968 BSA Mk IV Spitfire motorcycle from them. There is no big market for something like that so it was probably hand made.
These pellets, coming from them, would not surprise me in the least and would probably be made using recycled material to cut cost. However, the rest of the world has not discontinued making pellets yet.
Better luck next year BB. 😉
Bob,
Yeah, well, Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
BB
BB,
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, for you, perhaps, for Val?
BobM,
Shouldn’t that tank be metal? I do not mean the plastic thing that BSA put on it, but the tank itself.
My ’74 Commando has a metal tank which you do need to treat every 10 years or so…
-Y
Yogi,
There were three, possibly four, tanks available for the 650 BSA’s. The familiar metal Lightning, Thunderbolt, Firebird Scrambler? chrome / paint tank. There may have been a fiberglass Scrambler tank as well.
The ‘Euro’ fiberglass red monster 5gal Spitfire tank with knee cutouts and the smaller, bread loaf shaped, USA fiberglass export tank, mine. The filler neck / cap is molded in metal along with the mount hardware.
It could be some sort of plastic, don’t really know, but the frame tunnel inside it is delaminating. I could still clean it up inside and coat it, just decided to get a replacement while it was still available. Just in case.
Huh?
Let me guess, Elon Musk owns Kabaddi Ammo, right? I mean it seems like most everything new and innovative these days comes through that man. 😉
Seriously, the names used in this article remind me of the name of a nearby plumbing company called “Plumb and Plumber.”
BB,
Interesting that it would come up today. I wait with baited breath.
CB
Captain Bravo,
On the offensive in the Kabaddi game you need to chant and not breath in or you lose points!
So baited breath is important ;^)
shootski
Very interesting origin for the name given these pellets. FM thinketh something is rotten in…India? But dismiss such foolish thoughts, FM!
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/hindi-english/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%A1%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A5%80
The most exciting news from this report is a teaser for Tuesday, a non report day!
Deck
BB,
I have a friend who used to work for NASA and also at a another startup pellet manufacturer and they do this, too! She was telling me that the processed gold dross acts as both a flux and a catalyst to make the lead-free alloy flow more smoothly in its molten state, then solidify all the while trying to bond with the mold, but the nano layer of graphite parting agent prevents bonding. Thus the surface finish is perfect right out of the mold, and the gold dross is neither consumed nor incorporated into the alloy and so a small amount of it can remain useful for several months of production. Neat!
Will
Will,
Cool!
BB
What?
RidgeRunner,
Get a grip man!
You are beginning to worry us!
shootski
UGH!?
And this is the problem with reducing your work load to a more manageable 3 times per week. You sometimes miss the “important” date to release earth shattering news like this. Sometimes it’s plumb ridiculous! Let the malapropisms begin.
Fred formerly of the Demokratik Peeples Republik of NJ now happily in Tesla country (GA, y’all)
Yeah Tesla!
Seems like it where almost every third car is a Tesla. But here, I haven’t seen one defaced. I guess with the “stand your ground” law we have and the fact that a car is considered an extension of one’s home plus Constitutional carry, one must choose the time carefully when deciding to deface a Tesla.
Fred,
That has not been a problem around here either. As you point out, it would probably not end well for most of those idiots around here. I would be tempted to help get rid of the carcass.
The Sheriff would likely be quoted as saying “Damnest case of suicide I have ever seen. Shot himself in the back fifty-seven times.”
BB,
You forgot to mention the U.S. lawyer that was retained to represent them – Sturmander Uger (of the firm “Ugar, Cheetham & Howe”). He is a powerful name amongst those in the know, in the shooting sports industry.
Enjoy your Tuesday time off.
Bill
BB.,
I have played a few games of Kabaddi, back in the day, with the contract Tamil workers on Diego Garcia!
Never been “played” by Kabaddi however….
shootski
PS: i prefer the Dravidian™ Brand of pellets.
The Indian company is also working on developing a pointed, tungsten armor-piercing hollow-headed pellet containing a tiny explosive charge and equipped with a proximity fuse. It is rumored to have been developed specifically for armadillo hunting. FM is certain he saw this on Weakepedia so it MUST be true…however, the article seems to have been taken down. Probably some violation of content rules thing.
Amazing what is being done with microtechnology these days!
Fawlty Manuel,
Depleted Uranium works better!
You get a really stunning thermal (non-nuclear) response on impact!
shootski
Good suggestion – then your armadillo would be well-cooked upon impact. What’s not to like about that?
FawltyManuel,
Do cut away the CONTAMINATED wound channel area…IF THERE IS ANYTHING LEFT TO CUTAWAY ;^)
shootski
B.B. and Readership,
Public service announcement
The Easter Bunny is jumping for joy:
Egg prices PLUNGE!
https://www.axios.com/2025/03/28/easter-egg-prices-go-down
Get your egg dye now!
shootski
Eggcellent! Now a real Easter Egg hunt is financially possible; FM’s .177 Maximus would be the best choice for that, assuming Mrs. FM does not veto the hunt.
I have a question that is not an April Fools prank. I have noticed that the lead-free pellets typically weigh less than lead pellets. I am wondering if anyone knows of a pellet or slug that has a lead core but an outer jacket of the lighter weight material.
This might be constructed similarly to a full metal jacketed bullet (if it were a slug). But I suppose that diabolo pellets could be made this way also. Please let me know. Thanks.
Elmer Fudd,
NO April Fools prank answer:
There have been various Copper washed or plated pellets over the decades…they usually haven’t been able to overcome the ductility/lubricity advantage of Lead (Pb) projectiles.
shootski
PS: You might want a TMJ (Total Metal Jacket) instead
Thanks Shootski, I was thinking of an Airgun slug that is constructed somewhat like the Carcano bullet (see photo). The idea would be to have the heavier core centered inside a lighter weight case in an attempt to make it more stable. And I am thinking that the tin or lead-free alloy material could possibly be used as the case. I guess the melting temperature of the case would need to be significantly higher than the lead in order to fill the case with liquid lead. But if the case was carefully manufactured so that the core was as perfectly centered as possible. And if the center of gravity was very close to the center of pressure (like the Carcano bullet), I think the slug might be very stable like the Carcano bullet. Providing the twist rate of the rifle barrel was appropriate (9.3 to 1 in the Carcano which has a 2165 fps muzzle velocity). Might need more twist rate for a slower airgun slug.
Here’s the Carcano bullet image.
I just saw the latest thing on PA website, A SPUD Launcher! Oh how I want one! LOL
Good to hear the Bronco is back. I already have two with the Williams sight but want another.
Deck
Pyramyd AIR is planning on fielding a new airgun that will cause the Kabbadi pellets to ignite when shot but I am risk averse, and product liability is a real concern.
Make it a full-auto gun so we can use it like a flame-thrower. 😉
Val Gamerman,
With appropriate warnings, disclaimers, and clear directions?
And, think of the added profits possible by offering a Powerhead to the Crossbow community with those pellets loaded aboard their Bolts!
shootski
Just want to point out one part of the article. Granbury HS MCJROTC, my Daughter’s old team, was the 2025 National Champions! That makes for 8 times back to back National Champions! BB you are close to Granbury. You should contact Lt Col Scott Casey and see about doing an article on their team. Contact me and I can help set it up.
Brazos,
I’ll look into it.
BB
That would be great. If you need my help setting it up let me know. I assume you can contact me as I am registered but if not get a hold of Cloud9 or Jerry Couples and they have my info. My Daughter shot on the Granbury team for 4 of their national championships until she graduated in 2023.
BB,
you want to know what the pellet is made of?
Send one to me, and I will tell you.
Some time ago, I checked a “spiky slingshot ammo” sold on AliExpress, and it turned out -I kid you not – to be pure Cadmium.
India has more interesting airgun developments.
A company called “Precihole”. – specialized in broaching equipment, especially for gun barrels up to artillery size- teamed up with an air gun enthusiast to produce a very nice looking assortment of springer, PCP, from plinker to competition rifle.