Indians For Guns

Reintroduction - or should we say resurfacing. After a gap of almost 17 years, when we went to purchase cartridges, we discovered KF Special 65 mm, 30 gram load cartridges are being produced in plastic shells once again, what used to be KF Deluxe earlier, but this one is called Special with Hindi only print on the shell case.

Only no. 1 shot was available. I bought a box but yet to try it.

KF special no. 4 has also come with a new look in 2008, lighter colour ( salamon pink ) shell paper, plastic overshot wad with no. 4 engraved in it.

Lets see how they perform and how widely they remain available.

Would you by any chance be refering to these? The hulls do not have any markings in Hindi. Does not look like a plastic hull either. These are from a February 2008 batch.





If not, let's have a look at what you have got?

Thanks.

I am using the ones like in the picture Mack The Knife has posted, these days. There are no KF plastic shells available in the market here presently.

cheers,

RP.

These are the no. 4 shots that I purchased in Patna and here in Delhi this year. THis is the SOlomon pink paper case I am referring to.

THe Deluxe, aka hindi Special now has a plastic hull ( red ) just like an Astram but the crimp is different, it does not have a star crimp but a fold over crimp and overshot wad. Besides it is 65 mm.

OK Rusty now I need help here. On the two websites I run in php intergra mod, all I have to do to post a pic is open the post, go to edit, attachment, browse in my pictures and attach and a maximum of three pics can appear per post. Being a moderator there I can open and edit all other members posts similarly.

Till date in almost 2 yrs with IFG I have been unable to post a single pic. Danish and others did tell me it is done through photo bucket or flick or whatever sites I have never visited.

How is this done good sir ?

Shahid, try this link - http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?t=5032

Thank you. Will try this method. But got to shoot a pic of the cartridge first ! WIll do that asap.

I picked up a box (No. 4's) of the plastic hull KF "Special" cartridges last winter. The markings on the shells are in English, while the box markings are bilingual. The box itself is an "Astram" box, with stickers replacing the wording at appropriate points, to adapt it suitably as per the contents of the package (brand name, loading specs etc.).

I haven't got the measuring tape out, but I'd say that the stamped case length of 65 mm is incorrect. As you know, shotshell case length is measured as per the length of the fired shell and not the unfired shell.

These new shells are visibly (slightly) longer in length after firing, than the usual 65 mm paper KF "Special" shells.

Interestingly enough, on the side of the box they have the following info:

12 bore plastic/ paper cartgs.
* Magna 70mm. Plastic - 34g.
* Deluxe 65mm. Plastic - 30.1g
* Special 65mm. Paper - 30.1g

So, it would seem that the KF "Deluxe" brand may/ may not be dead after all.

Cheers!
Abhijeet

Sometimes I wonder if these guys are consistent enough with their nomenclature! Maybe, sometimes, 'Special' and 'Deluxe' means the same to some bloke

Other than the cosmetics - has anyone actually fired these rounds?

snIPer";p="59993 wrote: Other than the cosmetics - has anyone actually fired these rounds?

I have and there is nothing "Special" about them, performance wise they seem like the usual KF fare... though the plastic hulls should help prevent moisture related problems of the earlier (paper) ammo. That said paper is a lot more environmentally friendly material.

Of course, since I don't have access to a chronograph or other such equipment I cannot give you specifics of performance like MV etc., neither have I compared the patterns (of the two types of ammo) on a pattern board. If someone else has, I'd be equally interested in knowing the results...

Cheers!
Abhijeet

Thanks Abhijeet

snIPer";p="59993 wrote: Other than the cosmetics - has anyone actually fired these rounds?

I have fired a lot of "specials" ( fresh lot, number 4), goes BOOM every time you pull the trigger. No misfires etc. Cleaning the barrel afterwards is a BiXXh though .

cheers,

RP.

The Doc";p="59998 wrote:Cleaning the barrel afterwards is a BiXXh though .

No problem at my end and the bores aren't exactly mirror finished either. I do make it a point to clean asap though.

Jeez Mack The Knife, looks like shells carved from wood , in your pics...

Improvrment and innovation Sir --- from good old IOF.

Plastic overshot wad replaced the paper overshot wad with shot size engraved not printed.

Inside the cartridge the paper wad has given way to a plastic power piston with no shot cup.

Paper cartridges do have the perennial problem of getting stuck in the breech when unloading them unfired. I have never had a problem with my ejectors but who knows even ejectors might get stuck at times.

The new solomon pink paper gives it a fresh new look ! a 2008 innovation from IOF for its customers.

No consistency - Plastic hull Deluxe being sold as Special now. And the hindi print so that the common man can read it.

Did have an opportunity to fire about a box of these new solomon pink no. 4 special this week. After firing a 24 gram RC 4 or Compak load, this one gives a vicious kick. But the gun I was useing was a John Manton sidelock with 2 1/2 inch chambers and it was very light at 6 1/4 pounds thus the kick.

I was suffering from a slight denture discomfort in my right gum. This hammering of 30 g loads from a light gun gave such a jarring to my gums that I was in pain and did get a headache as well, but it could be due to the harsh sun bearing down all day as well.

In summary this KF special does fire well and does its job quite well.

If I could lay my hands on a few boxes of KF Astram no. 4 nothing like it. But so far my search has been negative in Delhi, Aligarh, Meerut, Chandigarh, Patna and rest of Bihar. I wonder who has them.

Patna dealers ( Central Gun House ) has recieved fresh stocks of KF special 1,2 and 4 and Astram, Magna n0. 1 only. i.e. both Astram and Astram Magna no. 1 shot.

KF special is being sold for Rs. 4,200 per 100 there.

I would be much greatful if someone can lead me on to some Astram no. 4s please. 50, 100 or 200.