Eley to open shotshell plant in Pakistan

[mehulkamdar]

Inder introduced me to the Pakistan Hunting Community on Orkut and it is a very nice group of people, extremely friendly and warm. My wife and mother in law have been planning on a pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib next year and I hope to go along and meet some of the members of the group in person.

One very interesting piece of news that they gave me was that Eley were set to start manufacturing shotshells at a state of the art plant in Pakistan in January. My feeling is that rimfire ammunition may be next in production. Now where does that leave India? Our neighbours have managed to get one of the arguably finest ammunition makers in the world to set up a plant in their country. Take it from me, as in cricket and hockey, India is going to have tough competition because of the terrible state of affairs WRT sporting guns, ammunition etc in the country. Also, how long before Eley start manufacturiung 22 lr match ammunition and selling it in Pakistan as well? Anyone who shoots competitively knows that good ammunition and regular practice are keys to success. The dice are going to be loaded against India in future competition. Mark my words on this.

Would someone from NRAI or any of the ISSF people say something about this in public? Why are law abiding Indians and their sports treated like criminals and criminal activity in India?

Mehul

[kanwar76]

Now that's something we need to learn from our neighbors.. Why don't our government understand that outsourcing is just not restricted to software only.. There are so many other possible avenues which we can explore...

-Inder

[Vikram]

Any possibility of we geting them at a reasonable price? In all honesty, I would not expect more from the present situation.


Best-
Vikram

[mehulkamdar]

Vikram,

Technically, under SAFTA rules they should be importable into India and I suspect that if the NRAI were to import them from Eley for Indian shooters, they would be supplied from Pakistan. I hope NRAI pass the cost benefits on to shooters as duties would be substantially lower in importing from a SAFTA member country. It would also be a good gesture to Indian shooters and a pwoerful gesture of friendship with our neighbouring country. Now Indians have one more sport in which to root for the Indian team against our neighbours!

Cheers!

[Grumpy]

Seems a little strange this one. Is it Eley Hawk or UEE Group that are opening the factory ? When UEE Group took over Eley Hawk in 2002 they produced a mission statement to the effect that:
"The intention of UEE was simple: to grow and develop Britain’s oldest shotgun ammunition manufacturer into a world leader without losing Eley’s identity of a British Company. To this day all Eley shotgun ammunition is manufactured in England to the exacting qualities demanded by shooters worldwide."
Whilst UEE Group - a Spanish company - have companies around the world ( eg, Maxam, Rio ) they have not as yet indicated any intention to produce Eley Hawk products outside the UK.
UEE Group produce explosives, nitro powders, black powder, shotshell components and RIO shotshells but do not manufacture rimfire cartridges. Their Rio brand shotshells are the largest selling brand in the world.......not bad for a make that hardly anyone seems to have heard of.

[mehulkamdar]

Grumpy,

I have no idea about the mechanism of the business except the information that has been posted on the Pakistan Hunting Community. "Eley" apparently made the announcement at the IDEAS Defence Exposition in Karachi a few weeks ago and their plant in PAkistan is already functioning. Their shotshell range would begin to be sold in Pakistan from January onwards. I have asked for more information there and hope to post it here as soon as I hear back.

Cheers!

[Grumpy]

Thanks Mehul. As you may have gathered, I haven`t heard a thing about this.

[Satpal_S]

Gunmaking and ammo are 19th century skills. Software, biotech etc. 21st century skills. India excels at the latter.

If the current climate to stifle hunters and shooters were to somehow (I don't know how) end and sufficient people start shooting again. India can produce world class guns and ammo locally. There would then be no need to import anything

Currently IOF produces crap and the Ironsmiths put together shooting capable devices (aka shotguns and air rifles). I don't know how this is tolerated in a country that is aiming for a mission to the moon, yet whose shooters don't have access to Bicycle level tech.

The gun grabbing Babus are the root of the problem.

Satpal

[mehulkamdar]

Satpal,

Very, very true! I would add netas to babus as culprits for the sorry state of affairs that prevails.

Mehul

[mehulkamdar]

Grumpy,

Information from our Pakistani friends:

Eley’s new plant in Pakistan will start its production very soon and hopefully Eley shot shells will hit the market in mid December with the expected price of Rs 400/Box of 25. This time quality is equal to their British counterpart and this is promise. The estimated production is 10 Million shot shells/year with single shift and this may be increased to full capacity of 30 Million/year in near future.

They do not have any more information as of now.

Cheers!

[Mack The Knife]

Mehul,

Since you say Rs. 400 per box of 25, does that mean these may or will be available in India?

Expensive but still far cheaper than what we are paying for imported rounds in the open market.

Mack The Knife

[kanwar76]

I think Mehul meant Pakistani Rupee and how much is a Indian shotshell costing now days? If I am not wrong than they use to cost 38 INR some time ago so 16 INR per shell is still cheaper and hopefully better quality.

-Inder

PS: Aren't we talking about shotgun ammo?

[mundaire]

The prices must have gone up... last time I checked the IOF KF "Special" 12 gauge birdshot (the red coloured paper shells) was retailing for approx INR 850 a box of 25 (INR 34 a piece) - still expensive considering the quality... just one shot can really foul up the barrels...

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[mundaire]

BTW, my best friend from school is flying to Pakistan today, and the hoops he had to jump through to just get a FOUR DAY visa was really something! Would doubt if there'd be ANY chance of ammunition from across the border making it here... not legally anyhow!

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[penpusher]

just one shot can really foul up the barrels...

Seems to vary from lot to lot.The last lot that I bought was ok.The new ones that I have bought foul the barrel more.The sames the case with .32 ACP ammo

penpusher