12g IOF cartridge - Lethal Ball

[snIPer]

Hi all,
Has anyone come across ammo made by IOF called lethal Ball.

This says lethal ball but is actually chambered for buckshot.
I was told that this was the name under which buckshot was sold when produced by IOF a few years back - not exactly sure how many years back.

I presume it is not under production any longer.
Pics if any would be appreciated.
/S/

[brihacharan]

Hi Sniper,
> Usually a 12 gauge gun that has twin barrels comes with the left tube as 'cylinder' & the right one as 'choke'.
> The cylinder is mostly used for shooting the 'lethal ball' while the right (choke) is used for shooting No.2 / 4 / 6 & 8 cartridges.
> Yes, IOF used to make these 'Lethal Ball' cartridges - don't know about now. The LB is a smooth ball normally used at close ranges (max 50 / 75yds) for thick skinned animals - boar / sambhar / neelgai etc.
> However way back in the 70's I used to get what was called "Brenek Ball" (don't remember the maker) - this one was not quite a ball but a slug with a slightly conical shape & with flutings on the side.
> You see the regular ball cartridge does not have ballistic properties because its smooth - hence drops drastically after apprx. 50 / 75yds.
> Whereas the Brenek Ball with its front conical shape & fluting had better ballistic properties - longer range & better penetration.
Cheers
Brihacharan

[ebenezer]

> Usually a 12 gauge gun that has twin barrels comes with the left tube as 'cylinder' & the right one as 'choke'.

I think it's the other way round.

Regards,
Ebenezer

[snIPer]

Hi Brihacharan,
Im pretty sure its the right that is usually a cylinder and the left is a choke . i might be mistaken though.

The cartridge "Lethal Ball" i was told chambered buckshot and not a ball. however i too was under the impression that it was a spherical ball that it would hold

Thank you.
/S/

[brihacharan]

Hi Sniper,
> Firstly why is the 12 bore / gauge called so?
> Because the bore size was arrived at by the Brits- The no. of spherical balls that could be made out of 1 lbs of lead = 12 nos.
> LG stands for large game - usually comes with 4 lead balls - meant for thick skinned large game - shot at distances of 35 to 60yds max - beyond this the lead balls spread drastically - because of the gun's smooth bore - no rifling to maintain proprer ballistics.
> Normally 12 bore guns are Bird Guns - more often than not to take birds in flight. Good gun for duck shooting & partridges flushed out of bushes.
> A very versatile gun that can take a variety of cartridges - depending on the size of the game.
> Finally a Ball Cartridge is a Ball Cartridge - different from LGs.
Cheers
Brihacharan

[snIPer]

Hi Brihacharan,
I am pretty sure that LG accommodates 6 and not 4 balls.
I agree with the rest.


/S/

[casual shooter]

local slang in mp it was called the BAANTTA

[cottage cheese]

I thought LG was prohibited by the MHA in 1992.... for that matter any shot larger than 5mm.

regards,
cc

[snIPer]

It is, this is some old obsolete piece i guess.
Since IOF no longer manufacturers this i guess it must be at least 15 - 20 yrs old.
/S/

[mundaire]

Lethal ball would be just that - cartridge loaded with a single large lead ball

AFAIK it is not LG or any other type of buckshot. BTW even if ammo is old & obsolete, it would still be be legally considered as ammuntion, IIRC there is even a judgement to the effect when someone was convicted by the court for being in illegal possession of a few really old rifle cartridges.

And yes, LG is now listed as prohibited ammunition. Anyone who had any was supposed to either destroy it by a certain date or have it emptied out and repacked with smaller shot sizes. Holding on to LG ammo, however old would be against the law.

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[ECHOFIGHTER]

I have a shaktiman 12 bore sbbl. Till now i was using cartridges of 70 mm length. Is it alright to use cartridges of 65 mm length? will it or wont it harm the weapon? what are the reviews on shaktiman ammo and khadki ammo?

[Amit357]

Hi ECHO,you can very easily use ammo shorter then the chamber length,but dont do it otherway,you can use 65 mm in 70 mm Chamber,as for MY VIEWS on KF vs Shaktiman,boss i have a LYONS & LYONS DBBL Gun,its been in the extended family for the past 65 Yrs,wont fire it,if i have a choice between Shaktiman ammo and not using it,I stay with K.F {either the 65 mms or the Astrams},Compak,RC 4s etc,but stay away from Shaktiman etc

[snIPer]

Hi Amit,
what do you mean by - Wont fire it?
/S/

P.S. ah figured out - sorry my mistake

[vrohan59]

As far as I know,The "Lethal Ball" was never manufactured by K.F.,although a certain quantity may have been purchased from Eley or Kynoch and loaded by them(the majority of K.F. ball ammo was smooth).The "lethal Ball"is basically a spherical lead ball with carbon steel vanes across it,forming an "X"pattern around the whole ball.The intent was to cause a gas tight seal in the bore,and on impact to cause the ball to smash on target.I have come across "Contractile"ball cartridges manufactured in India(lead amalgam composition),though I don't remember if K.F. manufactured them or Manton &Co. Calcutta.In old lots,one could find "Destructor"ball too,also loaded by K.F., if I remember correctly(these are basically 15 or 16 lead shots encased in a spherical lead case)
Regards
Rohan

[snIPer]

Cool. now only if we can get some pics of that.
/S/