Is there any problem with using wildcat cartridges in Africa, where the caliber on the cartridge doesn't match the one on the gun? Any problems with customs? ~Jeff

Ngrumba,

Welcome to the forum.

I have been going to South Africa nd Zimbabwe for many years, always using wildcats, and never had any problems at all.

I am not sure about other countries.

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saeed@ emirates.net.ae

www.accuratereloading.com

Same here, I have used 308 cases for my 358, 280 Remingtons for my 300 Hawk, and 30-06 cases for my 358x57 Impoved.

Not one case ever checked.

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MED

The sole purpose of a rifle is to please its owner

I bellieve this is more of a perceived, than an actual problem...this was originally published in a gun rag by a gunwriter and if it happened it was in the far Northern reaches of Africa, perhaps Kenya or CAR, who knows where...and it may have made since to the writer and he decided it was fact, gun scribes do that you know.....

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

I think this was first made mention of by Art Alpin to justify the sale of his "PROPERLY HEADSTMPED" cases for wildcat users, and his own Ammo, neither of which were worth the price of a nicol cup of coffee, IMO!

I did have one occasion with a Customs agent in Lusaka once who wanted to know why I was takeing empty cartridges "OUT" of the country! he only looked at me with wonder when I told him I reload them! On the inbound of this same trip, the boxes of ammo were looked over, and the caliber read, and matched to the caliber on the gun permit, but they were not checked for headstamp. I was useing a wildcat round on this occasion, but I made my own lables for the blank ammo boxes, on my computer, and there was no problem. It is a good thing, however, because these cases had no headstamp at all.

Just place your ammo in either factory ammo boxes, or plastic aftermarket boxes, and make lables on your computer with the proper caliber designation on them, and place them on the boxes with clear postal tape, wrwpped so that it seals the box. the agent will not break the seal.

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

Ngrumba,

I have observed headstamp checking once on entry to Namibia in '95. The customs officer inspected each cartridge of the Austrian gentleman ahead of me in line to see that the marks were the same as his rifle.

I didn't have any ammo as my bag was "lost" and came along later, without benefit of any inspection.

Other places I have been have only wanted to know how much ammunition was coming in or going out.

jim dodd

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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."

The only country I have heard of that had a policy of insisting that the headstamps matched the rifle was Botswana. Even there it seems to matter more which customs guy you get that what the law actually says. Since Botswana is far too expensive for me to worry about, I happily reform brass into whatever I need. No problems . . . so far.

Sarge

Didn't I see reference on an earlier thread about a company that sells custom headstamped brass?

Antlers,
Try this link: http://www.owlnet.com/quality/index.html

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Antlers:
Mast Technologies will do small runs of custom headstamping. Jay Bell helped me with ideas when I built my press to headstamp my own brass and thought they would put a press together to offer the same service to others. There is a link on my site to Mast. and e-mail Jay for the information.

470 Mbogo
www.470mbogo.com