I will be heading to the eastern cape of South Africa for a weeks hunting of plains game this coming July. This will be my first trip to Africa.

Is there any restrictions on using/transporting reloaded ammunition in South Africa?

I have read that fiber, wood, or metal boxes are required for transporting ammunition. Does fiber mean cardboard, plastic or what? Specifically are plastic ammo boxes OK or not?

Everything I took over was reloads in plastic slip top boxes. Nobody even looked at my ammo going either direction. I did make some labels for my ammo boxes that appeared like it came from a commercial custom loader.

Slip the plastic sleeves inside factory boxes.

Unless you are the one in a million, you won't have any trouble. I always take reloads and have never had a hitch in any of it.

Been there twice, used MTM type plastic boxes.

No issue at all..

Enjoy your hunt.

The issue as I understand it is that each round has to have its own compartment- no loose rounds rattling around.

Having said that, I just decided to use the same old ratty Federal factory ammo boxes inside a pelican case- they weigh less and I have had them take the ammo and weigh it in SA once, and they included the ammo box.

quote:

Originally posted by BNagel:
Slip the plastic sleeves inside factory boxes.

This worked well for me.

I will restrict my comments about reloaded ammo only to once you are in South Africa. Transporting rules are made (under direction of the FAA) by individual airlines, and I do not know all their rules.

Reloading is widely practiced and perfectly legal in South Africa. There are some rules and regulations pertaining, mostly to possession of propellant, but you will not be doing that. You will not be breaking any law by having in your possession or using reloaded ammo!

Use of "wildcat" calibers need some caution, just in case you get in a most unlikely situation of being thoroughly searched by an idiot (and these days they are mostly idiots) policeman. Even though you will not be convicted if the actual caliber of your reloaded wildcat ammo matches the caliber that you have on your SAPS 520, an idiot policeman can give you a hard time by - for example, threatening your immediate arrest for illegal possession of ammo for which you do not have a license- if the headstamp on your ammo does not exactly match the caliber on your SAPS 520. Better just play it safe and do not use, e.g. 30-06 headstamped brass if your SAPS 520 designates your caliber as .270 Ackley Improved. The underlying reason for this note of caution is that it is definitely illegal to have any ammo in your possession if you do not have a licence, and for foreigners who bring in their own firearms the SAPS 520 is their de facto licence, for that ammo.

Be safe and enjoy your hunt!

There's a variety of laws and rules that apply to this but to keep it as short as possible:

Ammo must be in a container that ensures every round is kept separated from every other round OR be in manufacturers packaging so no loose rounds.

No more than 5 kg of ammo per passenger and passengers may not put more than one 5 kg allocation of ammo into the same bag.

Some airlines want ammo further packed into a lockable box with nothing else in it, some want it in the rifle case and some want it in the checked bag and the answer to that is to make sure you have room in your ordinary bag to accommodate the locked box and room in the rifle case to accommodate the ammo in it's MTN style box or manufacturers packaging and then ask the check in agent where he/she wants you to put the ammo and just do as they require.

I'd strongly suggest you do not put anything that might be controversial such as bolts, mags or scopes in your hand baggage.

Also absolutely no black powder, black powder substitute, detonators or anything else that has any UN classification of 'Explosive' may be carried on any commercial aircraft in any form or any packaging method whatsoever.

Oh and I should have added that whilst you may use reloads in RSA, you may not (legally) give or sell them to anyone else.

If you have any flights within RSA on SAA, be prepared to check your ammo separately from the rest of your luggage. I use a plastic field box with a TSA lock and its own address tag.

I reload all my ammo and have taken reloaded ammo into and through RSA many times. I've never had any problems or issues whatsoever.

I used to pack my reloaded ammo into factory boxes (I would buy factory ammo just for the boxes!). For the past several years I've just used the plastic Franklin Arsenal boxes they sell at Midway USA. I fold up some kleenex and put it on top of the rounds before closing the lid so they don't rattle, then use electrical tape to tape the plastic lid closed. Those boxes go in the field box along with a Leatherman and the field box goes in my duffel.

If you use a "meet and greet" service in RSA, like the one Gracy offers, you are much less likely to be told by SAA that you need to take your ammo out and check it separately. Most of the time I don't see my field box with ammo in it until I arrive in camp and unpack my duffel. On a couple of occasions I have not been fortunate enough to get the right ticket agent at SAA and have been told to remove my ammo and check it separately. Although a minor inconvenience, my ammo has always arrived with my rifle at the police office in whatever city I'm flying to, so it's never been a problem.

Thanks everybody for the insights. I am taking two pre 64 Win 70's, one in 375 H&H and the other in 30-06. I haven't decided whether to take my Featherweight or my Standard 30-06 is all.

I use 180 grain Nosler Partitions in my 30-06 for just about everything anymore.

I have two different 300 grain choices for my 375 H&H. Cape Kudu is the largest thing on my package so I will use the 375 H&H on it. I know the 30-06 is adequate for the hunt, but I have the 375 and may as well get it an African pedigree and draw some African blood with it.

My two 300 grain chices are Hornady DGX flat pointed round nose or Winchester Silvertips. The both feed and fly just fine. Any opinions based on experience here?

I am a dinosaur and slow to change, like to keep things simple and am not going to rush out and buy the latest whiz bang bullet or powder. I use IMR 4350 in my 30-06 and IMR 4064 in the old 375.

I' sure a number here will disagree with me but FWIW, I've always been a massive fan of the Winchester Silvertip but only when it's handloaded to a moderate velocity. - I reckon the factory loads are usually a bit too fast to get maximum performance out of the bullet but get the speed right and I reckon they're the dog's doo dahs.

Airgun1
You might want to look at the Barnes TSX in 235 gr for your .375. Either that or the Sierra GameKing in 250 gr. It's what I've used for my .375 for 2 different PG hunts and both of the loads perform admirably.
The 235 TSX will hold together and you can safely get it over 3000fps, it's just a killing maachine. The 250 gr SGK will retain around 78% of it's weight moving around 2800fps. Both of them work well if you need to extend your range a bit.

My last trip I had every shell checked to be sure it matched the caliber shown on my forms. I would not take anything that was not headstamped the same as my gun. Of course a twenty dollar bill is powerful medicine in Africa if you are feeling lucky.

If you are using a service such as African Sky or Afton you will likely not remove the ammo from it's case

All of my handloads made the trip in Berrys clear plastic snap top 50 cartridge box's with a Sierra sticker on them with all the specs of the said rounds....all inside a Pelican lock box

After the hunt I left the empties and 20 unfired with my PH

375 is wonderful for plainsgame, but best to drop to a 260 or 270 grain bullet, especially if hunting Kudu in the EC, the flatter trajectory will be of great benefit. Loaded to spec it will shoot very close to the same trajectory as the '06 but with much more devastating terminal ballistics

quote:

Originally posted by airgun1:

My two 300 grain chices are Hornady DGX flat pointed round nose or Winchester Silvertips. The both feed and fly just fine. Any opinions based on experience here?

As you say, the .30-06 would be adequate for any of the plains game you intend to hunt. But I can understand your desire to also use your .375, and besides, most feel more comfortable with a second rifle "just in case".

Between the two .375 bullets, the Silvertip would be my choice since you're using it on relatively light game. Kudu aren't that tough.

Look in the trash barrel at the gun range. Find ammo boxes for the caliber you are using.

Or use the plastic ammo slips.

LOL, I'd have a better chance finding Bigfoot than empty 375 H&H boxes around here, LOL!!

If you arrive and depart in Jo-berg on Delta there is not much to worry about. If you have another hop out of Jo-berg, say on SAA you may be required to ship your ammo in a separate container. I suggest you be prepared for that. I have been chased 1/2 way to my boarding gate for that. I think the guy was hoping for a bribe. He seemed quite disappointed after we went back to check in, and I opened my checked bag and handed him a locked pelican case with my ammo in it. He then put a claim check on it and all went well from there.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
There's a variety of laws and rules that apply to this but to keep it as short as possible:

Ammo must be in a container that ensures every round is kept separated from every other round OR be in manufacturers packaging so no loose rounds.

No more than 5 kg of ammo per passenger and passengers may not put more than one 5 kg allocation of ammo into the same bag.

Some airlines want ammo further packed into a lockable box with nothing else in it, some want it in the rifle case and some want it in the checked bag and the answer to that is to make sure you have room in your ordinary bag to accommodate the locked box and room in the rifle case to accommodate the ammo in it's MTN style box or manufacturers packaging and then ask the check in agent where he/she wants you to put the ammo and just do as they require.

I'd strongly suggest you do not put anything that might be controversial such as bolts, mags or scopes in your hand baggage.

Also absolutely no black powder, black powder substitute, detonators or anything else that has any UN classification of 'Explosive' may be carried on any commercial aircraft in any form or any packaging method whatsoever.

quote:

I'd strongly suggest you do not put anything that might be controversial such as bolts, mags or scopes in your hand baggage.

No Gun Parts in Carry on per TSA. Scopes are now allowed.

quote:

Originally posted by larrys01:

quote:

I'd strongly suggest you do not put anything that might be controversial such as bolts, mags or scopes in your hand baggage.

No Gun Parts in Carry on per TSA. Scopes are now allowed .

Ja but you're not going to need a scope on the flight, it can be packed perfectly well into the rifle case and if it's not in the hand baggage, you can be 110% sure no silly bugger of a security agent can argue with you about it being there. .

LJS,

You responded to the question I was about to ask. I have a rifle in a wildcat cartridge that I want to take one of these times. There is no factory ammunition available and the donor cartridge is a different calibre, so the rifle is going to have .358 stamped on it and the ammunition either .300 or 325 (a mix would probably be really bad). Of course I could have a batch of brass made with custom headstamps, but no matter what, it will be handloads.

Now, on one occasion in Dar during one of the two firearms inspections at the airport upon departure, I had the police ask me to load the rifle to make sure the ammunition matched the rifle -- and this was factory ammo with a headstamp that matched the rifle. I have to say I hesitated for a bit before I loaded a rifle in an international airport, at the request of the authorities or otherwise. It all worked out.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
LJS,

You responded to the question I was about to ask. I have a rifle in a wildcat cartridge that I want to take one of these times. There is no factory ammunition available and the donor cartridge is a different calibre, so the rifle is going to have .358 stamped on it and the ammunition either .300 or 325 (a mix would probably be really bad). Of course I could have a batch of brass made with custom headstamps, but no matter what, it will be handloads.

Now, on one occasion in Dar during one of the two firearms inspections at the airport upon departure, I had the police ask me to load the rifle to make sure the ammunition matched the rifle -- and this was factory ammo with a headstamp that matched the rifle. I have to say I hesitated for a bit before I loaded a rifle in an international airport, at the request of the authorities or otherwise. It all worked out.

I wouldn't have done that under any circumstances whatsoever and if the official insisted, I'd have made him call his superior AND a police officer and then told him if he wanted to see it loaded, he could do it himself.

AFAIC, loading a rifle in an airport is a sure fire recipe for disaster.

Airgun1. I was in RSA east cape a couple of years ago and took a Cape Kudu with my 308 and 150gr bullets, reloads with Ttsx bullets. In my opinion 180s not needed for plains game. a 150 of 165 better as the game not that heavy and a quicker expanding bullet does best. was over again in 2013, with god grandson and he kill 3 for 3, 2 Impala and an Nyala with one shot each, 308, 130gr Ttsx. Impala, springbok, etc weight about the same as a pronghorn. I only use reloads and always have. Personally, I'd leave the 375 home, unless going to hunt DG where it's required. But, since you state you want to blood it, I guess that's as good an excuse as any to take it. I usually just throw my ammo in my suitcase. Some airlines don't want it in with the rifle, but the last couple of times I've gone over, no one looked in the gun case, so??

I've been reloading for over 50 years. Never shot factory ammo until I went to Africa. I left the unused ammo with the ph because it will function in any rifle that comes along. Proper caliber, of course.

Dave