I've been told one can't transport reloaded ammo to Africa. Is this true?

No.

In some places, the brass has to have the correct head stamp, so that might be why you have heard that you cannot take handloaded ammuntion.

There was a time when some airlines required that ammo be in original factory boxes. There has never been any rule against reloaded ammo, so I simply put my reloads in factoryboxes.

And there is no requirement for original factory boxes.

If you watch the TSA inspectors, it is spooky sometimes to see them inspect ammunition, assuming you get an inquisitive type; they act like they are handling a bomb. It is embarrassing that these ding-dongs are so poorly trained and lack any experience.

The rumors run amuck on traveling with guns and ammo. Last year I'm standing next to this "big time" booking agent that tells me and the agent at the airline counter that bolts have always had to be removed from the rilfes. I instantly told him, and the counter agent, that he, Mr. Been-to-Africa-a-Zillion-Times, was full of shit, before this ding-dong agent believed him!

"And there is no requirement for original factory boxes. ""\

If you note, I said "there was a time." I agree that factory boxes have not been needed for some time. I've been traveling to Africa off and on since 1982, and all types of dumb rules have come and gone.

Bill Quimby

Bill,

Yea, I could have said that differently. Hey, you are going to get your feelings hurt here on a regular basis. You need a thick skin!

You can have all the expereince in the world, but it doesn't mean much here as there is always someone that will disagree with you.

If you posted a question as to what is the color of the moon, there would be a whole rainbow of answers along with a dozen guys that swear they have been there to prove their color choice!

But welcome aboard. Didn't mean to offend you!

It's GREEN
The moon, I mean.

Rich Elliott

Rich, do you mean as in "green cheese"? I haven't seen much green cheese, even in France where cheeses come in all sizes and colors.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
And there is no requirement for original factory boxes.

Well, last fall on when flying to MT, NW insisted, on both ends of the flight, that ammo had to be in factory boxes... Maybe they didn't know what they were talking about...

The head stamp is important. If you chamber a wildcat and fireform brass from another case like making 338-06 cases from 30-06 brass you may have trouble. The headstamp must match the chambering of the rifle.

When I went to SA I had two ammo boxes, one for the 300 the other for the 375. I had one empty case in each. The police officer made me toss the empties before issuing my rifle permits. Not sure why - I wasn't going to argue over two empty cases. I have yet to find a rule pertaining to empty cases so I think he was making it up or just unsure and not taking a chance.

Whenever I travel with guns I always print off the regulations and airline policies and have them in my hand when I check in. There are a few TSA agents that take sport in giving you a hard time (I seem to find a lot of them at Ohare - I hate Ohare) presenting the printed rules usually seems to move things along.

Reloaded ammo is just fine. I can’t think of a time I’ve ever brought factory ammo over to Africa. I Always roll my own.

Go to the TSA web site and print off the rules. Or you can go to the Airlines web site and print them off from there some airlines have "special" requirements for ammo.

The rules state that the ammo must be packaged in "original" factory boxes or “suitable†packages such as plastic or fiberboard boxes. The main thing is the ammo can’t be lose or in a plastic baggy. It must be in a solid container which won’t let it bang around.

It helps to have the rules with you so that you can show the TSA thugs what their own rules are.

As far as bolts being removed, no it hasn't always been a requirement but not doing it is looking for trouble.

This is the single best way that I know of to have your rifle arrive with a broken stock.

If the bolt is left in and the rifle case is a tight fitting flat case which is packed under tons of other luggage. The case will flex, even slight flexing can cause the bolt to act as a lever point breaking the rifle at the pistol grip. Never ship or check a bolt gun with the bolt in place to do so is asking for trouble in the form of a broken rifle. It also immediately shows the agent that your weapon is unloaded . It just makes sense all the way around.

Been there done that got the tee shirt.

quote:

I've been told one can't transport reloaded ammo to Africa. Is this true?

How gullible does that person think you are? Does he (or possibly, she) think there is a CSI reload identification task force at every airport? Come to think of it, how does one tell a reload apart from a factory load? Reload sniffing dogs?

Reminds me of a man who upon hearing a rifle report echo down the nearby mountain during deer season said, "Reload!!!!!" None of us in attendance even bothered asking how he could tell the difference. We just shook our collective heads and walked away.

Do yourself and your PH a favor and use new cartridge cases for the ammo you take. Don't neck sized fired cases for your rifle because if anything happens to your rifle and you borrow one, you'll have chambering problems. I duplicate factory loading even though I have more accurate loads. I seat the bullets to factory specs. Leave your extra ammo for your PH, they really appreciate it, both for their use and a client who may have had their ammo stolen, misplaced, or forgotten to bring theirs. (it happens!)

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:
Reminds me of a man who upon hearing a rifle report echo down the nearby mountain during deer season said, "Reload!!!!!" None of us in attendance even bothered asking how he could tell the difference. We just shook our collective heads and walked away.

Ha! I once gave a deer to a fellow (he wanted to make venison sausage) who upon seeing the bullet exit said, "You shot it witha .357, right? I can tell by the exit wound." I had shot it with a 30-06.

"But welcome aboard. Didn't mean to offend you!"

You didn't.

BillQ

We have been taking wildcat cartridges to Africa for so many years, and so far we have never had any problems whatsoever.

Anyway, wildcats never miss, and kill better too. Especially those you have designed and made yourself

Saeed, where are you flying to-and-from, and in what airline? Are you taking your pet reloads? If so, how are you packaging your ammo? Regards, AIU

If you are using an ackley case you should have no problems. I have been taking a 375 ackley to Zimbabwe for years now. As far as wildcats go it is pretty simple. If it is a wildcat that is made from a different case than the caliber, such as a 300 Jarrett is made from the 8mm remington. Tell your gunsmith not to inscribe the caliber on the barrel. There is no need to have 300 Jarrett on the barrel. You have 40 rounds of 8mm Remington headstamped ammo and an 8mm Remington rifle if there is nothing on the barrel to say otherwise. I have taken a 300 Jarrett to several african countries with absolutely no problems.

yes , just put your reloads in a factory box.

the only questions i've ever been asked by airlines regarding ammo is :

how much ammo do you have?be ready to answer this in kilos for some.

is your ammo in factory boxes?

quote:

Originally posted by 9.3x62:

... Maybe they didn't know what they were talking about...

NW? A no-brainer there!

I've been there 4 times and each time my ammo was handloads in the plastic snap cases.

Never an issue, none with the airlines or any of the Local authorities in the African countries I've visited.

These are the cases we take our rifles and ammo in.

The ammo is put into MTM style plastic boxes, and then all are put into an aluminum case sepecifically made for the ammo.

We have been using these cases for so many years.

Saeed

I had a guy give me hell for having solvent in my gun case in the Denver airport. This had been carried the same way to Africa, Canada, and I was on my way home from British Columbia when this happened. He said he had to get a supervisor, since this was flammable, although every bag in the cargo hold had some lady's hairspray in it which is worse. Rather than stand around and wait for his boss, I told him to throw the damn thing in the trash and let me head to the terminal.

Most of those TSA guys are worse then useless. It is a really good Idea to print out all applicable rules to bring with you and show them.

quote:

Can you take reloaded ammo to Africa from the USA?

As others haver said....yes...certainly but I'd like to add that I think the packaging requirement insists on "individual partitions"...such as the original factory boxes. Most plastic boxes also offer individual compartments for each cartridge. Just don't throw 11 Kg of ammo into a zip lock and pack it into a suitcase as this does not meet the "individual compartments" rule.

New laws in RSA (can't say about other African countries) prohibit people from owning certain kinds and amounts of ammo and firearms. In order to buy ammo in RSA one must prove that he has a gun for such ammo. In other words, if you want to buy .30-06 ammo you must produce documentation that you have a .30-06. This is to prevent you from buying ammo for other people. This is why it's possible you could be shitupacreek if you show up with a gun stamped .338-06 and ammo stamped .35 Whelen.

I wouldn't be afraid to take a .375 Tylor as long as the ammo was stamped .375 taylor and was in seperated compartment boxes such as caseguard from midway etc. One runs the potential for trouble going to (ar least) RSA