If I take a 375 Weatherby to Zim will I have a problem if my ammo is headstamped "375 H&H"?

no

I haven't really had the gun customs people even look at the ammo. Might be different going into Zim, as have heard they can be PITAs and trying to gouge a bribe.

I doubt it.
The female officer that was supose to count my ammo couldn't count past 10.
After 3 attempts she gave up & shoved all 3 boxes at me.

I had one police officer (I think that's what he was; dressed in full camo) look at all my ammo at a road block heading to the Harare airport from the Dande Safari Area. I don't think he was concerned with the head stamps however. He just asked which ammo went with which rifle. He searched the truck throughly but was very polite and professional. I doubt you would have any problems in Zim.

I don't remember any of the officials ever looking at my ammo going through JoBerg either for that matter.

No.

I seem to recall an American booking agent from FL being arrested because he had 22 magnum ammo but no 22 magnum rifle. His name was Bruce Grant. It was a number of years ago.

I have personally never had them look at my ammo.

I just renewed my passport and when I received the new one, I got the old one back. Just curious, I counted the stamps/visas in the old one.

I had been through (coming or going) 78 African border crossings (with a rifle and ammo every time but two, I think?) At least 30 of those were through Zimbabwe. Tanzania was a different matter, but when going through Zim customs the ammo was inspected or (kind of) counted, but never has anyone looked at the head stamp to match caliber to my rifle(s). I've never had the police at a roadblock look at my rifle or ammo but we usually pick up hitchhiking police officers and with them in the back, I guess the roadblock guys figure that we have nothing to hide (and we don't).

TerryR,

"It will probably be ok" is not good enough for me. What if your ammo gets checked in RSA on the way. Compared to the cost of your safari 2-3 boxes of Weaterby brass is insignificant. I also shoot a 375 Wby and I use the Wby brass and boxes. Why take even the slightest chance that isn't necessary.

Mark

+1 on not taking the chance. I would love to take my .375/338 to Africa but I only use 338 brass to form with. I know I could use .375 brass but the gun is stamped ".375/338" and I don't want to take the chance of some gendarme hassling me over the issue. So, I recently had my Sako .338 re-barreled to .375 H&H and will take that instead.

Ben there 4 times no one has ever checked the head stamp on my amo

I agree with Mark, although they may never check the ammo, the law is simple the ammo must match the rifle period, do you really want to have a problem before your hunt , which could cost you, or after which will cost you and delay you!

What Mark & Martin said. I have had my ammo headstamps checked in JNB on more than one occasion and had it counted many times in many countries, including Zimbabwe. Why risk a $10,000 safari on incorrectly headstamped brass? It's africa, and you don't push your luck in africa; not if you're smart.

My question was prompted by the fact that I couldn't find 375wby brass. I just checked midway and they have it available to ship so I just placed an order. Thanks for the response.

A few years ago I went through Beitbridge border post with my rifles. I was stopped at the first check point and made to show them all the guns and ammo. Somehow it happened that I only had 39 rounds in a box for my 416. On the import permit was printed 40 rounds. The officer wanted to know where the one round went to. It took a long debate to convince him that I did not fire the gun in the 3 miles from the border to his check point.
I think that he just wanted a bribe.

quote:

Originally posted by TerryR:
If I take a 375 Weatherby to Zim will I have a problem if my ammo is headstamped "375 H&H"?

I really don't think that you could have a problem. Both the barrel and the ammo are marked "375....". The "375" matches and there is no way that the "H&H mag" and "WBY mag" not matching is going to cause you a problem.

How many guys take rifles marked "30-06" and ammo marked "30-06 SPRG"? Have you ever heard of of an airport official claiming that the ammo doesn't match the rifle because the barrel is missing the "SPRG"?

quote:

Originally posted by martin pieters:
I agree with Mark, although they may never check the ammo, the law is simple the ammo must match the rifle period, do you really want to have a problem before your hunt , which could cost you, or after which will cost you and delay you!

I have to agree with Mark and Martin. In eighteen trips I have only had my ammo checked once. I shoot a .416 Taylor and have bought brass marked accordingly instead of using the necked down .458 which is much easier and less costly.
Why risk it