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Since I have never done this before: 1 - Is there a weight limit on your rifle case, including what is in it? A Pelican case I am looking at weighs 40 pounds empty, and with my rifle, scope, extra scope, sling, tools, etc. it will probably tip 60 pounds when packed. 2 - Is there a limit on the number of checked bags, and a weight limit on those? Does my rifle case count as one of those checked bags? 3 - Limit on carry-on's (number of them, size, weight)? Finally, any recommendations on the type and brand of case, checked bag for my clothes/gear, box for my ammo (has to be locked, right?), and carry-on? I have no luggage right now but don't want to spend a fortune on all this stuff for just a few trips. Thanks, guys! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt | ||
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John - check with the airlines you will be using. Sometimes this varies with airline and wirh class of ticket. My experience - although not to Africa - has been a two bag, 50 lb limit is common plus a small carry-on. Extra bag and overweight charges are expensive - $100 for a third bag last year as an example. Also, you might get more info if this were posted in the African Travel section. Try a search in that section as well for some good info. My travel case (Cabela's aaluminum)is not even close to 40 lbs so I usually pack as much as possible in the gun case to get as close to 50 lbs as possible. That way I am not overweight in the second bag. "Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult." | |||
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I just went to S. Africa and flew business class on Delta. There was a 2 bag limit on check in. I was allowed one carry on that could weigh up to 30lbs. A second carry on could be cameras, computor etc. There was a limit of 50lbs per bag per check in luggage. The weight limit for coach and business was the same for delta. The gun case exceeded the size limit but airlines have an exception for size limit on gun cases. I do not know what other airline restrictions are. It seems that all airlines are carrying more cargo now days and that is the reason for change in amount of weight you can check in. It is the cargo they carry that gives them their profit now days. So, when you see all those empty seats on a plane. They are making up the difference with cargo. I hope this helps. Brooks | |||
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Most airlines limit any individual piece to either 50 or 70 lbs. A 40 lb peleican is a bad soltuion. I would get either a an skb freedom case or a tuff pak. The gold club style looking cases. Ammo is limited to 11 lbs (5 kilos). Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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South African Airlines- 2 checked bags 50 lbs each,go with a Tuffpak(empty they are 17 lbs plus you can put jacket etc as extra padding),carry on can be 30 lbs. All other airlines are the same I think?? Thanks wesley | |||
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Thanks, guys - will look into the Tuffpak - nice "stealth" set up there, too  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt | |||
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Americase is what we've used the most for air travel, either a single or double gun model. I wouldn't have a case that weighs 40 pounds empty! Absolutely no good reason for a gun case to weigh that much. 50 pounds each for the other two checked bags, I can't say right now about the carry on. I've always went with one medium to large duffel bag and my gun case, never needed a second duffel. Pack light for Africa, most all places you'll be hunting have daily laundry so having 8 sets of clothes is not necessary. | |||
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John- Everyones tendancy will be to take too much. Having done it, I would suggest the third bag if you feel it is needed. It is a very small cost when factored against the total cost. Last time I looked all carriers are going to 50 except a few business class exceptions. | |||
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2 Tuffpaks, 1 large and 1 small are a good way to go. John, PM me you address and I will send you some info on Namibia. Russ Green. | |||
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John: First off, if you are looking at the Pelican 1750, it does NOT weigh 40# empty. I know, I have one. www.pelican.com It weighs +/- 25 pounds with foam so you will be OK with two rifles. Some sites such as www.cases4less.com show higher weights but I think they include the container for shipping to you in the total weight. Pelican rifle cases are great cases. Secondly, why don't you use the search functions in this forum and others? Many of the multitude of questions you post have already been discussed in detail recently. Also, if you use a booking agent and reputable travel agent such as Gracy Travel or Kathi here, most of your travel related questions will be answered with up to date information. Finally, when it comes to clothes, if you feel comfortable in jeans then wear them. www.gusset.com makes very good jeans in tan. Don't spend all of your money on clothes or do you want to look like some of the hunters you see at the JO'Burg airport with the multi pocketed Cabelas vests and the stiff wide brim hats with the fake zebra skin hat band? Have you booked a hunt yet? If not, be sure to go to SCI in Reno or DSC in January and you will be able to find all of the answers you seek as well as meeting agents, outfitters, and PH's in person. | |||
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I've traveled many times with the Pelican 1750 with two rifles and even with two rifles and a hangun and have never gone over 50lbs. Antlers Double Rifle Shooters Society Heym 450/400 3" | |||
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If I remember correctly my full length Tuffpak weighs 15 lbs. Some airlines are pretty picky over the 50lb weight limit, they will charge you even if you are one pound over. If you absolutely have to have more than 100 lbs of checked luggage, better to have one bag weigh 69 lbs than two bags weighing 60. Many airlines will NOT let you check a bag over 70 lbs. For a great carry on bag take a look at the Patagonia MLC [stands for Maximum Legal Carryon]. It has a padded back and back pack straps, making it easy to transport while handlong your other bags. My carry on has weighed 48 lbs before, don't ask, don't tell.  Another bit of advise, make sure your rifle case AND your other piece of checked baggage ALL HAVE WHEELS. I have learned that the hard way. I use tuffpaks for my rifles, along with other stuff, and a Filson wheeled duffle for the rest. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Traveling in Namibia, be aware that they have a different internal weight limit which they may seek to enforce particularly if you are not on a continuing flight. For US travelers departing and returning to the US, the limit is two, 50-pound checked pieces of luggage one of which is your gun case, and carry on to include a coat, hat, handbag or computer bag or photobag, and a piece of luggage which has to fit into that frame they have at the gate if they get picky. I have never had mine weighed, thank goodness. I generally pack my binocs, toilette items (reference TSA rules), a book to read, diary, and a complete change of clothes in a knapsack (Italian Army surplus). This lets me carry it on my back and pull my roller equipped gun case with my luggage on top with one hand and my photo bag with the other. Roll on; Roll off. Kudude | |||
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If you're going to take a 50-pound carry-on bag to Namibia you would do well to have wheels on it. You'll be debarking from the aircraft outside (no ramp directly into the lobby) and have to carry your bag at least 200 yards under the midday sun. Got your pith helmet ready? Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. - Noel Coward Namibiahunter  . | |||
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My last trip home from SA I had checked thru security, lugage, ticketing etc and came around a corner on the way to the gate and there was a gal with a scale weighting carry on bags, Mine weighed somewhere in the neighborhood of 60lbs being a back pack with my optics, cameras, and anything else I didn't want broken or stolen. She sort of squeeled and indicated too heavy, so I took out binos and hung them around my neck, my camera I slung over my shoulder and stuffed several things in my pockets, she re-weighted the bag and said ok. I went on to the gate and since all the same stuff was still going on the same plane I put it back into the bag! On a seperate note; check with the airlines some have a 50 lb limit and a surcharge for overage up to 70 lbs and another up to 100 lbs. Others are different. So if you are overloaded you can put it in one bag on some airlines and come out better than by redistributing it into 2 or vice a verce. There is also the putting your toe up under the scale at weigh in but I'll leave that for another time! Best Regards Mike O | |||
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Watch out for a scam at the Windhoek airport coming home. I flew from JNB to WDK in late May on South African Airways. Neither of my two bags (I don't take rifles to Africa any more) approached the 50-pound limit. The weeks later, the girl at the SAA counter at Winhoek claimed my bags were overweight and sent me down the hall to the SAA office, where I was told I needed to pay 150 Rand (about US$20 at the time) in excess baggage charges. I was traveling alone and the amount was small enough that I figured it was easier to pay than demand to have my baggage weighed on another set of scales. When I flew out of JNB the next day on Delta, my bags were loaded with no problem. Bill Quimby | |||
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We use Americase and are very pleased. The only excess weight we pay is for the booze. | |||
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don't forget that while 50#'s is a going figure for international flights, if you have to transfer (for instance from joberg to somewhere else) often the limit drops to 35#'S - they'll usually let you on OK but will wand some more $$ for the xtra weight | |||
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There's an international agreement between all the major airlines that if your flight originated in the USA, where you have larger baggage allowances, that larger allowance carries over to your domestic flight. If a domestic check in agent tries to charge you more, you should ask to see the duty manager, show him your ticket from the USA and ask him to check the agreement. All that said, if your going onto a charter flight at any point, you need to remember that smaller aircraft will also have a weight limit. Large hard rifle cases or large hard suitcases are a real pain in the ass to the charter companies....... | |||
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40 pounds sounds pretty heavy for that pelican case I took a pelican case to Zim with a Remington 700 and a Win mod 70 in 375 both scoped. I weighed it at the bus depot and it came in just under 50 pounds. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject. | |||
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I got everything I needed for a 21 day safari in one tuffpak (two rifles plus gear), one checked suitcase and one carry on. If I remember correctly, the tuffpak was a little over weight but my suitcase was a little underweight and the airline accepted the trade off. John | |||
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I have the Americase 3 Gun Safari case. It's wheeled and the best out there. It weighs 40 lbs empty and I don't care. I paid $25 one time for over weight bag (gun case). Is $25 worth your $3,000+ worth of guns. Your call. But check into Americase.com Watch the video. My guns were worth it. Just my .02 Trophyman Benefactor Member NRA SCI California Rifle & Pistol Assoc. Drive a 69 Chevelle SS396 | |||
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John Creighton, I doubt that your Pelican case weighs 40 pounds empty. Mine comes in at 48 with 2 scoped CZ 550s in .375 H&H and .416 Rigby,( 10.5 and 10.25 apiece) polecat shooting sticks, a harris bipod, two slings, two shell-holders and two knives. You are probably looking at a "shipping weight" for the case itself. 48 pounds is enough to make me glad there wheels on the case though. | |||
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Guys check out Hardig Storm Cases. www.stormcase.com I have been using them for the past 4 years and have had great luck with them. They are lighter than the Pelican counterparts and are just as tough. I use the im 3300 rifle case & carry 2 rifles and all the cleaning gear etc... @ 50 lbs loaded. Then I use either im 2750 or im 2720 depending on how much gear I need for the specific hunt. When all locked up they seem to discourage all the bad lttle monkeys from frog fingering or stealing and my stuff. Tim | |||
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When I left Namibia they wanted to charge me US $500 for over weight baggage but my PH was able to talk them out of it. Had no problems when I checked in in Houston, I was right on the nose. Airport staff in Windhoek tried to hang the lower allowance on me and I wasn't aware of the international agreement at the time. It might be good to carry a copy with you. Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do. | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Weight limits when flying?
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