Whenever someone brings up the idea of taking an odd-ball caliber to Africa, the standard response seems to be something about the difficulty of obtaining ammo in that particular caliber in Africa.

My experience may be limited, but it seems that there are really only three readily available cartridges “in the bushâ€â€¦30-06, 375 H&H & 458 Win Mag.

Beyond that, EVERY other caliber seems to be equally difficult to come by.

Have your observations been different than mine?

You make a good point, IMO. I think that the "ammo availability" justification for not taking an, as you say, "odd-ball" caliber is ridiculously weak.

If you lose your ammo, no matter the caliber, you are generally screwed in most places. It is true that some calibers (and yours are good examples) are more "available" in SOME places than others, but let's face it, Murphy's Law being what it is, what you want, no matter how common it may be, won't be "available" where you are when you need it.

If you (not meaning you, personally) are one who really does obsess about these things--and I don't, BTW--just find out what caliber(s) your PH uses or has handy and bring at least one rifle in one of those.

My observation is that the following can be found in Zim:

.308 Win
30-06
7.62 x 39
375 H&H
416 Rigby
458 Lott
470 NE

South Africa has a much wider selection. The more remote countries, like CAR, Chad, Cameroon, etc., have only 7.62 x 39.

Throw in the .308 & .270 as well, at least in RSA they seem quite popular. Iive been across the pond to several diff. locations & my ammo & other baggage have managed to make it. I suppose some day I'll get screwed but more likely my ammo makes it & my rifles get "misplaced".

As I suspected, limited experience doesn't seem indicate that there is much else available.

I just want readers to understand that what appear to be ubiquitously available and very common cartridges aren't readily available in the bush.

Beyond those staples listed, practically anything you take will become as difficult to locate as a "wildcat" if you lose your ammo.

So don't let the obscurity of your chambering dictate what you take... if it's not one of those common calibers, then the argument is moot.

My first safari to RSA my bag was lost...All ammo in it...Instead if rifles, I now had two clubs..
PH took me to a gun ammo store in Durban...There they called the police and got a dispensation to buyt only one box of ammo for one of my rifles...So I opted for a box of Federal premium ammo in 375..$100...
That is why I like to split it between two suitcases...
I look at it this way, any ammo is better then no ammo...


Mike

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
My observation is that the following can be found in Zim:

.308 Win
30-06
7.62 x 39
375 H&H
416 Rigby
458 Lott
470 NE

South Africa has a much wider selection. The more remote countries, like CAR, Chad, Cameroon, etc., have only 7.62 x 39.

Leaving aside the scarcity of hunting ammunition for the caliber and the range and animal-size limitations of the round, is 7.62x39 legal for civilian hunters anywhere in Africa? I'm asking because I've read several places that many or most African countries banned military calibers. I've never understood how that could be true when so many people take a .308 or a .30-06 on safari.

You will find .243, .270, .308, .30-06, .303, 7x57, 7x64, .338 WM, .300WM, 7mm RM, .375 HH, .223, 12GA and host of other common calibre in most RSA gun dealers, give or take some out in small rural towns.
In larger centres and better dealers, many more calibres and varieties but calibre outside of the more common ones above may be pricy.

Unless you can procure some leftover ammo or some personal ammo from your PH or Outfitter,
ammo in the following calibers is available in Ethiopia.

ZERO

Rich Elliott

That is a good reason to take a 375 H&H as your back up rifle. If you can find any ammo it will usually be 375.

465H&H

The advice about asking your PH what he uses is extremely good.

If I can devise a way to not take ammo but have it waiting for me when I get there I'd do it in a heartbeat.

However, it seems that it's a hassle that must be endured.

A lot depends on which country and area you're in and to some extent who you or your PH know in that area.

Last year I was in Arusha which really is a one horse town and when my client pitched up he had his 3 rifles but no ammo (or clothes!)

I made one quick phone call to all round good guy and forum member Bwanamich and he was able to lay his hands on ammo for all 3 calibres within a few hours. (didn't even want payment up front)...... As it turned out, we didn't need it in the end, as the clients bags all arrived on the next flight - but it was very nice to be able to call Michel and know he's try to bail us out......... hopefully, I'll be able to return the favour someday...... Cheers Michel.

When in Limpopo in 2004 Rick Rose and I ask about the availability of 9,3x62 ... as we both had took rifles of that caliber. The local gun shop indicated that they did not have it on the shelf but could get it quickly.

That may also be a good "back up" caliber to take a rifle in just to be sure.