There are a couple of threads on the African Travel Forum discussing locked ammo boxes to be used storing your ammo in your checked baggage. I have been on numerous safaris and have never had a locked container for my ammo. I have always placed my ammo in poly boxes with appropriate labels, foam strips for padding and duct tape on the boxes to prevent spilling. As of now, I have had no troubles. It now seems that this requirement is being implemented with no consistency. Seems that the rule does not state what the container is made of. Plastic or metal. My question to you guys is where can one purchase a lockable box large enough to contain two boxes of 416 Rigby, and two boxes of 375 H&H? I would prefer something small and light as I am trying to get by with one checked bag.

Gracias,
Hoot

Hoot - I use a Pelican type 11" X 9" X 5" case to carry my ammo in. It's lockable and strong enough to be checked on it's own if the powers that be make you do that. Mine is made by Browning, but it's a Pelican. The ammo is in plastic boxes packed as you describe. I also put a small knife, lense pen, small steel, cleaning snake and Misc in the box as well.

I think the main thing is to get one sturdy enough to check as seperate luggage if they want you to do that. No problem with it in the checked bag here in the USA, but some of the over the pond countries may see it different. Good luck on your hunt.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Although I have never been questioned by the air services about this, why take the chance.
You will find it hard to find a lock up box two hours before a flight if they do request it.
I use to use a metal cash box until a friend with explosives experience told me it was forbidden to carry explosives in a metal box on flights.
Now I use a MTM Survivor dry box which i find ideal for the purpose .

Hoot, MTM Case-Guard makes an assortment of nice plastic lockable cases. The plastic is lighter, and I believe that weight goes toward your 11 pound allowance.

I went to Cabelas,, they had several sizes and brands of the plastic/dry storage boxes. I found one that easily held 4 boxes of 416 rigby ammo and weighed in under the 11 lb limit, they had a place on the latch to place a lock as well.

Last November, I flew to Zim and at that time SA required all ammo transiting through SA to be in locked boxes. TSA in the US made me bring a key back to check in when they found it in my checked bag. What is the SA rule now? Anyone know?

465H&H

And to think, when I first boarded an airplane, mid-60's, to go on a hunt "out West", I carried my rifle on board in a soft case....I guess we are safer now.....

I always put my ammo in a plastic lockable box, but I don't lock it. Why give them an excuse to pry open the ammo box? Lock your checked bag, with your unlocked plastic ammo box inside, with TSA locks and leave it at that. That way when they open your checked bag they can also open your unlocked ammo box and easily inspect it. I have never had the TSA or anyone else for that matter request that the plastic ammo box in my locked and checked bag, be locked, and it is definitely not in the TSA regulations. Now if someone in Africa then requires it to be locked, you can do so without any problem. Just take the key to the ammo box along with you on your trip for that purpose!

UEG is spot on with how best to accomplish this exercise. The weight of the box DOES NOT count as part of your ammo allowance. Just insist it's the ammo they are weighing as per the rules, not the total package. In all my trips have never had anyone want to weigh the ammo!!

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

The little Pelican 1200 case does the trick for me. I've found it to be just the right size.

What I like most about it is that I can, if necessary, ship it alone as an extra piece of luggage.

I use the Pelican as well. Plus there is usually a little extra room for odds and ends.

The MTM Products Orange Dry Box on my web site does just what you ask about. It is lockable too.
That is why I stock them.

I used a Pelican Case for my ammo last month. I was also required to ship the case as a separate piece of luggage while in RSA flying on SAA.

pelican as well

I've now got so sick of every check in agent having their own set of rules, I now put the ammo into a small lockable box and then I ask what they want me to do with the ammo.

If they want it in the rifle case, the MTM boxes go in there and the empty lockable box goes in my bag.

If they want it in the bag, then that's where it goes.

If they want it as a separate item, then that's what the get.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
I've now got so sick of every check in agent having their own set of rules, I now put the ammo into a small lockable box and then I ask what they want me to do with the ammo.

If they want it in the rifle case, the MTM boxes go in there and the empty lockable box goes in my bag.

If they want it in the bag, then that's where it goes.

If they want it as a separate item, then that's what the get.

Ditto...after our treatment with British Air and SAA last week (LAX, LHR,JNB & Beira)...be prepared for all scenarios.

Regards, D. Nelson

When we went to Tanzania all my ammunition was locked in a plastic box from Cabela's. After arriving and unpacking, I found the box had been pried open and TSA tape was wrapped around the box. I'm not sure why they insisted the box be locked in the first place.

quote:

Originally posted by Hoot Murray:
My question to you guys is where can one purchase a lockable box large enough to contain two boxes of 416 Rigby, and two boxes of 375 H&H? I would prefer something small and light as I am trying to get by with one checked bag.

I simply went to an office supply store and purchased a metal lockable cash box. A simple solution and inexpensive. It held 2 boxes of 8x57 and 2 boxes of 9.3x62 (the ammo was in factory paper boxes) with room left over for my knife and other assorted small items. Just measure the dimensions of your ammo boxes to make sure you get a cash box that is large enough.


Some examples (with dimensions listed):

http://www.officedepot.com/a/b...h7ysLozEGG:13ddq0sic

http://www.staples.com/Cash-Dr...andling/cat_CL141449

Cheers!
-Bob F.

That's what I've done in the past as well.

quote:

Originally posted by BFaucett:

quote:

Originally posted by Hoot Murray:
My question to you guys is where can one purchase a lockable box large enough to contain two boxes of 416 Rigby, and two boxes of 375 H&H? I would prefer something small and light as I am trying to get by with one checked bag.

I simply went to an office supply store and purchased a metal lockable cash box. A simple solution and inexpensive. It held 2 boxes of 8x57 and 2 boxes of 9.3x62 (the ammo was in factory paper boxes) with room left over for my knife and other assorted small items. Just measure the dimensions of your ammo boxes to make sure you get a cash box that is large enough.


Some examples (with dimensions listed):

http://www.officedepot.com/a/b...h7ysLozEGG:13ddq0sic

http://www.staples.com/Cash-Dr...andling/cat_CL141449

Cheers!
-Bob F.

I have been told that explosives are not allowed to be transported in metal boxes on flights.
You will have a problem sorting this out at the airport if this is brought up.

My thanks to all who replied. I am ordering from Mims Reed. I guess I will need two.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:

I have been told that explosives are not allowed to be transported in metal boxes on flights.
You will have a problem sorting this out at the airport if this is brought up.

Ammunition is not classified as an explosive. If it was, ammo would not be allowed on commercial aircraft at all regardless of what type of container it was in. TSA inspected the contents of my metal cash box back in 2002 and 2005 and saw the ammunition inside. No problem.


From the TSA website:

Ammunition - Check with your airline or travel agent to see if ammunition is permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. If ammunition is permitted, it must be declared to the airline at check-in. Small arms ammunitions for personal use must be securely packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/a...rohibited-items.shtm

Also see:
FAA - Hazardous Materials Information for Passengers
http://www.faa.gov/about/offic...zmat/passenger_info/


-Bob F.

quote:

Originally posted by BFaucett:
Ammunition is not classified as an explosive.

-Bob F.

Bob has it right. Ordinary rifle/handgun ammo loaded with smokeless powder is classified as highly flammable (check the classification label om your pot of powder if you're a reloader) and may be transported on commercial aircraft.

Any materials which is classified as explosive (such as BP) may not.