i am headed to Zim in a few weeks and was wondering what permits, regs, etc needed to be met to take an air rifle through RSA(overnighting) and on to Zimbabwe? i have a nice high pressure air rifle i would like to take along to play with around camp but wondered if this is feasible. this gun runs off a 3000psi compressed air gun tank and is fully capable of taking small game out to 50 yards. anyone from Zim or RSA know the regs?

jdollar,

I know for a fact that an accurate and high powred air rifle can be a lot of fun in a hunting camp! Sure wish I knew 'for a fact' and not only to the extent that 'I think it'll be OK' on the legal side.

I know that if your air rifle is a No. 2 - i.e. it fires a nominal .22" diameter bullet - it ]will not be OK to just bring it along. You will have to go through the full firearms importation procedure. I say so on the strength of the fact that we, as South Africans, have to obtain a firearms licence to posess such a No. 2 air rifle.

What I can say for a sure fact is that we in South Africa can simply go and buy such an air rifle in No. 1 - i.e. it fires a nominal .177" diameter bullet - and walk out of the shop. No license is required at all. So, I 'assume' the same will apply for a visiting hunter? I assume that you can simply arrive here with one, same as if it were a bow?

Contact me by e-mail at andrew@mclarensafaris.com with details about the air rifle, make, model, serial number if any, and most importantly the diameter of it's bullets, and I will see if I can get a reply from SAPS Firearms Central Registry.

Some airlines may have a lot to say about the compressed air container - that can potentially be a 'bomb'. Better ask the airlines or Civil Aviation Authority about bringing such a compressed air container on board any flight.

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

I think you'll find the airlines will transport the pressure vessel but NOT if it's pressurised. You'll have to prove that it's empty.

I appreciate it'd be a lot of fun but my guess is it'd probably be more trouble than it's worth.

BTW. Andrew is dead right about the calibre thing but how's that for a bloody stupid law where a .177 doesn't need a licence and a .22 does?

Do they make them in .577 as well as .177?

unfortunately, my best air rifle is .22 and the compressed air tank is 490cc @3000psi, so i guess it could be considered a bomb. if i emptied the tank prior to transport i would have no way to fill it on arrival. i do have a single stroke gun with almost as much power but it is also .22. looks like it isn't going to work.

Air Rifle Hunt: South Africa Hunt
http://www.bigboreairguns.com/southafrica2006.htm
http://www.americanairgunhunter.com/africa09.html


You might want to contact the below link for " Permits/Reg Info " , as they offer " Air Rifle Hunts " in Africa.
http://hounslowsafaris.com/
http://hounslowsafaris.com/ARH.aspx


http://www.bigboreairguns.com/


PAPI

Steve Scott, who used to post here, and you may be able to PM him, is sponsored by Gammo. Im sure he's familiar with rules and regs regarding travelling with air rifles. Give that a shot. Pardon the pun.

Just an additional " FYI ".

Ballistic testing 101
http://www.bigboreairguns.com/ballistictest101.htm

" HARDCAST LEAD " seems to be a very effective projectile (BULLET/ SLUG).

PAPI

i don't own a big bore and have no desire to. gunpowder works great. just wanted to have some fun around camp or out on the truck. i am now considering taking my break barrel magnum since i wouldn't have to worry about compressed air. any Zim PH's know the regs for bringing in a .22 air rifle?

My PH and I mused about the usefulness of an air rifle for eliminating go-away birds in Namibia ...