I'm curious as to how many of us actually bring ammo back home. Mine always seems to have been used up by the time I'm going to leave.

I bring unused ammo back. My PHs seem to have a ton of ammo given to them by other clients.

I always bring ammo back unless my PH uses the same calibre rifle and needs some.

My last trip, I left all my unused ammo with the PH. He'll put it to good use, I'm sure.

I too usually bring my unused ammo back.

I left all of my ammo with the head PH on my last safari.

I was using a 30-06 and a 338 WM.

The reason I lef the 30-06 was there wasn't much of it left and it is a common cartridge.

The reason I left the 338 WM were three fold; the PH kept a collection of spare ammo and had no 338 WM, the ammo was Failsafes which I detested and I was not going to use them ever again, and finally that PH bad mouthed my 338 WM over two safaris and I thought he needed a more or less permanent reminder he was wrong on all counts about that cartridge.

Two of his bigger fantasies, the 338 WM was not enough cartridge for Eland (one shot double lunger) and that the speed of the cartridge was too high and would blow the hair off the bullet exit side of a Sable (it didn't).

I followed Saeeds' lead and we had a fine shooting match. I gave the winner a California t-shirt.
Even the learner PH did not ever have much shooting time and with the cost of ammo it was a great excuse for all to enjoy some fun.
Frank

quote:

Two of his bigger fantasies, the 338 WM was not enough cartridge for Eland (one shot double lunger) and that the speed of the cartridge was too high and would blow the hair off the bullet exit side of a Sable (it didn't).

Odie, your PH sounds like he's rather clueless, to be honest. The .338 WM is one of the all-time great African hunting cartridges. It is ideal for any and all plains game, as well as anything that law doesn't require .375 or larger to hunt. It is an oustanding cartridge for lion and leopard, Eland too.

Honestly, it would do fine for probably 95% of the buffalo shot by sport hunters. Of course, that other 5% is why we can't use it.

I usually bring my unused ammo back, although I have left some with PHs before.

I have always brought it back in the past but based upon what I have been reading in the travel section leaving it behind is sounding more and more like the thing to do; especially if its a relatively small amount. a pretty good argument can be made that an ammo free bag is less likely to be pulled for inspection in rsa (locked metal container requirement etc) and thus more likely to make it home the same time you do.

I left some ammo last safari only because I had some Woodleigh 350gr softs and solids loaded up for my 375H&H and my PH wanted to try them in his 375 Wby. We brought back the ammo for Mrs Blacktailer's 308 Win which was lucky because
Tanz customs counted it and made us account for every shell. Luckily they never even asked about the 375.

I have always brought mine back. 4 times now, no problems.

I brought the ammo for my 600 OK back but left 416 Rigby...

Expense and availability made that decision for me...

I thought it was pretty neat to think that one of the PHs would be using my handloads for something...?

I brought all mine back. Of course, I shoot handloads almost exclusively and am not 100% comfortable with my handloads being shot in unknown potentially untested rifles. I did leave shotgun shells, but they were bought locally and too darn heavy to bring home!

I left one box of 300WSM behind. PH didn't have any. Got a strange look from Namibian police, just told him my rifle scope got knocked out of adjustment

Since it is illegal to leave ammo with a resident of most African countries I don't do it. At least I don't advertise that I do/have. Places like Namibia actually count the ammo you bring in and out. Not that they would ever really know if you shot it all up or not.

Don't trust the fact that Big Brother may have a look at AR every once in awhile.

I agree with the way the things are and the hassel with the airlines it makes one want to consider leaving it behind.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

I brought all my .358 STA back, there were probably was no other rifles to shoot them in Africa. Left all my .416 Rem (softs and solids) PH was more than glad to get them. Good shooting.

I left some 30-06 in Namibia and some 9.3x62 in Zim. They counted, so I told them I had shot it up at Baboons, but I still had some left, so they were OK.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Since it is illegal to leave ammo with a resident of most African countries I don't do it. At least I don't advertise that I do/have. Places like Namibia actually count the ammo you bring in and out. Not that they would ever really know if you shot it all up or not.

Don't trust the fact that Big Brother may have a look at AR every once in awhile.

I agree with the way the things are and the hassel with the airlines it makes one want to consider leaving it behind.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

This.

Also, a shooting contest or practice can help you use up that extra before you leave.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Since it is illegal to leave ammo with a resident of most African countries I don't do it. At least I don't advertise that I do/have. Places like Namibia actually count the ammo you bring in and out. Not that they would ever really know if you shot it all up or not.

Don't trust the fact that Big Brother may have a look at AR every once in awhile.

I agree with the way the things are and the hassel with the airlines it makes one want to consider leaving it behind.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

I have always brought my ammo back with me.

I leave my ammo over there. It is llegal in SA to possess ammo for a rifle you don't own but they all know someone who can do with the ammo. I don't use wildcats and only commonly available calibres/cartridges.

I did bring back some 9.3x62 PMP ammo from my last trip. I purchased it in a shop in Jo'Burg without problems. The paperwork you get at the airport allows you to purchase ammo locally in South Africa.

It didn't shoot well in my rifle but I kept it out of interest.

There was some interesting Blaser 9.3x62 for sale with a form of Partition projectile made by Blaser, but the cost was the same as for a small antelope so I didn't buy it. I regret that now. If it shot well in my rifle then at least I would know I could buy it over there in an emergency.

Usually bring it back but sometimes have some fun and have a little "shooting contest" at the camp gun range, and just shoot up the excess ammo. All are welcome to participate.

It comes back with me.

I leave some and bring some home, depends. If my PH uses the same calibers and seems to have real interest in a little extra, he gets some. but usually bring some back. One consideration, my last trip to Tanzania (21d) my bag with ammo and most of my clothes didn't make it to camp for 10 days. It was very convenient for my PH to have extra 470 and .375 ammo left by others, it saved my safari. I haven't forgotten this and therefore leave some when I can.

If the PH can use it -- leave it -- otherwise it comes home.

Larry,
I've done namibia 2x and have never had them count any ammo..on the form for entry, I've written how much I brought, but they never asked to see any of it, and most definitely not upon departure.

Have you had that experience?

Leave a penny take a penny, I 2nd RW taylor, a couple of boxes of ammo left behind is less weight, so more stuff to bring home, plus might save someone's butt one day, I know I would appreciate some if my luggage ever got lost!

I once left a box of .375 for the ranch game manager in Zim. Ammo there is hideously high. The rest of the time I brought it back. Stuff is expensive, don'tcherknow.

I brought it back the only time I ever crossed the pond, but then again, I was a poor graduate student then. I probably won't leave any in August either because they'll all be handloads for my specific rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:
The .338 WM is one of the all-time great African hunting cartridges.

Are you joking!?


No doubt the 338 is great. And it could be a great African cartridge, but how often is it used over there compared to the truly great African cartridges?

There are just far too many other cartridges that get more use in Africa than the 338.

Had it looked at and counted both in and out of Namibia two years ago. They even asked about some of the empty cases in the boxes. Didn't give me a hassel, just curious I guess?

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Oryxhunter1983:
Larry,
I've done namibia 2x and have never had them count any ammo..on the form for entry, I've written how much I brought, but they never asked to see any of it, and most definitely not upon departure.

Have you had that experience?

Leave a penny take a penny, I 2nd RW taylor, a couple of boxes of ammo left behind is less weight, so more stuff to bring home, plus might save someone's butt one day, I know I would appreciate some if my luggage ever got lost!

I have done both.

If the PH wants it, and says so, I have given them some of the left overs (its been factory Federal stuff, so I get the feeling it could potentially save some poor guy's trip- .375 H&H is pretty common., and 416 rigby is not uncommon.) We've also done some shooting competitions in camp- as has been said, the appy PH's don't get much practice and really appreciate it. I was quite impressed with how well my PH's shot (with irons no less...) but I seemed to be quite a bit better than the appy's. In Zambia, I was told we should shoot up what I had so that no one would get in trouble with their ammo laws.

Saying that, I always bring some of the ammo home- generally I keep whatever finishes off a box with the empties I have left, and no one has really made too much of a fuss about it either in Africa (they seem to be more worried about what comes in having the appropriate duties and fees paid) or the US. I have had the Xray guy ask about how the hunt went when he sees empty cases in the bag though.

Years ago we thought of an idea of how to use our left over ammo.

It all started by one of our trackers, who got surprised each time I missed something.

He had this grand idea that all one has to do is point the rifle in the general direction of the anims, and pull the trigger.

Walter had agreat idea to bring him, and the other trackers and game scouts, down to planet earth as far as hunting is concerned.

We put some balloons for them about 40 yards away, and had them shoot them with a Ruger #1 which had been converted to 460 Weatherby.

Each time one fires at the balloons, Walter tells them they have hit them, but did not break the balloons!?

The incredible part was some of them ran off to inspect the balloons, to see where the bullet hit!?

Ever since that time, a shooting contest for our trackers and game scouts is run every year.

And they all have a great time, as well as win some money.

quote:

Originally posted by odie:
The reason I left the 338 WM were three fold; the PH kept a collection of spare ammo and had no 338 WM, the ammo was Failsafes which I detested and I was not going to use them ever again, and finally that PH bad mouthed my 338 WM over two safaris and I thought he needed a more or less permanent reminder he was wrong on all counts about that cartridge.

Two of his bigger fantasies, the 338 WM was not enough cartridge for Eland (one shot double lunger) and that the speed of the cartridge was too high and would blow the hair off the bullet exit side of a Sable (it didn't).

When a client arrives in camp and he has a 338 win mag with 225 gr tsx I get a very big smile on my face cause I know we will not have a problem finding the animals dead. The 338 win mag must rank as my idea of the perfect plainsgame rifle big enough to hit anything at an angle and shooting flat enough not too worry too much about long shots.

I agree, the 338 win mag is a superb plains game rifle and is more than capable for long shots. I've seen eland fall on the move as if poleaxed!!!

quote:

Originally posted by TerryR:
I'm curious as to how many of us actually bring ammo back home. Mine always seems to have been used up by the time I'm going to leave.

I'll plead the 5th amendment to the USA Con.

Since I hand load all my ammo, I bring it all back with me. Would you use loads designed for another rifle? Think not.

quote:

I always bring ammo back unless my PH uses the same calibre rifle and needs some.

Ditto...

I leave any extra with the PH

Terry,

Mine are generally handloads and I never felt comfortable leaving them behind...everything came back with me.