I see this as an issue raised here all the time. Question: How do they check the bullets and brass, with a micrometer or just give it a laser eyeball. For example: 9.3 x338 WM How the heck would anybody know unless they measured or you told them?

They looked at my rifle to see what it was chambered for, then looked at the headstamp on the ammunition. The ammo should match the firearm.

I hunted with a wildcat in Zimbabwe...double rifle in 458 RCBS Magnum.
The brass headstamp said 45-110.
No one batted an eye.

I'll be going to Tanzania in 2006, with 2 wildcats.
There aren't too many paperwork problems in Africa that can't be fixed by money.

Garrett

I hunted with a wildcat in Namibia...338-06AI

The brass headstamp said 35 Whelen.

No one gave it a second look except to ask how many live rounds to enter the country.
And then how many live rounds am I taking back home.

I entered RSA with a bunch of .375 H&H ammo and no firearm.....not a word was said. I also had 12 Ga ammo and no shotgun.....not a word was said.
I wouldn't do that again.....the headstamp on the ammo will match only the gun I have and so marked.....they're just getting to be pricks about these things.....Even in RSA today you can't buy .30-06 ammo unless you can prove you own a .30-06.....at least that's what I'm told.

Based on my limited experiences while traveling abroad, I'd have to say that in a case like this it would be far better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Having in things in order only leads to fewer problems down the line...

On my trip to Tanz in July, I left my 416/404 and my 30-338 because of the head stamp issue upon the advice of both my outfitter and agent. They are both very experienced, old hands and would not tell me wrong.

I can assure you that both the weapons and the ammo were checked upon arrival, and, contrary to the comment above, I would not want to be the person offering to bribe an official in an African country. Their jails are very unpleasant by all reports. Kudude

Gentlemen,

I have been hunting with wildcats for so many years, and not a single one of my cartridges has the right headstamp.

I have never, ever come across any problems in 3 countries. South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

FWIW, I had a conversation a little while ago with Insp Conroy who is in charge of firearm import at JIA and was told that ammo now needs to have the correct headstamp for the calibre of firearm being imported....... whether that will happen in every case I don't know......but the official line is that it will.

Better news is that it says in the November Man-Magnum magazine that the SA government is now considering reviewing the firearms laws...... Whether the review (if it happens) will be domestic firearm ownership only or overseas/temporary import or both, I don't know...... but lets hope its both!

I din't have any serial number on my ZG 47 in .404 when I arriwed to Jo-burg last year.

After a gift "from my heart" I got the rifle with me.
However the first thing Ken Stewart and I did after arriving to Pietersburg was to stamp the right number on the barrel...

This is for South Africa

My experience is that when arriving together with just a few hunters on a flight (KLM usally 2-10 hunters) they have more time and they have actually checked my headstamps and counted that the rounds are as many as I stated on the application.

African authrorities may check the headstamps on your cases, then again they might not. Why take the risk? What possible reward could there be in chancing an expensive safari, some 10,000 miles from home, to an off-beat, non-standard chambering and cartridge headstamps that don't match up? That sort of logistical nonsense is a headache you can do very well without.

I suggest hunting African with standard factory chamberings and properly headstamped ammunition.

AD

Thanks for the replies. I am curious no longer.
Best regards.