Available ammo in Africa?

05 May 2008, 12:57

Bent Fossdal

Often when arguing about what rounds to have chambered in your DGR, ammo availability comes up.
But how does that work? Do we have to rely upon the PH to have a stock of ammo, or go to local gun stores? And how common are those?

What rounds are commomly available?
The .458 WinMag and .375H&H are probably the most common, but how about the rest? What can one within reason expect to find in Africa if your own ammo is lost?
Is the .416 Rem more common than the .404 Jeffery? And how stands the .416 Rigby and .458 Lott? .338 WinMag, .30-06?

I know there is not one true answer, as Africa is a large continent, but please share your experiences.

Thanks,

05 May 2008, 17:36

Scott450

As you said Africa is a big continent and situations vary from country to country and town to town. Generally if you lose your baggage but not your guns you will be relying on the PH to have ammo because he has the same caliber. 375 H&H will always be relatively easy to get, but apart from that it will be a bit of a lucky packet draw. South Africa is an exception and you should be able to get just about any of the factory loaded ammo for all of the calibers you mentioned. You may battle on the rigby and the .404 though. Also most DG PH's will not have a 30-06 etc in camp, it is more common for them to have a .375 and a bigger gun and possibly a shotgun.

05 May 2008, 17:49

DTala

Our baggage was delayed seven days on our trip in 05...no ammo. We found/borrowed 375 H&H, 6.5X57 rifle and ammo, 30-06 rifle and ammo. Ph shot a Lott but had limited ammo, buddies Ph shot a 460W, same for limited ammo.

We were in Zim, Arda camp of Jumbo Moore.

troy

05 May 2008, 20:30

Atkinson

It would mostly depend on your location as that scenario varies from place to place..RSA and Zimbabwe have ammo for sale from time to time. Mostly I have seen 223, .308, 303, 30-06, 270 and of all things 30-30 (wouldn't you know it)

As to big bore, all I have seen is .375 H&H, 416 Rem, and one box of .404 in RSA and the same in Zim except no 404 but they had .458.

12 ga. shotgun is easy to buy..ocassionally some 20 ga.

but this observation took place some 7 or 8 years ago, it may have changed dramatically by now...

06 May 2008, 12:34

375 fanatic

quote:
Originally posted by Scott450:
As you said Africa is a big continent and situations vary from country to country and town to town. Generally if you lose your baggage but not your guns you will be relying on the PH to have ammo because he has the same caliber. 375 H&H will always be relatively easy to get, but apart from that it will be a bit of a lucky packet draw. South Africa is an exception and you should be able to get just about any of the factory loaded ammo for all of the calibers you mentioned. You may battle on the rigby and the .404 though. Also most DG PH's will not have a 30-06 etc in camp, it is more common for them to have a .375 and a bigger gun and possibly a shotgun.

there is not a lot of wildcat ammo around but if you ever loose your ammo for big bore rifles let your ph phone Sabi Rifles if they cant help you i dont know who will im not talking about 375 and 458 win that is freely availeble. Sabi reloads the big bores under lisence i will ask Eugene to send me a list of the calibres they load and post it here

07 May 2008, 07:41

RVL III

In Namibia, in 2006, we had problems getting 20ga. shotgun ammunition. Windhoek had plenty of 12 and 16 though. (3 of us and 3 different guages!)
One of the guys on my trip lost his luggage and had to borrow a 270 rifle and ammo. from PH. PH had used up almost all of his supply of 3006 on the previous clients, as he had to back them up on almost every PG shot they made, so he couldn't loan him any.

Robert

07 May 2008, 18:53

Bent Fossdal

So basically, if you are going to Africa, the only ammo one can be pretty sure of getting is the .375 H&H.

That is a bit disturbing, giving less weight to some opinions that bringing odd calibers to Africa is to big a risk.

But it makes sence to discuss it with your PH in advance.
With the cost of a trip to Africa, having your PH order 40 rounds of your cartridge of choise(within reason), seems a small prize for a great insurance.

07 May 2008, 20:24

trophyhunter5000

quote:
But it makes sence to discuss it with your PH in advance. With the cost of a trip to Africa, having your PH order 40 rounds of your cartridge of choise(within reason), seems a small prize for a great insurance.

My safari is over one year away...

I'm going to talk to my PH to see if we can do exactly this...

Any one else ever execute a plan like this?

07 May 2008, 20:35

500grains

Yeah. Often it is not so easy for the PH to pull off. Many of them are lucky to find ammo for their own rifle.

07 May 2008, 20:55

trophyhunter5000

quote:
Often it is not so easy for the PH to pull off.

500grains,

I understand this could be a logistical nightmare...

But...

Are there any issues of legality with a PH purchasing and receiving factory loaded ammo from the US?