Hey all: I'd like a poll of sorts as to how many have had their cartridges checked for correct headstamp & what country? Some hunters I know have had theirs inspected (Zim), and others not in other countries.
I'd appreciate any comments on who has had theirs checked & what countries.
Thanks,
Tom

I did not have headstamps checked in S. Africa.

no check ever done--south africa, namibia, tanzania, new zealand, canada. canadian officials had a panic attack when the box of cartridges was not full after the hunt.

2 Time thru Joberg and checking of ammo was not done. In fact last year I even left my ammo in my suitcase and they did not ask about it.

Seems like security in Africa rates right up there with the US TSA.

Typicial Canadian, duh!

Mine were not checked in Namibia.

It seems to be a very random thing which you can probably talk your way out of, except in South Africa where they are more uptight about ammo but still inept. No one has ever actually looked at my ammo except TSA, and it seems they are just curious about what gun I am shooting and what animals I am hunting.

Never had headstamps checked anywhere in 44 years of leaving good ol' USA. The old Central African Empire was up tight about counts coming and going so they could tax the hell out of you for shooting it. Made for very expensive birds for the pot!

In Tanzania last month and all they cared about coming in was how many cartridges so they could tax them. No attempt to verify headstamp.

One has to realize we are talking about AFRICA! It all depends on which customs agent you happen to come in contact with.

I had my ammo checked for caliber, but not by headstamp. The agent in Lusaka Zambia looked at the boxes and read the lable I made and placed on my ammo ot J&J smoke colored traslucent 20 round ammo boxes. He could see the ammo through the plastic, but only counted the rounds, and took the lable to be factory on the sealed boxes, so he could collect tax. When I left the country the next time I was there they only checked the number of rounds I was takeing out. The agent questioned me as to why I was takeing empty cases out! When I told him I reload them, he gave me the dumbest look I've ever seen, and it was lost on him as to what I was telling him.

I've had my ammo counted many times, but my boxes are always labled, and sealed, so the headstamp is not readable. They've always taken the lable to be true!

I think this whole "head stamp" thing started by Art Alpin, of A-Square because he wanted to sell his brass.

We have some A-Square made brass for the 577 T.Rex. And, frankly, it is just plain awful.

The only brass that I have used that could possibly be worse is Bertram brass.

In al my travels to Africa since 1982, I have never had anyone check the headstamp of my ammo.

Thanks to all! I have a friend who hunts in Zimbabwe...he's had his ammo headstamp checked several times..Boddington recommends headstamp correct...my friend is a bug on headstamp issues...apparently he was bothered enough to worry about. My concern was if I used a wildcat on a parent case with a diff. headstamp. Although it may seem a silly issue, officialdom being what it is..I wondered about the issue and thought this forum would be the place to ask. If any other viewers have had any problems, please chime in with your experience. I like the idea of having labels made and seal up the boxes. Officialdom will take things at face value, so would stop there.
The only time I spent in jail was when I was arrested in the Malagasy Republic, being drunk with a bunch of Norwegians. Only one night, but it was miserable.
Thanks all!
Tom

quote:

Originally posted by white bison:
Thanks to all! I have a friend who hunts in Zimbabwe...he's had his ammo headstamp checked several times..Boddington recommends headstamp correct...my friend is a bug on headstamp issues...apparently he was bothered enough to worry about. My concern was if I used a wildcat on a parent case with a diff. headstamp. Although it may seem a silly issue, officialdom being what it is..I wondered about the issue and thought this forum would be the place to ask. If any other viewers have had any problems, please chime in with your experience. I like the idea of having labels made and seal up the boxes. Officialdom will take things at face value, so would stop there.
The only time I spent in jail was when I was arrested in the Malagasy Republic, being drunk with a bunch of Norwegians. Only one night, but it was miserable.
Thanks all!
Tom

Tom , you was one night in jail due to partying with the Norwegians, but that is what we do, go abroad and party


Back to topic

I havent been to Africa, but when so much is riding on the final piece of gear that can make or breake the entire safari, proper ammo cases is a little price to pay.

Hi Norwegian! It wasn't the Norwegian's fault...we were all in it together...a bunch of Merchant Marine Sailors in Tamatave, Malagasy Republic (formerly Madagascar), good & drunk, & happy! We
"borrowed" a fork lift truck on the waterfront to get back to our ships dock...and were arrested for borrowing it for our ride! The jail was like something from an old Bogart movie, dirt floor, spiders, vermin, rats. Open air but bars on the windows, 2 African native guards. In the morning, a Frenchman came to the jail...he had a good laugh seeing how miserable we were, after drinking all night, and not being able to sleep in that jail. Then I had to work all day on the ship in the tropical heat. I was young then & could take it. It still was fun!
Best Regards,
Tom

T.S.A. stands for thousands standing around....

I think that this subject is a no brainer. Do you want to risk having NO ammo in Africa or do you want to go by the rules and do it right. I for one had my ammo checked for caliber in Zambia as well as Tanzinia but not in RSA or Namibia. Most of the big game rounds we shoot are hard to find anywhere in Africa. We spend countless hours in load development and for what if we can't take the stuff along. Heads or talils! Take your chances if you want. I always have proper head stamped brass.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:


We have some A-Square made brass for the 577 T.Rex. And, frankly, it is just plain awful.

The only brass that I have used that could possibly be worse is Bertram brass.

This is something that we agree on 100%. Let's draw up a treaty!

Custom Barrels can say anything they want. I have a couple of barrels that aren't stamped at all, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. SO if you were using 404 brass and necking it down to .375, your barrel could say .404 and your brass would say .404, but you are really shooting a Wildcat. Just when you get back make sure no one fires a .404 in it.

I never was checked in RSA. In fact one of the guys who went over to RSA brought two SEMI AUTO's in and OUT of the country and RSA police never questioned or knew they were autos.