Last year(2003)I hunted South Africa and took my 454Casull for medium game,a 22mag S&W for varmints at night and my 416Rigby for buff,however,the South African police have issued new import limitations for weapons brought there for hunting. The following information is from their web page:
"The following limitations exist on firearms per person"
- one handgun of .45 caliber or smaller
- one single or double barrel shotgun
- two hunting rifles
The best would be to contact your outfitter, as they would have more information about this subject, before you plan on how many handguns you wanted to take on safari.

I know a group going this week to SA that are taking 500 linebaughs and there paperwork has already been approved.
Sean

Don't count on bringing any hunting handguns to SA after July 1. I just recieved an email from Anne at Air 2000, who I was having get my import license, and she told me that my Taurus Raging Bull will not be allowed because it is "not a custom hunting handgun" whatever the Hell that means. Also, my 375 JDJ Contender is also a no no because the serial # is not stamped on both the barrel and the frame like the regs state. I have no choice but to cancel my trip. I urge everybody here to find a different safari destination other than South Africa. This really sucks!!

why cancel the trip just put the serial number on the barrel as well.

that would be much easyer!!!!

700 Nitro, I thought of that but my barrel is finished in SSK Krome and I think if I try to stamp a serial # on it, it will royally screw it up.

Couldn't you just stamp or etch it on the barrel lug ?

Don`t count out South Africa for handgun hunting! Go to the following web site:www.african-hunt.com ,then click on to their "links".Then go to the "government" column and click on"South African Consulate- firearms import".You are allowed one handgun of .45 caliber or less.This is straight from the"horses mouth".They also list their e-mail address so if you have questions these are the people to talk to.I have a hunt for 2005 in northeast SouthAfrica and I will bring my 454Casull for kudu,warthog and a few others.I will also bring my 416Rigby for hippo.The only thing thats changed since my last hunt there is that Iam allowed only one handgun.Good luck with your hunt.

Another web site to read is Gary Reeders custom guns.Go to his gun notes column and read note #24 as this mentions Air2000 and what happened to hunters bringing handguns into SAfrica.

One can also do a search and go to the SAPS website. The 2004 regs are available for download in acrobat(97 pages in all).

I had high hopes of taking my FA in .475 Linebaugh. This does not appear to be the case, but I will continue to check with some friends over there and see what else I can find out.

To HITMAN,
It`s a damm sin that you will not be able to take your 475 Casull to South Africa because of .025".As you read in their regulations, only one handgun of .45 caliber or smaller is allowed.When will you be going to Africa?? Maybe by then they will have changed their rules to allow one of the finest handgun hunting calibers into South Africa.

I was looking at going for a few days next June. Yes, it's a sin and a shame a govenrmental body is getting so stupid with it's regs.

Hi MS Hitman, think they have any emus in SA?

I just had the serial# stamped on the barrel lug like a couple of guys suggested. Good idea, hope it gets me through the SAPS.

Don't know about the emus, but they got a lot of ostrich. My only regret with the emu incident is that I didn't have a .45 Manstopper load in the .475 when I capped the emu. But then, that would have been MESSY.

Ah! I can still smell the odor of burnt feathers , oh the memories.