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| One of Us |
I'm traveling to Botswana this September to hunt at Tholo. I wanted to bring my .470 double to hunt eland up close. I'm also going to guiding school and doing some fishing. Anyway I really had to stop and think about how much effort it would take to get my double there. I most likely would have to deal with SAPS in S. Africa, $150 per gun to get it into Botswana (and separate forms required) , 48% taxes on the ammo, and the question of what to do with the gun while I'm traveling around not hunting. There might be additional difficulties and costs with the airline. OR I could use the camp gun which is a Searcy .470 and pay $10 a round. No cost for using the gun. Am I nuts for even thinking about trying to bring my own? | ||
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One of Us |
Well, I assuming your double would be your second gun so its an incremental $150 and 48% on the incremental ammo. Call the ammo $100 for 20 rounds $48 plus $15o = ~$200. $200 is nothing on the cost of the trip and if you don't bring the double you will regret it much more 10 years from now than spending $200 or even $300 to get it and the ammo into Botswana. My humble opinion. Mike Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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| One of Us |
Thanks Mike, it isn't just the money. It's filling out SAPS forms, probably hiring a permit service in SA, filling out forms for Botswana, filling out the forms for British Air (if I do then add $150 to BA) and having somebody hold the guns for me while I'm traveling around Bots. I do admit a 48% tax on ammo pisses me off. | |||
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One of Us |
I like hunting with my rifles, not because camp rifles may be problematic, but using my rifles adds to to the memories associated with such rifles. About the only place I would not deal with the hassle for would be Cameroon. Mike | |||
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One of Us |
Given the time and patience, I would take my own double, because a rifle like that is made for Africa and you have probably paid much money to get it. I have used someone else's rifle in the USA but then I had to travel through about 14 states and could not be bothered with all the hassles taking my own would have required. | |||
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| One of Us |
sambarman338's advice is solid... Hunted the Save in Aug 2017, shot Buff, Eland and Wildebeest, shot the Buff and Wildebeest with my iron sighted Double and the Eland with a scoped rifle could have and should have shot the Eland with my Double as well If and when I go back and my eyes let me my double will be my number one. | |||
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One of Us |
As above, take your rifle. Any dents dings or scratches will be appreciated down the road. I try and put something from the hunt under my grip cap. | |||
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One of Us |
For me, a large part of the experience (and subsequent memories) is in using my own guns. So yes, it is worth the hassle and extra cost. "The difference between adventure and disaster is preparation." "The problem with quoting info from the internet is that you can never be sure it is accurate" Abraham Lincoln | |||
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| one of us |
I would haul one rifle and that would be the 470 considering the amount of traveling your going to do...Hauling a big gun case all over the world is a pain. Back in the day when I traveled from one safari operation to another, I just hauled my 404 or 375 bolt gun for everything..I always worried about my double getting ripped off...If I was going for a single buffalo hunt, then I took my doubles..Hauling a double you just have to suck it up buttercup, and have insurance..Its a decision only you can make.. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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| One of Us |
Thanks for your replies gentlemen. I did decide to fly BA, which I have flown with guns before. I haven't been able to solve the problem of who will keep my guns in Botswana while I'm traveling around. | |||
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| one of us |
Hunted in Botswana last September. They are no longer charging the tax on ammo. Had no trouble getting the rifle in. Just let your outfitter do the necessary paperwork. Airline staff walked the permit around to the customs officer as we waited for it. South AFrica is straightforward and you can do it yourself by just filling out the SAPS form. You may have to sign for arrival of the firearm near the baggage carousels after you arrive Joburg depending on what airline you fly in on. Then exit and go to the firearms branch while the airline people take the firearm to the branch internally. Can't help with BA fees. Pay to play. Regards, Tim | |||
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| new member |
Just check with Tholo - but I believe they have a .470 double that they let clients use - you only pay Tholo for the ammo used | |||
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| One of Us |
They do have a Searcy .470 and they only charge for ammo. That’s why I’ve decided to leave my .470 at home. I would prefer to use my own but it isn’t worth the headache to me. | |||
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