Gentlemen:

What clever ideas have you come up with to get around the 5KG ammo limit considering the new SAA requirements.

In the past I stuck a box or 2 inside of well padded bags away from the rest. Now I am not sure. It is damn hard to go for 21 days with a big rifle and only have 5 KG's.

Thanks.

Hate to tell you ... the 5 kg limit is not SAAs ... it is by International Treaty. Everyone has to abide by it.

You could have your wife take additional ammo for you in her luggage ... but you may have to get import documentation for her as well.

Probably the challenge is to be allowed the entire 5 kg without the weight of the steel box required by SAA. Theoretically, the steel box is not part of the internationally imposed weight limit.

(At least I think I have it correct. Will watch the thread to see just how wrong I am )

Only "trick" I've employed to make sure there's plenty of ammo is to take 30-40 rounds of one caliber that uses a heavy bullet (.416 to .470 NE w 400-500 grains slugs) and then fill out the 5 kg with ammo that uses a lighter bullet such as 9,3x62 or .375 H&H.

I'm with mstarling. Even here in Charleston WV Delta asked the weight of the ammo just 2 weeks ago.

My solution was to buy the cheapest, lightest, piece of junk metal box I could find at Wally World. By the way SAA did not even ask, and Delta just took my word for the weight.

And for good measure the TSA in Atlanta pried open the lock on my return.

Arniet

If the question is whether the ammo box counts toward your 5Kg limit, no. And, in 7 safaris I have never locked the ammo box. I figured that if they ever wanted to look at it go for it. I have also never had my ammo weighed, ever, although I have been asked if it meets the 5 kg requirement.

Traveling often for pistol shoots...and pistol ammo is heavy...SAA have never included the weight of the box - and actually have never weighed the box (thank goodness) But I have been asked if the ammo I am carrying meets the weight limmit once. (always been asked on Lufthansa!, Ethiopian didn't seem to be concerned!)

You can ship up to 23kgs as a seperate, pre booked consignment ammo on air france and SAA. We have used this facility to pool ammo when a few of us have been traveling together for an away shoot - but it ain't exactly cheep!

I have an aluminium ammo box, which is quite heavy. It has a capacity of 7 MTM boxes that take large rifle ammo.

One time we had a bit of a job explaining to the airline security that the ammo actually weighs only 5Kgs.

So we put all the ammo we normally take in the box, weighed it, then substracted 5Kgs from the total weight.

We made an aluminium tag with what was left, and stuck it on the outside of the box.

Never had any more problems

so the box has to be metal? I thought it just had to be lockable and I was planning on using a pelican case. Will that work?

The 5 Kgs weight limit (per person) is a legal requirement and applies to all commercial airlines, however, the locked box is a common airline rule rather than a law. Some require the box to be metal, some are happy with a non metal box and some don't require a separate box at all.

Just returned from RSA and had an interesting experience with South Africa Airways Airlink and with the staff in Johannesburg.

I was hunting in the Kalahari of Namibia and my PH drove me cross the border so I could fly SAA Airlink from Upington in the Northern Cape to Joburg. The Airlink staff actually had me open my locked ammo box (a Doskocil plastic double pistol case) and physically counted my remaining rounds. They also confirmed each cartridge was held individually in their boxes.

In Johannesburg, when questioned by ground staff, I told them the ammo box was locked and placed in my checked bag. They then said that, unless my checked bag was locked as well, that they would remove the ammo box from the luggage and check it separately. No amount of discussion would convince them otherwise. The situation was complicated by the fact that, on my outgoing SAA flight from Joburg to Windhoek, my bags were broken into and the locking tabs torn off the zippers! Fortunately, the 'considerate' thieves tossed the locks into the bags. I managed to lock the padlock through the pulls tabs on the zipper, which satisfied the ground personnel.

As with any airline, each employee has their own interpretation of the regulations. In this case and despite my showing the staff a printed copy of SAA's regs downloaded from their website, they wanted things their way.

I just had a client return from Zim via Jo'burg/UK. Apparently while in Jo'burg, they rifled his bags and stole his ammo. They were very odd calibers and of little use to poachers. His checked bag arrived 3 days later in camp. To my amazement, he had some extra ammo in his rifle case, and told me he's done this many times. No hassles what so ever, but I'd say he was lucky.
LDK

Not good news.

I have traditionally used Cordura duffel bags with nylon zippers. I suppose these can be opened easily. Is there a bag that is more difficult for the thugs to break into?

Larry:

THis is why I use a Pelican 1610 case. The downside is weight. The case weighs about 20 lbs. empty. I also use a Pelican 1200 case for ammo. Together, with 5 kg of ammo, they weigh app. 30 lbs so you have to pack accordingly.

Of course, if the thugs cut the locks then any thing can be opened but I am hoping that they will go for easier pickings.

I also get TSA to tape over the locks with their official tape and this seems to discourage tampering plus it lets me know instantly if the case has been opened or tampered with between check in and arrival.

RCG