Hi everyone,

How do you fill out forms when you have a rifle with two barrels, say .375 H&H and .300 H&H? That would also imply having both types of ammunition. Do they understand that it's a single rifle with two barrels, or do they treat it as two rifle? Any hints, tips or suggestions are welcome.

I've taken my Blaser R93 to Zim and Namibia with 375H&H and 30.06 barrels. Filled out forms as though it was two rifles. In both cases accepted without comment or any issues.

Ask either Gracy Travel or TWGs. They can tell you what the most current info is on bringing your rifles. You definitely can't depend on the Customs and Border Protection folks. Any one individual agent is apt to give you different info from the the next one you ask.

Mark

I’ve got to concur with Mark on CBP agents. I had one at Detroit Metro Airport try to tell me Leupold scopes were made in Germany. I showed him the MADE IN USA stamp on the scope itself, then the Leupold website that states “Proudly designed, made and marketed in Oregon “. I asked him what part of Germany was Oregon located.

I wish traveling with firearms weren't such an arbitrary process. Consistency in regulation enforcement is too much to expect, I guess.

The good old days.

I used to ship my guns - rifles, shotguns, cases of ammo - by air freight ahead of me.

Pick them up at the airport as I arrived.

No limit to how many, no limit to how much ammo, no hassle at airports.

I wish I could turn back the clock on that!

That sounds so much more civilized than the silliness we must undergo these days. You'd think at some point there would be an attack of sanity, but the current zeitgeist makes that seem unlikely.

quote:

I’ve got to concur with Mark on CBP agents. I had one at Detroit Metro Airport try to tell me Leupold scopes were made in Germany. I showed him the MADE IN USA stamp on the scope itself, then the Leupold website that states “Proudly designed, made and marketed in Oregon “. I asked him what part of Germany was Oregon located.

Yes, pretty damn dumb. I've also experienced the same with the CBP agents in Atlanta. They don't want you to assist them with the rifle inspection, but then can't figure out how to take a double rifle apart to get to the serial number. I have had to ignore their protests and literally step in and take the rifle apart and show the dumb bastards. The last time this happened I asked him whether or not he wanted to get the serial number, and I told him that I wasn't going to have some CBP agent scratch the hell out of my expensive double rifle. They treat you like you're a terrorist or a criminal. Moreover, instead of having a positive experience, you know as you stand in the line to have your firearms inspected that you're going to be hasseled.

CBP story:

As AR readers might have noticed I posted some short notice hunts for 2020 once Africa travel started to open up a little. One gentleman that took up on an offer was a few days out from departure and everything was in place or so I thought. He had all the items on the check list including his 4457 but it dawned on me that we had not specifically asked if the 4457 was a brand new one. I've been advising hunters to just get a new one each time they travel just to alleviate any chance of a 4457 hassle.

I called the client and he said he had the most current 4457 but not a brand new one and because of where he lived a new one would be impossible to get before his trip. I called Gracy Travel my preferred travel agent to get their feedback on whether the client's 4457 would fly and left a message as it was on a weekend. I WhatsApped my logistics person Jamie with the same question but no immediate reply so I went to the source and gave the local CBP office a call. The young officer I spoke with was quite emphatic that my guy would need a new 4457 for his upcoming travel regardless of whether he had the most current 4457 or not for his rifle. This gave me pause but soon after that call I had a return call from Gracy Travel and Jamie my logistics person. They both were confident that my client would have no issues with his 4457 as it was the most current 4457 form.

I got back to the client he then told me he had just been to Cameroon with the same rifle the previous February and he wasn't worried about it. He also said he was fine with camp rifles if his 4457 was an issue and he could not take his personal rifle.

Of course he had no issues with anything going or coming and had a fantastic safari taking 18 animals.

So the moral of the story is that the CBP people just flat do not know the rules and I feel they make it up as they go along sometimes to suit the situation.

Mark