I have a 9.5X57 Mannlicher Schoenauer rifle (375 MS).

The original Kynoch & RWS ammo are not easy to get & not something I would want to hunt in Africa with. The full packet I have may even have some collectors value.

I have some 35 Whelan brass that has been formed. I also have some 9.3X57 Norma brass that can be fire formed (same head space to shoulder but the sharper taper will be expanded / straightened when fire formed - making the neck shorter).

The question is - will either of them be allowed into Africa or any other country as appropriate ammo for the rifle?

I've never had my ammo checked in RSA or Namibia, but with that said I don't think I'd take a chance

The only thing I have ever had done to my ammo was count it.

Never looked at anything else, and I have been hunting with wildcats as far as I can remember.

I've made ten trips to Africa. RSA, Zim, Namibia and Botswana. Never had anyone look at the caliber designations on the ammo. Like Saeed, only had the ammo counted.

I made a trip to Zim through South Africa recently and had 338 head stamped brass for my 30x338. Counting was all that was done.

If ammo is checked,headstamp on case should match caliber stamped on barrel. I have carried a .338-06 to Namibia five times now and have never had ammo checked or rounds counted.Official issuing gun permit has just asked for number and caliber of ammo to be listed on the permit form.
However that approach is not followed in many other countries,so to be safe my rounds are loaded in Norma/Weatherby cases with proper headstamp. I had a M70.30-338 re-chambered to .308 Norma magnum based on that same rationale-consistency between ammo and caliber stamp.
Overkill ? Perhaps but I wanted no chance of a
problem,particularly of I should take these rifles to another country in the future...

Nakihunter,

When traveling overseas with guns "It will probably be fine" is not a policy I would recommend adopting. I agree it is probably unlikely that a African official will spot the slightly different head stamps but is it worth taking a chance? If you spend a bunch of hard earned money on a safari why would you take a chance of a detail ruining your hunt when you could have completely avoided it.

Mark

This link will solve all your problems. Brass

I used Quality Cartridge for my .318 Express before I took it to Africa. Good quality brass and no problems coming or going. It just did not seem to be worth taking a chance on.

When I entered Zimbabwe through Victoria Falls airport in June 2013, they both counted the number of cartridges and verified they were matched the rifle caliber.

They had not done this on earlier trips, and, as Mark notes above: "probably be fine" is not level of certainty I would count on!

Les

Thanks for all the info. Much appreciated.

Great to know that Quality Cartridge does the correct brass. Now I will have to find a way of getting it in NZ.

When clearing customs in Brisbane the custom agent who looked like my mom and handled the rifles like a pro checked the head stamps and counted all of my cartridges..

quote:

Originally posted by LHowell:
When I entered Zimbabwe through Victoria Falls airport in June 2013, they both counted the number of cartridges and verified they were matched the rifle caliber.

They had not done this on earlier trips, and, as Mark notes above: "probably be fine" is not level of certainty I would count on!

Les

Me too! In June of this year......they where a real pain in the ass!


.

I've got a wildcat I plan on taking one of these years. I plan on having some custom brass made so the headstamps match perfectly.

Last year in Tanzania, the officials really surprised me. They asked that I load my rifle to ensure that the rounds matched the rifle. No issue with headstamps and I initially thought this was some sort of trick. They want me to load my rifle in an airport?

They really did; I really did and we went on our way.

But I would want headstamps to match the calibre stamped on the rifle.

April 2012 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

While clearing customs and having by rifle check against the firearm permit that i had filled out in triplicate.

The individual opened one box of ammo and checked the stamping to see if it matched the rifle and the paperwork that i had filled out. I told him that the other boxes of ammo were the same if he wanted to look at them.

I've experienced all variables: from no check at all to counting the ammo and matching headstamp to the rifle. It's a crapshoot what will happen to you, but why take the chance?
Cal