I realize this has probably been discussed many times, but I wanted recent experiences on this.

Later this summer, I am making first trip to Africa 6 years. We will be flying on Qatar Air to Dar es Salaam.

Prior to Covid I did 9 trips to Africa in 7 years. On all of those trips, at the airline check in counter, I removed my boxes of ammunition from my Pelican lockable box and put it on their scale. So I only had to weigh the boxes of ammo, not my Pelican container/box.

I recently had a Travel Agent tell me that my ammunition and Pelican Box will need to be under 11 pounds combined.


Do the airlines weigh your ammo with your locked box??

Pelican boxes are sturdy, but not very light.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Yes, the airlines include your container in the 11 lb weight limit. I have a Pelican case and an MTM dry box, both lockable, and the MTM is a good deal lighter.

It’s supposed to be ammo only. Just flew Qatar from IAH to JRO and they weighted the box too and imposed a new rule - need the import license besides the rest of the regular documents. However, managed to get around that hiccup, only took several hours.

In my travels to Africa and as recently as 10 days ago. It's always been the box and ammo combined. I always weigh combined at house before I leave. I have an MTM lockable case that I've had for 19 years and it has worked well.

If they weigh the ammo box, it makes it difficult to take 2 rifles, if one is a big bore.

I am amazed on my 9 trips before Covid, that the airlines allowed me to remove the boxes of ammo and weigh them without my pelican container.

With my pelican 1200, 2 boxes of 416 Rem and 2 boxes of 338 Win Mag puts me at about 10.5 pounds.

I flew Emirates on May 4 to Zimbabwe. Emirates wanted the weight in Pelican, which I expected. I brought 28 rounds of 375, 14 rounds of 416 and 10 rounds of 2 3/4”, 1 5/8 oz of twelve gauge TSS 2’s. Total weight came to 10.7 pounds which sailed right through.

For those who are curious, the TSS was to try on a hyena as a test subject for leopard follow up with TSS instead of buckshot. Alan Vincent and I thought a hyena would provide a valid comparison. Unfortunately, the hyenas here on Hammond seem well educated to calling at night and have not cooperated with our test. Alan will have to shoot one and let me know how it works.

I've never had them count the Pelican, only the ammo and their boxes. I'll check with my travel agent.

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Blue Devil:
If they weigh the ammo box, it makes it difficult to take 2 rifles, if one is a big bore.

I am amazed on my 9 trips before Covid, that the airlines allowed me to remove the boxes of ammo and weigh them without my pelican container.

With my pelican 1200, 2 boxes of 416 Rem and 2 boxes of 338 Win Mag puts me at about 10.5 pounds.

I guess I'm missing something about the ammo and the rifles? Your rifle(s) should be in separate case and ammo in your other checked bag unless required to break it out separately. Frankly, up until a couple weeks ago I've never had to break the ammo out separately and have never had the ammo weighed by itself. It's always traveled in my other checked bag with clothes, etc.

the weight check of ammo with the case and lock has been in place for many years but as we all know not everyone know the rules ...

on another note always remember that the captain has the final say when it is related to dangerous good on board IATA and OACI rules. when we worked based from bangui we never had an issue with UTA and air afrique but they were pro hunters companies, i heard some got bad news with air france in Cameroon and CAR in the past where they accepted the firearms but not the ammo.