In October I will be going to Zim to hunt ele. and perhaps some plains game. My son will be accompaning me. I will be take my .375 H and H and .450NE. I will be the primary hunter and my son will be the observer.

My question is should I check both guns and ammo or should we split the guns with him declaring one and I declaring the other.

If we each take declare on gun should be split the divide the ammo so that we are each carrying ammo for the other, thus increasing the odds should some of the luggage go missing we will at least have one gun and some ammo.

Am I making this too complicated.

Probably.

The big saving is weight. Two rifle cases weigh more than a double rifle case.

No matter which way you decide to go make sure you pay for excess baggage (if you can) when you buy your tickets. It is often cheaper than excess weight charges at the airport.

For every piece of lost luggage there are hundreds that make it. Get decent insurance and worry about other things. Nothing goes exactly to plan in Africa and disapointment will happen. Lost rifles are a massive disapointment but IMO not the end of the world. You are still on Safari, adapt and overcome and enjoy yourselves.

Code4 - I would see no reason to expect to or pay excess baggage fees if two hunters each took a seperate guncase. You are allowed (2) pieces of checked baggage per person, so a guncase and a duffel/etc. wouldn't be over the limit. These plus a carryon and a personal item should be more than enough even for the longest of Safaris.

Splitting up the ammo could be a problem, but as long as both hunters were together at Customs, should be able to convince even the most dense officer there as to what was happening. I would put the two guns in a Tuff Pak, split the ammo and go for it. Good luck.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
Probably.

The big saving is weight. Two rifle cases weigh more than a double rifle case.

No matter which way you decide to go make sure you pay for excess baggage (if you can) when you buy your tickets. It is often cheaper than excess weight charges at the airport.

For every piece of lost luggage there are hundreds that make it. Get decent insurance and worry about other things. Nothing goes exactly to plan in Africa and disapointment will happen. Lost rifles are a massive disapointment but IMO not the end of the world. You are still on Safari, adapt and overcome and enjoy yourselves.

For two hunters and two rifles I would have separate rifle cases and split the ammo in two lots of both calibres but then check in together.