Leaving March 29 for 14 days in Zim-Dande East with CMS and Rich Tabor for ele and sable. Second trip-first was in 2011. Trying to decide what to pack where. Camera and binocs in the carryon, of course. Ammo case in the checked bag, by law. Last trip the checked bag was a little overweight, so had to transfer some stuff to the carryon-I am using the Patagonia backpack and love it. Don't seem to remember the Tuffpak getting weighed. Anyone ever had the airlines give them grief because the gun case was too heavy? Flying Delta business class to Joberg, SAA to Harare FWIW. Thanks for any advice.

I usually put a bunch of clothes, extra boots, jacket, gloves, first aid kit and such in the tuffpak with my rifles. I use it all for padding and it can easily exceed the weight limit if you aren't careful.

Buy yourself a handheld digital luggage scale. Keep your TuffPak below 50 lbs total weight. Take extra batteries for the scale and keep both in your carry-on.

quote:

Originally posted by drj:
Leaving March 29 for 14 days in Zim-Dande East with CMS and Rich Tabor for ele and sable. Second trip-first was in 2011. Trying to decide what to pack where. Camera and binocs in the carryon, of course. Ammo case in the checked bag, by law. Last trip the checked bag was a little overweight, so had to transfer some stuff to the carryon-I am using the Patagonia backpack and love it. Don't seem to remember the Tuffpak getting weighed. Anyone ever had the airlines give them grief because the gun case was too heavy? Flying Delta business class to Joberg, SAA to Harare FWIW. Thanks for any advice.

We will be there about the same time somewhere with Buzz.

My Tuffpak has a double rifle and a 7 x 57, that did not leave much in weight. We tossed out binos in and a monopod for a camera. Right at 50#.

If I only had one rifle I would have put one set of hunting clothes in there.

WE are not traveling through JNB on the way over so I was not concerned about the Binos going in the tuffpak.

Perhaps our paths will cross.

Cheers
Jim & Joyce

Thanks for the advice. I hope we do get to meet. I am leaving San Antonio on March 29, overnighting in Joberg at City Lodge and arriving Harare March 31, and starting my hunt on April 1, hunting through April 14. I am pretty sure I am going to Dande East, not sure which camp. You?

Be advised that either the ticket agent and/or the SAPS folks may insist that your ammo be in a container separate from your gun case AND your other suitcase or container.

While the above doesn't happen often, I always have my ammo in a lockable hard box so, if I'm required to remove it from my rolling duffle, the ammo is ready to go as a third checked item.

My last transit to Zimbabwe in September after a R.O.N. at Afton, there was no problem outbound, but even though the bags were checked through Victoria Falls to Atlanta, before I boarded the U.S. bound aircraft, my duffle was brought me at he departure gate, I had to extract my ammo box from the bag and observe an agent tagging it for ATL. All went well thereafter, btw.

Thanks for the advice. I have a small Pelican case for my ammo-holds two 50 round MTM boxes perfectly. I intend to have a lock for it available in case I am asked to separate it from my checked bag. I assume that lock should be TSA approved? When I went to Zim in 2011 the Delta folks in San Antonio busted the lock off my ammo box in the checked bag.

drj - First off, have a great, safe adventure. I only take one rifle in it's soft case, put a 1" layer of foam in the very bottom of the TP. I use the Tuff Sack and boots go on the very bottom, then a jacket, 1st aid kit, shooting stick, Camelback Ambush Pack (with all sorts of small goodies), hunting shirt and pants. I have a 1" piece of foam cutout for the top as well. I keep a tab on weight as I pack and add or subtract to the 48# mark.

Larry Sellers
SCI(International)Life Member
R8 Blaser
Sabatti "trash" Double Shooter

quote:

Originally posted by drj:
Thanks for the advice. I hope we do get to meet. I am leaving San Antonio on March 29, overnighting in Joberg at City Lodge and arriving Harare March 31, and starting my hunt on April 1, hunting through April 14. I am pretty sure I am going to Dande East, not sure which camp. You?

Arriving Harare March 28th, via Dubai. Heading in with Buzz on March 30th to hunt 31st - April 13. No idea what area or camp. Depends on Elephant activity.

Cheers
Jim

I do as Larry does with the foam pieces top and bottom as an extra precaution. On top of the top piece of foam goes my Unloaded Firearms tag filled out, dated and signed. I also usually pack two rifles in their soft cases, some coats or hunting vests, my fanny pack filled with my knife, knife sharpener, gloves, calls, multi-tool, rifle cleaning items, etc. etc. This is all placed inside a Tuffsak and inserted in the Tuffpak. My rifle bolts go in separate socks and zip locks, all marked and placed in a zippered Cordura pouch attached to the top inside ring of the Tuffpak for easy identification and verification that the rifles are unloaded.