Hey All,

This is "Stupid Question Time". I read all the time about how important it is to pack ammo appropriately. IE: if traveling with a friend, trade a box of ammo each so that if one set of bags gets lost, at least you've got half the ammo there *assumes your bag arrives...

It dawns on me: why not just ship a small quantity of ammo to your PH in Nam/SAA/Zim/Etc? 100 rounds of even the big stuff isn't going to weight THAT much...I'd imagine shipping costs would be sub $100...

Asides from the obvious risks of stolen ammo, is the prospect of shipping ammo even legal?

I'm no expert, but I have to imagine that it is NOT Kosher to do this. It would be like shipping your rifle over there to the PH.

Exact requirements differ from country to country. Generally speaking, it's not impossible but it would be slow, expensive and entail an obscene amount of paperwork and Governemntal permissions etc......... frankly, it's not worth the trouble. - If you're concerned about losing your ammo on the way over, why not simply arrange with your safari company to have some spare there just in case.

If the calibre is so obscure you think this might not be possible, just take a different and less obscure calibre.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Exact requirements differ from country to country. Generally speaking, it's not impossible but it would be slow, expensive and entail an obscene amount of paperwork and Governemntal permissions etc......... frankly, it's not worth the trouble. - If you're concerned about losing your ammo on the way over, why not simply arrange with your safari company to have some spare there just in case.

If the calibre is so obscure you think this might not be possible, just take a different and less obscure calibre.

Steve, that makes sense to me. Basically, the trouble isn't worth it.

I shoot a pretty obscure caliber (.350Rem Mag) which I wouldn't expect to see on the shelves in Africa. On the other hand, I don't think I'd expect to see .35 Whelen on the shelves either... On my last hunting trip to Texas I was concerned just enough about ammo that I shipped a box to my friend there to hang on to. I also packed ammo and I should also note that everything arrived as intended, no problems. Still, it struck me that if someone is going to outlay $20k+ for a safari, wouldn't it make sense to gguarantee that ammo was available to you should things go wrong?

I mean, one doesn't go on a 10 day deep sea fishing trip for BIG tuna with old fishing line...

You can post up to 100 rnds to your outfitter here in zim without any hassel at our end. What the bs is like your side- who knows?

The easiest though is if you book or see your PH/Outfitter at one of the shows to give him a box to lug home. I bought the legal limit (5kgs) of mixed ammo home for concerned cients last year. (300wsm, 338/378, .338 lapua etc)

Can be done

In most countries it's illegal to send live ammo through the post for the obvious reasons. Some countries allow it to be sent via a licenced dealer - but this will usually go via surface transport and not usually by air - as far as I know, never by commercial passenger carrying aircraft. - Some countries also require an end user certificate. - All these things make it a pain in the ass to do.

Ganyana pretty much hit the nail on the head by suggesting you send it over with someone, assuming they are allowed to do so.

Going back to less obscure ammo, why not just use a 375 H&H for your hunt. The ammo is available pretty much throughout Africa and its an excellent client calibre.

30-06 and 375, might as well be able to get ammo there.

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:The easiest though is if you book or see your PH/Outfitter at one of the shows to give him a box to lug home.

Hey thats a great idea. How about stockpiling some of that .375 Ruger?

Ganyana - is it possible to buy "off the shelf" ammo in Harare these days....30-06/.375/.458?

In regards to your question rnovi, I have once or twice split ammo on the flight over between two bags when traveling with somebody (indicating this when checking in so that they can be tagged as such), and in fact do this whenever possible with clothes and other equipment. There may be some age restrictions w/the ammo as with firearms (21 or over is it on SAA?).

Speaking of a small stockpile, there could be some related advantages when hunting with the same PH (and gun/caliber)...

quote:

Going back to less obscure ammo, why not just use a 375 H&H for your hunt.

/snicker - cuz I don't have one?

My hunt is a couple years away and a .375 might make it into the safe by then. Truth is though, a lot of folks do use more obscure calibers that might not be available. I can't quite see 700NE being on the local drugstore shelf the way I could .375H&H...

I appreciate your point - and your humour , but the truth is that if someone can afford an African safari, they can afford to buy a .375 H&H. - Esp as if they try to shave a few hundred dollars off the cost of the hunt, it might just mean they can't hunt when they get there.

The beauty of the .375 H&H is that not only is the ammo usually readily available commercially, most hunting camps inherit a few boxes over the season from clients who don't want the hassle of taking it home again.

As a rule of thumb, the calibre of ammo most likely to be left in camp by outgoing clients are (in order and IMO)

375 H&H
458
404
30.06

dont forget the 7mm rem magnum. I have nearly allways found some that other clients left over. in any case if you do it with enough time you can ask your ph to get some there before you arrive. He can ask another client to bring it trough or a friend or give it to him on a show or maybe he might have it. I met a guy in zim who reloaded lots of ammo 5 or 6 years ago and was able to sell my40 rounds of solids 475 nº 2 that have worked beautifuly so far. so the first thing I would do is speak with your PH

Hi Bill

If Federal or PMP make it you can buy it in Harare- L.G. Harisons. They are also the RWS agents.

You would be surprised what is actually available!- and shocked at the price 416 Rigby is US$27 per round!!!!