From reading various posts I understand one needs to pack their Ammo in a separate and locked conveyance when traveling to SA. Would someone pass along a few links to the type of box they are packing their ammo in
Thanks

This is what I use. It's worked well 3x. Google it and buy it from the cheapest place or find something you like better. It fits nicely in checked when leaving the states and does well on its own if/when they ask you to remove it for seperate carriage on the way back. Put a luggage tag on it and lock it and your covered.

http://www.pelican.com/cases_d...torm.php?Case=iM2050

hairbol - do you mean that little case has wheels and a carrying handle?

Also, will this hold 3 boxes of ammunition?

Finally, are you supposed to have a lock on your gun and ammo cases? I thought locks weren't allowed by the airlines. (?)

Z:

When dealing with SAA who knows what will be required. However, be prepared to have your ammo travel on its own. I use a Pelican 1200 case which I put in my Pelican 1610. I use a Pelican 1610 as my my travel suitcase. If I have to take it out and ship on its own I am ready. I put TSA locks on both cases. No problems in 3 trips so far. The Pelican 1200 holds 5 factory size boxes of .375 H&H which weigh app. 5kg's. As you know, 5 kg's is the max weight of ammo you are allowed on most international flights. Read the reg's on the airline you are flying, print them off their website to show check in personnel if need be, and put your ammo in a hard case.

Regards, RCG

PS. Pelican makes these cases in bright colors (orange, yellow, etc. that stand out on the carousels. Midwest or Midwestern cases, can't recall the correct name, in Ohio has good prices and service. You can buy them without the foam inserts. Google them.

Zephyr,

These days I'm doing much as RCG has suggested. I put my ammo in a small Pelican case locked with TSA locks in my duffle that is locked with a TSA lock. If in the case upon checking in somewhere they want me to send the ammo seperately I just take the Pelican out of my duffle and check it as a seperate piece of luggage. If it gets really weird and they insist I put the ammo in with the guns I just take the ammo out of the Pelican and transfer some of my kit that's in the gun case to the Pelican after I've put the ammo in the gun case. Make sure the gun case is locked with a regular lock and NOT a TSA lock. Ya gotta be ready for anything.

Mark

Why lock the ammo with a TSA lock but the gun NOT with a TSA lock?

TSA Regs state only the owner can have access to the firearm(s), so a non TSA lock on the gun case. TSA locks on anything else to keep the baggage apes from opening them too easily.

Don

I used a pelican case #1150. It is on the smaller size, which I carried 40 rounds of 300 WM and 40 rounds of 7mm-08. I hand load my own ammo; therefore, I use the MTM style plastic cases, so if using factory boxes, you need to make sure they fit properly.

To change the subject slightly, I hadn't given any thought to my suitcase. I guess I was going to use the same pull-along I use for normal overseas vacations. But someone above mentioned a "duffle" and someone else mentioned a hard Pelican case (the 1610 I think). Is that what you guys use, or is a regular suitcase also acceptable?

Re the soft side duffel vs hard side Pelican -- soft sided cases are great for "stuffing" into small areas such as on a commuter plane or bush plane. However, the hard cases are for the most part vastly more resistant to moisture. On one trip the ph was carrying a barrel of diesel to camp -- lid came loose and my soft bag was soaked --- never did get the diesel smell out of my clothes on that trip -- wound up throwing the bag and clothes away upon return to US. On more recent trip my Pelican (bright yellow as noted above) was in the back of the truck when we were pounded for several hours by a serious down pour --- everything inside the Pelican was nice and dry.
Thus --- hard sided Pelican for me.
One other thing of note -- if one utilizes a soft sided bag w/ self healing synthetic zippers-- might as well not ever bother putting a lock on the bag -- the zipper can be opened in a nano second with a ball point pen and thence put back so you will never know anybody was in there
G

postoak,

A wheeled duffle seems about right and fits in a small charter plane much easier than a rigged suitcase. If there is no chance a charter or small plane flight will be needed you regular luggage will be fine.

Mark

Postoak:

I had the exact scenario that "Woodmnctry" had except gasoline. This was pre 9/11 and they barely let the bag on the flight after I spent time scrubbing it in the toilet at the Port Elizabeth airport. it would not be allowed on now. I then decided on the hard Pelican case. As Mark noted, they are not the best for charters but you can pack a cheap duffle in it and then transfer the contents to it for the charter leaving the hard case at the airport or hotel for the return trip home.

A down side of using a Pelican for luggage is the weight of the case. You will trade weight of contents for security. The 1610 weighs around 20#, add 10# for ammo, and you are left with app. 20# for goods. I can easily get all of my safari gear in this case and a Boyt Tactical Model 40 back pack as my carry on. I then use the pack for my day pack while hunting. This usually stays in the truck while on foot.

Hope this helps.

RCG

Thanks!