African hunters

[Idaho Mule]

I have a question for those that are experienced in hunting Africa, South Africa in particular. I am scheduled for a plains game hunt in July. My question is: has anyone had trouble with using handloaded ammo?? I will be flying in to Johannesburg. I have heard stories of people having trouble getting through customs with reloads, but don't have any real evidence. I have talked personally with a few hunters that have experience hunting Africa, and they all say, No problem.
Growing up in Idaho I have been a hand loader since I started hunting, and to this date have taken 1 mule deer, and 1 whitetail deer with factory loads. Everything else, deer, elk, moose, black bear, have fallen to my handloads so I have no doubts in my abilities there.
I am asking for REAL experience. Has anyone PERSONALLY had trouble going through customs in Africa with hand loaded ammo??
Thanks in advance, your help is appreciated.

[725]

It's been twenty years, so my advice is out of date. Back then, it all had to be in factory boxes. Anything else was confiscated. Hope somebody with more useful info chimes in. If it were me, I'd just use factory in the correct factory box. If your stuff is clean and looks new & uniform, I'd chance taking it ONLY if I could carry it in a clean & new factory box. Lots of luck if you think you can buy matching ammo over there. They may have some and they may not. Going through customs, you better have a box(es) of ammo that match your rifle. If you think you can put your super loud 37 caliber in a factory box of wonder boomer 33 & 1/2 caliber, you will probably lose everything. Good luck.

[K43]

Similar to 735's experience. The headstamp on the brass had to match the rifles. Don't substitute 7x57 if the rifle has 275 Rigby stamped on it or for instance 257 Roberts made from 7x57 or 6mm Remington cases. A myriad of others that can be made from say, 30-06 brass like 35 Whelen. That won't float if the rifle isn't marked 30-06.

[imashooter2]

Wouldn’t your professional have the very best current information?

[dverna]

Just a thought. Would your PH take delivery of ammunition if you shipped it to him before the hunt.? Then you know your ammunition will be there and not get hung up in customs.

[sukivel]

Wouldn’t your professional have the very best current information?

The guys on the africahunting forums say yes there’s no issue with handloads.

But yes, ask your PH, that’s what you’re paying him a lot of money for.


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[sukivel]

Just a thought. Would your PH take delivery of ammunition if you shipped it to him before the hunt.? Then you know your ammunition will be there and not get hung up in customs.

I don’t think you can just ship ammo into a foreign country.


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[jdfoxinc]

Nope ITAR regulations kick in.

[6thtexas]

We went to RSA back in 2014. I shot handloads in a #1 .300 H&H. I had printed up some nice labels with caliber, bullet weight, and velocity on them. No problem whatsoever. I definitely would check with your outfitter, though.

[Rapier]

Just call your PH and ask him about everything. Make a list before you call, go down the list.The PH must be current on all rules, regulations and laws to keep their license. Every PH in the RSA is licensed by the government. If he recommends a cartridge and you have it, bring that. Practice, practice, practice.
Make sure to wear one day's worth of hunting clothes with boots on the plane, in case they loose your luggage. Took near a week to deliver my clothes, boots and my guns. A lesson well learned, first time, and a hunt in Africa was a bad place to start.

My hard case is now a heavy duty SKB multi gun, water proof, hard case with built in handle, roller wheels, secure hinges and takes 5 hardened hasp security padlocks. The pond dwellers in Paris, France threw my gun case out of an Air Bus onto a concrete ramp, like two stories high, then drove back and forth over it with Tugs, they did not destroy one of the three guns inside. Those pond dwellers are something. The case outside was beat up pretty good and had tractor tire tracks all over it. A Delta screw up, took our guns and luggage off an "over weight" connector plane to Atlanta, then sent my junk to Paris, as The Frenchies were trying to burn Paris down, one more time. Seams like, about every six months the Frenchies have a dust up, in Paris, either kissing or killing each other.

Just fly out of an airport with a non stop to Joeberg, you will stop in the Cape Verde islands off Africa for fuel then fly on. You might check and see about a layover flight in, flight out, for a day, hotel stay on the airport, so you can catch the next day flight out. That walk around, sleep over break might be like gold on the 18 hour flight. According to our air crew going and coming, a lot of passengers do the lay over stop, luggage is transferred to the next flight, etc. You never leave the airport. If interested, worth checking out.

[Jeff Michel]

I was in South Africa in August. Your limited to 100 rounds per rifle, stored separately from your firearms in a locked case (2 locks). I used handloads in both rifles, one was even necked up 30-06 to 35 Whelen, they didn't do more than glance at the ammo. Who's your Outfitter? What animals are on your list? If you haven't ever been through the experience, I would suggest contacting "Africa Sky" www.africasky.co.za it's a concierge service, it will run you about a hundred bucks. They will help you with your documentation, they meet you at baggage, escort you through customs/importation of firearms. Makes it a pass time instead of a chore. MAKE SURE your import/export documentation is completed properly. FSA web sight will give you the instructions. No problems getting in and out of SA, but the idiot in Atlanta gave me a bunch of crap. Have a good time, once you go, all you want to do is go back. I'm headed back next May. Oh, don't forget a warm jacket, it's kinda chilly in the mornings.

[Thumbcocker]

Went in 2022. One gun was .44 revolver. Handloads with boolits. Delta regs said ammo to be in factory boxes or securely packed. I carried 72 rounds of .44 in MTM ammo wallets and 60 rounds of .308 in factory boxes. Put on bubble wrap to keep everything in place. All ammo locked in a plastic ammo can. No problem at all. The regulations of the airline are more important than South Africa in my experience. South Africa makes a lot of money off foreign hunters and has lots of experience with guns and ammo. If your outfitter offers to do the paperwork on their end for an additional fee, pay it. They do this stuff a lot and their experience is worth the money. Be sure to have your paperwork in order on your end with U.S. customs. If you have any doubts talk to your outfitter, its what they do and why you are paying them.

[Idaho Mule]

Thanks to all for your replies. I have been in touch with the outfitter and am following his advice. I'm just curious about others experiences.

[15meter]

My best friend shot a Cape Buffalo, this week last year with my hand loaded 450/400 Nitro Express. Don't believe he had any issues taking the hand loads in. This was his eighth trip. Only thing he ever mentioned was the head stamp had to match the rifle in some countries in Africa.

Can't ask him for you, pancreatic cancer got him less than two weeks after he got back. He was a hoot to shoot with.

[Brewster6514]

Been over 3 times, first time i took my rifles and reloads, went fine except coming back i would of had to pay so much for shipping them separately i gave them to the ph. Next 2 times i used the outfitters rifles and it was so much easier. Biggest problem with going to south africa is you will go back. 2017 was our first and once in a lifetime trip, on the way back we was wondering how to go back. 2022 was our 3rd trip and we might go back in 2026 if funds allow. Just remember the taxidermy and shipping are extra and do add up quick, i think shipping and all the fees were like $3000 this last time so keep that in mind while over there. Oh and dont get a whole cape buffalo hide tanned, there are around 66 square feet in one @ $10-15 a square foot.

[Ernest]

Just book your flights through some one like TRAVEL WITH GUNS. If the ammo is same caliber as stamped on the rifle barrel you will have no problem. You have to make sure your paper work and 4457 is in order. I have been over a lot and the I have only shot 5 rounds of factory ammo all the rest were my reloads. Service to get you through Johannesburg. Every African country I have been to is very corrupt and if you look like you don't know what you are doing you can get easily shaken down for you know "a little extra".

[YippyKiYay]

I'm leaving in September to the Eastern Cape for Buffalo, Kudu and Zebra. I'm taking my 416 Taylor, so I hope they don't need a factory box... the barrel is stamped correctly.
My outfitter says no problems, he's been doing this 30 years.

[sixshot]

I've been twice just using revolvers & cast bullets & the ammo was in MTM boxes that were duct taped shut. My ammo was never checked either time. We were allowed 11 pounds of ammo total. My last trip was 2021 with both trips being to SA & I was suppose to go back this year but knee replacement knocked me out of the game so it looks like next year. As a side note,a neat souvenir is the 5 African pieces of currency that has the big 5 on them. I have them framed in my gun room. Go to a bank & get nice ones.

[Blkpwdrbuff]

YippyKiyay
Care to share your .416 Taylor loads?
I just had one built and I'm looking for people's experiences and loads for one.
Thanks,
Blkpwdrbuff

[BobT]

I was last in Africa in 2018. I hunted Tanzania and they checked every box for the caliber and every cartridge for proper headstamp. they didn't ask about reloads and I didn't volunteer any information. They did count my remaining rounds on the way out of the country also.