Travelling with Firearms on Delta

We continue the planning for our first safari to RSA in May. I am getting the 4457s for our rifles tomorrow and have arranged a service to help with the SAP520. I have been studying what kind of travel case to buy for our rifles and am thinking either the Pelican or Tuffpak. In either case, I had thought that mine and my son's (note: he is an adult, not a minor) rifles could be transported in the same case, until saw this on Delta's web site:

"We allow small arms ammunition, in quantities not exceeding 11 lbs. (5 kg) per person, as checked-baggage only. The weapon must be securely boxed and intended for that person's own use. More than one passenger may not combine quantities into one package. See more details/guidelines under shooting equipment."

The "shooting equipment" section does not address this matter. I know some (or many) of you have travelled with family before. What has been your experience on Delta?

Saw that also.

Never Fear You do have a few options.

2 different rifles cases. both rifle cases that you mentioned are good cases and i would opt of the tuff pak for the added items you can put inside the case while traveling.

OR - Put the 4457 in for both rifles in one name. However this will not work if you have the same rifles like 2 X 308 or 2 X 30-06. Only 1 rifle per caliber may be brought in to the country per person.

Now Ammo is another story. Each person will have to ship their own ammo in their ammo case. I usually put my ammo case in my luggage bag and lock the bag. Now the tricky part is if you do not have a rifle you cannot have ammo in your luggage. so if you go with option 1 the person who has the 4457 form for the rifles will have to carry all the Ammo. And the 2nd person will need to tape his mouth shut when in South Africa and you are going through the paperwork for the rifles.

thanks, James. So, you see it the same way. What are you using for an ammo case? Based on everything I have read, I'm thinking we'll take 60 rounds each.

What i use is a cheap pistol case that locks. Just in case they make you ship it as a separate bag. Some places do that.

60 rounds is good to go and if your PH can use what you have left over forget to pack it. and let him know. For some reason my memory is lacking in the packing of ammo that the PH can use.

For what it worth if you use more than 20 rounds your having a poor shooting safari.

I had the same questions about Delta, and based on the research, both my father and I will be checking in our guns seperate. But I have another questions about the "....Only 1 rifle per caliber may be brought in to the country per person". I have read on other locations that a "caliber" has a very broad definition. For example a 30 caliber is considered a 30 caliber, so if you cannot bring in a .308 AND a 300 Win Mag because they are both a "30 caliber"... Am I reading to much into the definition of "Only 1 rifle per caliber..."???

James G is correct on everything. I do the same. My last trip my partner could not bring his rifle through London so I bought it from him :-), got my 4457 for it and used it over there and here no problem. Remember, keep your mouth shut and let them think you are stupid or open it and prove them right! I wouldn't worry about 2 rifles in 308 and 300 WM I had 30-06 and 308 in my case the last time. Just remember the 5 kilos of weight for ammo per person carrying a rifle. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES US A TSA LOCK ON YOUR GUN CASE, Use only your own lock. By law you have the only access to that case. TSA locks are not allowed. Once it goes behind the wall NO ONE shall have access to it. Make sure that the case can not be pried open at one end If so use a lock at each end.

Forgot to add that the PH can't retain any ammo that he does not have a licensed gun for in his possession Just learned that on my last trip to Namibia. SA may be the same.

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Originally Posted by Cliffy

Forgot to add that the PH can't retain any ammo that he does not have a licensed gun for in his possession Just learned that on my last trip to Namibia. SA may be the same.

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Cliffy you are right on our last Safari I had to leave Deb's 30-06 ammo with the lodge and my 308 ammo with Rusty my PH.

They are dead serious about the locked box holding your ammo, I watched 5 guys come off delta in JNB last summer and no bags they were sitting in Atlanta, I use a nice alluminum box that cabales makes it holds bunch ammo here is the link for both plano and the other one

Cabela's: Search Results

I also carry spare set of locks in my gun case with a note to put them on in case some ahole cuts your locks off somewhere

HAVE FUN

So, no TSA locks on the gun cases. What kind of locks is everyone using - just someting you pick up at the luggage department?

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Originally Posted by James.Grage

Now the tricky part is if you do not have a rifle you cannot have ammo in your luggage.

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THAT is the real pain in the a$$. I would love to take a few boxes each trip for my PH's even though I'm a bowhunter. I wish they would allow it. I mean....what am I going to do with 40 rounds of .416...throw it at people?

Combination, key, what ever kind of lock you want just not TSA locks. New locks inside the gun case HMMMM, an idea worth thinking about. Keep the keys with you though and the locks taped so they couldn't be locked unless it was necessary. Here in the USA we can travel via airline, (according to the TSA) with the ammo in the same case as the rifle, but go across borders and it's a different story.