Two 30 caliber rifles?

dailordasailor

dailordasailor

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My plan is to bring a 300 savage and a 30-06 with me for my plains game hunt. Is that going to be a problem with them both being 30 cal? What about the ammo? I'm planning to reload for the hunt but if easier to get through with factory ammo/boxes that's an option also.

Thanks
Dale
 
Should not pose a problem; when they say "two rifles of the same caliber", they mean two .30-06, or two .300 Win. mag,, etc. If you have a .30-06 and 300 Win mag, or .300 Weatherby, or .308, or any other .30 caliber rifle, you're good to go.
No problem with reloads, either. Just to make it 'easier', I packed my reloads in factory cardboard ammo boxes (instead of the plastic ones I usually use), and there was no issue.
Good luck on your plains game hunt!
 
Mr. 16 gauge said:
Should not pose a problem; when they say "two rifles of the same caliber", they mean two .30-06, or two .300 Win. mag,, etc. If you have a .30-06 and 300 Win mag, or .300 Weatherby, or .308, or any other .30 caliber rifle, you're good to go.
No problem with reloads, either. Just to make it 'easier', I packed my reloads in factory cardboard ammo boxes (instead of the plastic ones I usually use), and there was no issue.
Good luck on your plains game hunt!
Click to expand...

1. I believe you are wrong on the caliber thing. Caliber in current and regrettable usage could mean a specific cartridge as you say, like 30/06, 300 Weatherby, etc. It can also mean bore diameter and I suspect that may be how the SAP may interpret it. In any case, if I were to try to bring two .308 caliber rifles, I would get a pre-approved firearm permit.

2. I have never used anything but reloads for South Africa hunting.

3. What your ammo is pack in will be an airline issue rather than a SAP issue. Plastic after market ammo boxes are fine with South African Airways and Delta. With some other airlines such as Air France, there may be a misunderstanding. To assure no issues, I'd recommend packing in factory ammo boxes.
 
I do believe your safe with the 30 06 and 300. I have checked my guns on my own every time and have never had a problem. If you read the rule the way I do it means no to like two 300 win mags. It goes by caliber by name on the barrel not bore diameter .

The whole gun check in when going to SA gets made to look way harder then it really is. Don't make waves in the office as you wait and it goes very easy.

I took reloads in factory boxes but have yet to even have my ammo looked at going to SA only.
 
Grumulkin said:
1. I believe you are wrong on the caliber thing. Caliber in current and regrettable usage could mean a specific cartridge as you say, like 30/06, 300 Weatherby, etc. It can also mean bore diameter and I suspect that may be how the SAP may interpret it. In any case, if I were to try to bring two .308 caliber rifles, I would get a pre-approved firearm permit.

2. I have never used anything but reloads for South Africa hunting.

3. What your ammo is pack in will be an airline issue rather than a SAP issue. Plastic after market ammo boxes are fine with South African Airways and Delta. With some other airlines such as Air France, there may be a misunderstanding. To assure no issues, I'd recommend packing in factory ammo boxes.
Click to expand...

Well, all I can tell you is that when I went to SA last summer, one of the fellows in camp brought a .30-06 and a .308, and another brought a .30-06 and a .300 Weatherby magnum.
 
Experiences vary greatly with SAPS, regarding ammo and how much attention they pay to it. I have had my ammo heavily scrutinized at least twice for no reason I could ascertain. Get clarification from someone official before you go because the info here as I say varies a lot. Ask you outfitter and if he doesn't know ask PHASA. Don't bother asking the airlines anything, they don't know and don't care as long as its legal. Go by what their website says, not some drone on the phone. Frankly traveling with guns is getting to be a real PITA! Hopefully your airline is partnered with the African leg airline so they transfer your guns for you at the overseas airport. Otherwise you will have to do it and its not fun believe me.
 
When we went in 2013 we had no trouble using the plastic ammo boxes with labels for our ammo.
 
Thank you everyone for your input! Any thoughts on just using a 300 savage for plain game? Up to kudu size animals?
 
Dollar a 300 will do fine. Take the rifle you are mist comfortable with and take good ammo. The 30-06 you mentioned will do the trick also.
 
I'm currently more comfortable with my 30-06 as I've shot it more. The 300 savage I've only put 60ish rounds through but that'll certainly change this year. Going to be doing my hog and deer hunting with it. That 30-06 messes a South Carolina deer up pretty good.

The ballistics aren't amazing on the 300 but if theirs any possibility of there being a issue with travel, I'd prefer to use the 300 as it was my grandfathers...
 
Take the 300 - history should be made with a gun that has that meaning to you. I have a skinning knife my mom gave me 30 years ago. Every animal I take (even if the PH/Trackers are skinning) gets started skinning by the knife and I tell her hi up there in heaven.

Also, I used Gracy Travel for my one and only safari in Zimbabwe which was routed through SA. I paid the extra bucks for the meet and greet. Also, Gracy filed all of the import forms for me ahead of time. It really made it smooth and simple.
 
In 2013, I took along a .308 Win for my 15 year old and my .300 Win Mag. No problems.
 
I guess the better question now is, does everyone consider the 300 adequate on its own? My rem 700 is just a gun I bought off the shelf and tossed optics on. Might as well use a rental in reality. The 300 savage was my grandfathers deer slayer in Connecticut since the early 70s. He died when I was 2 but I think it's a great way to keep the spirit alive and would look better in pics honestly. It's a beautiful model 99 savage.

If it can take a Kudu safely, what's everyone's thoughts on rounds/loads? I used remington core loks when I took it to my first pig hunt but plan to start loading myself (new to me completely but buying a setup soon) and will test the ammo out on hogs and deer
 
IIRC, the ballistics of the .300 Savage are similar to those of the .308 Win.....if that's the case, then I wouldn't be hesitant to use it on game up to the size of kudu providing the two caveats: 1.) load yourself up some premium bullets and 2.) don't over extend your range of the cartridge.
I would recommend that you take the .30-06 as a back up, however.
Have fun and post pics when you get back!
 
D Sailor............................I also plan to take a 300 Savage for plains game this year. My rifle is a Model 99 made in 1941. It is nice to hunt with a piece of history, especially a rifle that has been in the family for some time. I took a bull elk with this combo over 30 years ago, and have taken one more bull and a few mule deer with it since. It always seemed to have plenty of power, to me. I think it will make great kudu medicine, and will find out in August. This can be a difficult cartridge to load for, but worth the effort.............best of luck.................................FWB
 
Thank you very much bill! What are you using in the 300 for plains game?

I look forward to your hunt report!
 
Not to get off topic but for those of you shooting a Savage 99 in .300 Savage, have you noticed primers backing out on newer ammo?

I am in the same frame of mind as the rest of you. I have a pre 1930 M99 in 300 Savage that was my dads who use it until the early 60's.

I pulled it out of the safe last year and purchased some Federal 150 grain rounds, but when shooting it I have noticed the primers backing out slightly.

I took a deer with it last fall so now it is going to become a safe queen, but I was just wondering.
 
Sailor.............I have 3 model 99's in 300 caliber. It is easiest to load them with fairly short bullets, otherwise too much powder capacity is used up by the deep seating. My favorite bullet for this cartridge in a model 99 is a speer 165 grain Grand Slam. It expands at fairly low speed, is short, and I can easily get 2600 fps or more with Vih 140, Re-15 or IMR 4064. I have 8 model 99's in other calibers, but on all of them, the barrel making technology of 75 years ago was not quite like it is today. The slightly rougher barrels strip off too much copper from newer monolithic bullets, and since the non-take down models are hard to clean, I recommend against them. I have purchased some Hawk Precision 165 grain round tips that I have yet to load, so will work a little on this before Africa. Let me know what you are using as well...........good shooting.....................FW Bill
 
Jim............I have not shot any factory loads lately...........but I have some, and so will try.............a word of caution, however..............solid frame 99's are notoriously difficult to clean in the chamber area........be sure to work on this, as it is a potential (and common cause) for what you are seeing...................FWB
 
Bill, I know what you mean. The last person that gave the 99 a real cleaning was my dad and that was in 1959. Since that time all I have done is to swab the bore out.

I just wanted to take the rifle out for one last hunt and shoot a deer with it before I put it away for good. It is just one of those rifles that you take out of the safe and handle while you are running a patch through it along with thinking about the memories and then putting it away until the next time.
 
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