Traveling to Namibia With Reloads

autofire said:

Why question you're PH's suggestion about using factory ammo boxes?
I don't question my PH's decision when we're in the field.

Click to expand...

Curiosity if folks have run into problems.

dchum said:

What are your loads for those two rifles! ? You got two super cool calibers that are perfect for Africa!

Click to expand...

My 35 Whelen load is 225gr Accubonds, necked up 30-06 Peterson brass, Varget, CCI LR primers. The load is yielding 2,775fps and 10 shot .75" groups at 100 yards.

The 300H&H is in the process of being built at the moment. I have everything other than the trigger ordered or acquired. The Bartlien barrel is being chambered by Bartlien's gunsmith. Should put eveything together in May then see what shoots out of it.

The head stamps on brass absolutely have to match the caliber on your rifle permit. That’s a non-negotiable. For Factory ammo boxes I wouldn’t stress. Put a reloader’s sticker over the original caliber information if you can’t come up with 300 H&H or 35 whelen factory boxes. I do think it makes it easier traveling with factory boxes, but lot of hunters travel with plastic reloaded ammo boxes without issue.

I have always travelled with reloaded ammunitions and I have never had a problem with the police at Hosea Kutako. Most of the time, they don't check what you have in the ammunition lugguage.
I went to Namibia 16 times with rifles and it just happened once and how the ammunitions were packed was not the main concern. The policeman was a real clueless person and he was not able to write on the temporary gun permit. A very small lady came to help him. She was very picky and not really friendly ! She wanted to see my ammunitions and to count them. Of course, she didn't find the same number than the one written on my paper ! So she corrected it but I can say she didn't know how to count because I had reason.

When I fill in the paper for the police, I always write the brand of the cases I'm using like Norma, Lapua, Hornady..etc and of course the caliber, that's it.

In my lugguage, I don't even use factory boxes. For big calibers, I use Norma cartridge holders and for the 6.5 Creedmoor, I put them in a cardboard box like some bulk ammos. The policemen at Frankfurt never bothered me when they asked me to see my ammunitions.
But if you have enough space, you can take some factory boxes. This is what I did in South Africa.

Yes, use cases with head stamps that match the caliber marking on your rifle barrel. I put my reloads in MTM boxes, then printed labels that stated caliber, bullet weight, and velocity, along with a "Made for XXX" with my name on it so everything looked neat and proper. The loads were inspected without difficulty.

The rifle markings, the box markings, and the case heads all matched.

Been over 11 times to Tanzania, Zim, Bots & SA. Not been to Namibia yet. Never once had factory boxes or factory ammo, always plastic boxes. 2-3 times with wrong head stamped brass as not it's rarely available for one of my doubles and shoots terrible anyway. Never had a problem. Occasioinaly they count ammo, but usually not.

quandary said:

Was just at DSC and meet with our PH for an upcoming Namibia PG Safari. In the package of information that they provide they emphasize bringing ammunition in the manufacture's box. At DSC I mentioned to the PH that we reload. He said buy as cheap of ammunition in the same caliber and put the reloads in the manufacturer's box otherwise the authorities may not allow the ammo in. Is this really a thing?

I also thought of another question I will have ask our PH via email. For my 35 Whelen loads I neck up 30-06 Peterson brass as it is substantial better than the Norma 35 Whelen brass I have. Could that be a problem to have brass that is head stamped 30-06 in a 35 Whelen box? Or do I just use the Norma brass for the trip?

Finally if this is a thing does anybody have 2 or 3 empty manufacturer boxes of 35 Whelen and 300 H&H ammunition I could borrow or have? i will happily pay for shipping.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Multiple trips to Namibia. Never have they checked ammo. I do put rounds in factory boxes just in case. I will look to see if I have 300HH boxes.

One thing to mention. One can take Lufthansa to Windhoek via Frankfurt and eliminate the stop at J'burg. Check in guns and ammo with luggage direct and let your travel agent help with the paperwork for Lufthansa.

quandary said:

Was just at DSC and meet with our PH for an upcoming Namibia PG Safari. In the package of information that they provide they emphasize bringing ammunition in the manufacture's box. At DSC I mentioned to the PH that we reload. He said buy as cheap of ammunition in the same caliber and put the reloads in the manufacturer's box otherwise the authorities may not allow the ammo in. Is this really a thing?

I also thought of another question I will have ask our PH via email. For my 35 Whelen loads I neck up 30-06 Peterson brass as it is substantial better than the Norma 35 Whelen brass I have. Could that be a problem to have brass that is head stamped 30-06 in a 35 Whelen box? Or do I just use the Norma brass for the trip?

Finally if this is a thing does anybody have 2 or 3 empty manufacturer boxes of 35 Whelen and 300 H&H ammunition I could borrow or have? i will happily pay for shipping.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Good day sir. A good question to ask. Having hunted Namibia every year for the past 10 years I'll relate my experiences. I handload also. I've never had a problem with Namibian customs concerning the head stamp on my brass and several times I've used (semi) wildcats like the 338-06 on which I use Lapua 30-06 brass. Even on the 2 times I've gone through OR Tambo in Johannesburg not a problem. I pack my ammo in MTM cartridge boxes. There are other countries that the head stamp MUST match the caliber on your rifle but you are good to go in Namibia. Just fill out the Namibian police form for your rifle and cartridges and have a great time.

Both of my trips to Namibia my ammunition has been checked for caliber and round count. Also on the way out for round count. I had “used” all my ammo and the pleasant policewoman observed I must have been a really bad shot. I kept the same straight face like when I tell my wife I didn’t spend any money at DSC. The next P.H. In line behind me had to stifle his laughter. He had already seen my pictures from the hunt. Just take the boxes and have one small thing less to worry about.

dchum said:

Your ammo was counted in Namibia?!!

That’s crazy and almost unheard of

Click to expand...

Every trip I've made to Namibia they have always asked me how many rounds I've fired and counted the remaining rounds I have. Guess they don't want you leaving any extras with your PH. Go figure.

Tanks said:

One thing to mention. One can take Lufthansa to Windhoek via Frankfurt and eliminate the stop at J'burg. Check in guns and ammo with luggage direct and let your travel agent help with the paperwork for Lufthansa.

Click to expand...

That's the plan.

Rick HOlbert said:

Every trip I've made to Namibia they have always asked me how many rounds I've fired and counted the remaining rounds I have. Guess they don't want you leaving any extras with your PH. Go figure.

Click to expand...

Always an adventure. I've always left my remaining ammo and never been questioned. Expect the unexpected and go with the flow.

dchum said:

First, I would enlist a travel agent that specializes in firearms and Africa. Like @TRAVEL EXPRESS. They know the ins and outs. PH’s are helpful but they are certainly not travel agents.

On two trips to Namibia my ammo was not checked on arrival. Just that the rifle SN# matches the Nam paperwork.

You should be more worried if you have to transit through a country that will also check your firearms and ammo, like SA. If so, just use a VIP rifle service and that basically takes the risk down to zero. When you use those services they hardly even check your gear.

I think you will be fine but DEFINITELY use a travel service to help with firearms and questions, concerns, paperwork, etc

Click to expand...

Can confirm on SA. Used Henry Durrheim at riflepermits.com and it was an absolute breeze and they just checked and recorded serial number of my rifle. And got to skip the customs/immigration line at JNB which was an amazing time saver.

This from Midway. If so inclined, you can mark them up to look like a small custom ammo shop made them.

No one looked at my ammo. Only one trip, but they only cared how much I ammo I was leaving with. They believed my claim, which was truthful.

quandary said:

Was just at DSC and meet with our PH for an upcoming Namibia PG Safari. In the package of information that they provide they emphasize bringing ammunition in the manufacture's box. At DSC I mentioned to the PH that we reload. He said buy as cheap of ammunition in the same caliber and put the reloads in the manufacturer's box otherwise the authorities may not allow the ammo in. Is this really a thing?

I also thought of another question I will have ask our PH via email. For my 35 Whelen loads I neck up 30-06 Peterson brass as it is substantial better than the Norma 35 Whelen brass I have. Could that be a problem to have brass that is head stamped 30-06 in a 35 Whelen box? Or do I just use the Norma brass for the trip?

Finally if this is a thing does anybody have 2 or 3 empty manufacturer boxes of 35 Whelen and 300 H&H ammunition I could borrow or have? i will happily pay for shipping.

Thanks

Click to expand...

@quandary
Both my son and I took reloads to Namibia without issue
They were properly head stamped brass. We took them in plastic fifty round plastic containers and were not questioned.
What load are you using in your Whelen.
I used 225gn Woodleigh PPSP and accubonds mainly
Also used the old 250gn Hornady Round nose with devastating effect on oryx
Bob

quandary said:

My 35 Whelen load is 225gr Accubonds, necked up 30-06 Peterson brass, Varget, CCI LR primers. The load is yielding 2,775fps and 10 shot .75" groups at 100 yards.

The 300H&H is in the process of being built at the moment. I have everything other than the trigger ordered or acquired. The Bartlien barrel is being chambered by Bartlien's gunsmith. Should put eveything together in May then see what shoots out of it.

Click to expand...

@quandary
What powder are you using in your Whelen with the accubonds.
My Whelen puts them out at 2,900fps with the same size groups but for 3 shots. A 275 yard shot in an impala was a doddle with that load .
Those accubonds will penetrate a kudu bull from stem to stern
Bob

Accubonds over Varget. I will give CFE223 a try when I get a chance.

7 trips to Namibia from 2010 to 2024. The only place I’ve had trouble was in Johannesburg. I’ve always flown with reloads in MTM boxes. Nobody has ever had a problem with that. The SAPS guy couldn't multiply 5x10 so he had to count each one. He lost count every time and kept getting a different answer. I finally told him there were 50 and he wrote it on the paper. In Namibia, they seem genuinely happy to receive hunters. I’ve had a few little luggage hiccups there and the airport people actually go out of there way to figure it out and be helpful.

But, if your PH says do it a certain way and you don’t, you’ll receive little sympathy from him if problems arise.

It’s such a simple thing to buy a few boxes of cheap ammo of the same caliber and swap them with your reloads. Just do it and relax. Namibia is very hunter friendly.