Question about packing ammunition

LuikoBM

LuikoBM

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Hello,
Next year I’m heading to Limpopo for my first safari. As you can imagine, I’m busy with the preparations.
I’d like to ask a question about packing ammunition.
I bought a large MTM Survivor box, the kind recommended by desertdog in one of his videos. It’s compact and lightweight, and fits three boxes of 9.3x62 ammo nicely, but I’d also like to pack some .30-06 ammo—at least one box—since I’m taking an R8 with two barrels.
Is it legal to carry the ammunition without the cardboard boxes—using only the plastic ammo holders inside the secure case with the required padlock—or is it mandatory for the ammo to be in its individual commercial cardboard or plastic boxes?
Thanks for your answers.
 
LuikoBM said:
Hello,
Next year I’m heading to Limpopo for my first safari. As you can imagine, I’m busy with the preparations.
I’d like to ask a question about packing ammunition.
I bought a large MTM Survivor box, the kind recommended by desertdog in one of his videos. It’s compact and lightweight, and fits three boxes of 9.3x62 ammo nicely, but I’d also like to pack some .30-06 ammo—at least one box—since I’m taking an R8 with two barrels.
Is it legal to carry the ammunition without the cardboard boxes—using only the plastic ammo holders inside the secure case with the required padlock—or is it mandatory for the ammo to be in its individual commercial cardboard or plastic boxes?
Thanks for your answers.
Click to expand...
I have done what you are asking using only the plastic shell carriers eliminating the boxes in all my 10 Safaris in SA, Limpopo, Zim, Tanzania and Moz with zero problems. Whenever my ammo was inspected which was only in Zim they looked at the case head stamp to insure it matched the rifle caliber. I usually take two rifles with a total of 80 rounds and the only way that will fit is using only the plastic holders without the boxes
 
do not forget the TSA locks for the ammo box and spares incase TSA looses them.
 
375er said:
I dont believe TSA locks are required across the board anymore. Flying Delta and their requirements are the case be locked using locks only I can open. Other airlines may differ
Jack Stevens said:
How would TSA lose locks off a locked ammo box? Someone in another thread mentioned using Aloy (?) locks.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Jack Stevens said:
How would TSA lose locks off a locked ammo box? Someone in another thread mentioned using Aloy (?) locks.
Click to expand...
it would seem everyone at the airpports has a key to TSA locks and it is known that TSA has just cut the locks instead of using a key
 
Just being curious, are you doing a management hunt for tons of animals that would require 3 boxes of 9.3x62 ammo? If not, perhaps pack 2 boxes of your 9.3x62 and 1 box of .30.06?
 
Probably a stupid question that's been answered a gazillion times .... - but if you're doing a 2x rifle DG & PG hunt (for, say, maybe 10+animals), is the ammo for the 2 rifles limited by amount or weight? Our airline would be Delta, if that matters. Thx.
 
LuikoBM said:
Hello,
Next year I’m heading to Limpopo for my first safari. As you can imagine, I’m busy with the preparations.
I’d like to ask a question about packing ammunition.
I bought a large MTM Survivor box, the kind recommended by desertdog in one of his videos. It’s compact and lightweight, and fits three boxes of 9.3x62 ammo nicely, but I’d also like to pack some .30-06 ammo—at least one box—since I’m taking an R8 with two barrels.
Is it legal to carry the ammunition without the cardboard boxes—using only the plastic ammo holders inside the secure case with the required padlock—or is it mandatory for the ammo to be in its individual commercial cardboard or plastic boxes?
Thanks for your answers.
Click to expand...
I take reloads in plastic 20 round cartridge boxes which are then placed inside a larger locked, plastic ammo box. No one has said anything about using factory cardboard boxes, which I wouldn't have. I do label the cartridge boxes caliber and load as they do sometimes check to make sure that the ammo matches the rifles that you are bringing in.
 
Jack Stevens said:
Yes, it will all be in the same locked box.

Somewhere I read that 11lbs is the max legal airline or TSA weight. Is that true?
Click to expand...
Yes, 11lbs with the box and locks. My first trip I somehow thought it was 11lbs just ammo. I had to call my brother luckily he was still close, and I was weighing the ammo at check and giving him 500 NE bullets to shove in his pockets at LAX. Let’s just say my brother has never dropped me off at the airport again.
 
I have read conflicting reports on the 11# being the ammo excluding the outer box since that goes toward your 50# luggage, or including that outer locked box. When I lock it does that then include the locks too? I have always understood it as 11# of ammo counting the cardboard or plastic box, but not the outer locked case.
 
The South African regulations and airline rules are generally written around a 5 kg ammunition limit. My understanding is that this should apply to the ammunition together with its immediate cartridge packaging — for example, the factory 20-round boxes or MTM cartridge boxes that hold and separate the cartridges.

That is different from the separate lockable outer ammunition case that some countries or airlines require the ammunition boxes to be carried in, particularly when departing South Africa. In other words, the locked case is a required transport/security container, but it is not the same thing as the immediate cartridge packaging.

That said, this distinction can be lost at check-in. Some airline clerks may simply put the entire locked ammo case on the scale and treat that as the ammunition weight. For that reason, the safest practical approach is to keep the ammunition plus its cartridge boxes and container under 5 kg, and also to use as light an outer locked ammo case as possible so the total weight does not invite an argument at the counter.
 
Jack Stevens said:
Yes, it will all be in the same locked box.

Somewhere I read that 11lbs is the max legal airline or TSA weight. Is that true?
Click to expand...

Yes, and it is the entire container locks included that they will weigh. I would weigh it in advance on an accurate scale so you know for sure. I recently did this and ended up buying some different locks to get under the 11 pounds maximum.
 
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