338-06

[death-from-above]

Hope this is the correct spot for this. If I take my 338-06 to Africa, will my reloaded ammo need to be headstamped "338-06" or can I take rounds loaded in 30-06 brass?
Thanks

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Hope this is the correct spot for this. If I take my 338-06 to Africa, will my reloaded ammo need to be headstamped "338-06" or can I take rounds loaded in 30-06 brass?
Thanks

Technically the headstamp on your ammo must match your rifle. In my two trips to RSA I'm not sure the folks in the SAPS office bothered to even look at the caliber on the rifle. And I'm certain I never was asked to show my ammo. That said as soon as I were to show up with ammo whose headstamp didn't match, Murphy would strike!

 

[35bore]

Pretty sure I have read on this forum that it HAS to match your rifle caliber. I do remember a post by James he said he took some big bore ammo for a rifle he was not transporting but that his outfitter had and he was going to use it, he just had to pay some SAPS fees. Might have been a different country in Africa he was hunting though.

 

[Cliffy]

3338-06 Hello
I too shoot a 338-06 and have taken it with me on 4 African hunts. I have never had the head stamp looked at but I have always had the correct cases in at least 1 full box of ammo just in case they do ask. I also brought along a reloading article showing how to use 30-06 cases for 338-06. Phoenix Phil is correct, they can look and might question. Remember they are bureaucrats and only know ( ?) their laws. They don't know rifles and ammo the way we do. It's Africa and you never know who might be at the desk. Bring some correct head stamps. Why take the chance?

 

[James.Grage]

I have had my ammo checked 2 times. with one time seeing that it matched my rifle (Zimbabwe).

South Africa just weighed my ammo However, it was not inspected.

Going to Tanzania, I went with my 338WM and i did take some 338 WM ammo plus some 470NE ammo along to use in a rented double rifle. It was checked and i had paid my 1 dollar a round import fee and was free to go. Paper work was filled out prior to my arrival by Game Frontiers and was met at the luggage rack by a agent to whisk me through customs.

 

[sestoppelman]

In '09 in RSA the SAPS guys made a big deal about my ammo, never quite sure why as it did match the rifle. I suspect it had more to do with how it was packed. I had 3 ammo boxes taped shut, just rolled into my clothes. No locking ammo box. Though why they would care I cannot imagine.
I too believe that its important for the headstamp to match the rifle. Of course with the .338-06 its no problem as brass is available so stamped. At least it was when I had one.

 

[death-from-above]

Thanks for the info, gentlemen. Guess I need to buy some brass...

 

[Red Leg]

By the way, great cal. It is essentially a twin of the old .318 Westley Richards (the Brits measure the lands). The 250 gr solid slew everything in Africa.