375 Ackley Improved - can I take it to Africa?

[Captain Jack]

I have an opportunity to pick up an absolutely beautiful Dale Goens custom pre-64 in .375 H&H Improved. I'm only really interested in the rifle if I'm able to take it to Africa and hunt with it as intended. Will South African customs have an issue with headstamped "375 H&H" brass that's been fire formed? Or would I need to find some correctly headstamped brass to make it legal?

 

[JimP]

Do you have a coin to toss up into the air?

In two trips my ammo has never been inspected. It was only weighted once and that was on a return trip with Qatar.

To get a better answer send a email off to Henry at Rifle Permits .com. I'm sure that if it has happened he has seen it.

 

[jpr9954]

On my June trip, I took a .280 AI rifle that was marked .280 Remington and .280 Imp. It had been converted somewhere along the way before I bought it.

Henry at Riflepermits told me to list it as .280 on my permit paperwork. I had both .280 Rem and .280 AI ammo with me.

SAPS only wanted to check the serial number of the rifle.

 

[Beretta391]

In nine trips to Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe no one looked at the stamp on the brass

 

[IvW]

I have an opportunity to pick up an absolutely beautiful Dale Goens custom pre-64 in .375 H&H Improved. I'm only really interested in the rifle if I'm able to take it to Africa and hunt with it as intended. Will South African customs have an issue with headstamped "375 H&H" brass that's been fire formed? Or would I need to find some correctly headstamped brass to make it legal?

Not an issue just specify as 375 H&H.....they have no clue what AI is......keep it simole

 

[Captain Jack]

Copy all. Thank you for the advice, folks.

Guess I'm buying another rifle today...

 

[USMA84DAB]

Good For You!!!!

 

[Mekaniks]

Is the barrel stamped 375 h&h improved?

Copy all. Thank you for the advice, folks.

Guess I'm buying another rifle today...

Post pics!!

 

[Captain Jack]

Ask and ye shall receive! She followed me home, and it would be wrong not to share a couple photos here. The fit and finish on this thing is incredible. The receiver dates from 1961, and the build 'feels' 1960s or 70s, though I can't be certain. Somebody (a professional) added a Decelerator pad that still has quite a bit of life in it, but otherwise she looks pretty unaltered, with a bit of honest wear from use. The bore on the beefy 25" barrel is pretty solid with scattered light pitting visible through the borescope.

I'm going to pull it off the stock and look for a signature somewhere, but it definitely fits for a Dale Goens build.

 

[Captain Jack]

Is the barrel stamped 375 h&h improved?

Post pics!!

The barrel is simply stamped 375 Imp.

 

[Captain Jack]

Well, that answers that question. Dale W. Goens.

 

[Hoofnit]

Took my 375 Weatherby to Zim in August, it is marked 375 Mag, all my brass is 375 H&H, no one cared…the only concern was that I was taking home the same amount I came with. We did leave all of our regular 458 & 375 (just saying it was all used) with our PH’s as availablity and cost are astonishingly high.

 

[Captain Jack]

That's good to know. Sounds like a lot of what I've previously heard is exaggerated.

 

[Luvthunt]

Nice find on the rifle.

 

[hoytcanon]

That's good to know. Sounds like a lot of what I've previously heard is exaggerated.

If it says ".375" on the barrel and ".375" on the brass, regardless of the nomenclature that follows you will be good to go... there is next to ZERO chance any official will know the difference.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I have an opportunity to pick up an absolutely beautiful Dale Goens custom pre-64 in .375 H&H Improved. I'm only really interested in the rifle if I'm able to take it to Africa and hunt with it as intended. Will South African customs have an issue with headstamped "375 H&H" brass that's been fire formed? Or would I need to find some correctly headstamped brass to make it legal?

As far as everyone else is concerned, whatever is on the headstamp, that's what it is.

 

[Slyfox72114]

Along the same conversation I have this 450 ackley mag.
With no markings on the barrel should I have it engraved?
The receiver is a 1917 eddystone but I would think the barrel will have to be marked or the SA customs will not accept it.
Thoughts?

 

[Flipper Dude]

Along the same conversation I have this 450 ackley mag.
With no markings on the barrel should I have it engraved?
The receiver is a 1917 eddystone but I would think the barrel will have to be marked or the SA customs will not accept it.
Thoughts?

All that they have ever looked for, in SA or Zim or Moz or Botswana or Namibia, is the serial number. They will occasionally count the ammo in Zim. That has been my experience.

 

[Green Chile]

Entirely depends on who you get to work with in SAPS...especially at the smaller airports like Polokwane. I've had ammo counted many times in SA and Zim...but not every time and sometimes you will get several SAPS counting it more than once. Almost every time they have verified that the ammo and the amount was as stated on the permit. You can't get through most of the time with ammo that is not on the permit (like bringing ammo or brass for your PH that doesn't match to your rifles and permit). Hire Gilbert and don't deviate from the permit and you will be fine. If SAPS acts confused or concerned, don't get stressed. It will work out.