Ammo Load Out

[MikeDeltaFoxtrot]

I am leaving for Eastern Cape in 16 days. Last winter, I developed loads for the rifles I am taking: a pair of Winchester model 70's in 300 Win Mag and 375 H&H. I'm going to take 60 rounds for the 300, loaded with Barnes 180 gr TSX and 40 rounds for the 375, loaded with 260 gr Nosler Partitions. I finished loading them tonight, packed them in ammo boxes, and weighed them. All in, they weigh 9.3 pounds, so I am in under the 11 pound limit. The two boxes fit nicely inside my Pelican 1400 case with the top and middle foam removed, so I may take that if I have room. Photos are below. I thought this might be helpful to someone else for planning purposes.

I'm sure someone will tell me I am bringing too much ammo, but I always bring too much ammo. Two is one; one is none, etc. Besides, I already submitted my SAPS 520, and I am not changing it now.

 

[Red Leg]

You are bringing too much ammo. But you should be ready for a firefight.

 

[Pheroze]

Nice ammo boxes btw Have a great trip.

 

[sierraone]

If I fire my .404 that much in my upcoming trip, I'll be returning with my arm in a sling!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Use it all up and take pictures of all the critters.
I always take a lot of ammunition. It comes back just as easy as it goes.
Good luck on your trip.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Everybody always asked why I take 100 rounds to Mexico for a deer hunt. I always tell them it is so I have 99 rounds to get back home! You can never take to much ammo, you can take to much underwear, to many pants and just about everything else, but never to much ammo!
Enjoy your trip!

Cheers
Cody

 

[Red Leg]

This is a good topic. First of all, everyone should take whatever amount of ammunition makes them comfortable and is legal. Personally, on rifle hunts, I have never taken more than 40 rounds and never shot more than 20. I tend to look at the cube and weight as one more thing to drag around airports and parking lots. I'll say the next part softly, but whatever I don't shoot - usually in .375 - doesn't come home. A box of premium .375 is always a welcome leave behind.

 

[CAustin]

If I fire my .404 that much in my upcoming trip, I'll be returning with my arm in a sling!

And hopefully a lot of trophies.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Pilots have a saying that the three most useless things to them are fuel on the ground, runway behind them and sky above them. In a similar way, ammo left at home is pretty useless to a hunter abroad. Take a bunch. If your scope gets knocked off, you might burn through a few rounds re-zeroing.

 

[Ridgewalker]

After not firing my rifle and it and I bounce around a few days, I like to retest it. So extra ammo is always needed.

 

[mdwest]

A box of premium .375 is always a welcome leave behind.

^^^ this ^^^

My last hunt I left behind a couple of headlamps, a couple of inexpensive multi-tools, and a few other practical things like bic lighters and little pocket knives.. all was well received and appreciated.. by the driver/tracker (who I left those items to)..

But when I "lost" 30 rounds of premium .375 H&H and 20 rounds of premium .308 in the backseat of the bakkie the last day.. I thought my PH was going to cry tears of joy and try to kiss me..

He certainly didnt mind "finding" my ammo later that afternoon after I got on a plane at all

 

[jeanes]

Take plenty. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[JimP]

I'd say that you have almost enough.

I took 60 rounds and brought 41 rounds home along with 6 trophies and a cull that I shot. I would of brought more home but I ran into problems with one of my trophies and it was embarrassing.

 

[cagkt3]

I took plenty of ammo, and wouldn't you know I forgot to pack it on the way home. But I did give my PH an excuse to buy a .270 Win....much to his wife's chagrin!

 

[Glenn Slaven]

Glad I saw this, I was wondering how much ammo to take. Looking to take the package of 6 plains game (if all goes well, but I realize there is no guarantee), and added 5 animals I would like to take if we see them. I added extra days onto the original package. and was in the air as to how many rounds would be good. I was thinking 60 should be enough?

 

[Pheroze]

Glad I saw this, I was wondering how much ammo to take. Looking to take the package of 6 plains game (if all goes well, but I realize there is no guarantee), and added 5 animals I would like to take if we see them. I added extra days onto the original package. and was in the air as to how many rounds would be good. I was thinking 60 should be enough?

It's about having too much and then not worrying about it! Sounds like you are going to have a busy safari

 

[Bill Bunn III]

When I went last year my dad and I took 60 rounds between us and left our PH's with 35 round of live ammo and all of our brass, because they reload. That was after the range and 12 animals down. We were both shooting 375 H&H. They where very appreciative of what we left them.

 

[wesheltonj]

I shot 7 animals in Africa and did not finish one box 20.

 

[Glenn Slaven]

It's about having too much and then not worrying about it! Sounds like you are going to have a busy safari

I think so. I also understand that I may not get everything and I can live with that. I haven’t met many people who have only hunted Africa once. I imagine there are a lot of people that have unrealistic expectations. Like you say though, better to have too much and not even let it be a thought.

 

[K-man]

It's never too much unless you are the one carrying it through the airport. Good luck on the hunt, but i need to ask - don't you need the "original" factory ammo boxes? It may vary by country, but make sure before you go.