Ammo Weight on airplanes… How strict are they on 5kg/11lb?

[kpoynter]

Hey Guys,

I’m headed to Tanzania on a 21 day safari soon and talking my son… he is under 18 so he gets no “ammo allotment” legally (I was told which I’m sure is true)
I’ve flown many many times with ammo, but I’ve never “needed” enough to worry about the weight limit.
Taking 3 rifles….
.300 WSM
.375 H&H
.450/.400

I weighed 60 .300. 20 each of Dangerous game ammo
100 total rounds is 11 pounds

I’d like to squeeze in at least 20 more rounds at least (especially if you mess around with sighting in when there)
Quick online search indicates they rarely weigh and it isn’t strict (but luck of the draw maybe on gate agent)
I’ve never had them weigh in over 20 years,but was never close to being over

Thoughts from the Peanut Gallery?

 

[BryceM]

Well, they might check. If you’re over, it’s not like you can take out the extras and leave them with the lady at the check-in counter.

If it was me, I’d take enough DG stuff, and lighten up on the .300. You’re not likely to need it, and if you do, there are undoubtedly rifles in camp than can fill in if necessary. The .375 can fill-in for PG if needed too. I don’t think I’ve ever used more than 20 rounds in a week of PG hunting, even when helping a bit with culling.

I’ve flown with ammunition 4 or 5 times. It’s been carefully weighed independently 2 of those times.

 

[Scott CWO]

I’ve had my ammo case weighed a couple times so I personally wouldn’t go over. I think your 100 rounds count sounds about right. If worried, you might drop 10 rounds of 300 WSM and add 10 rounds of 375 H&H since it will work for either plains game or dangerous game.

Make sure you print out and carry the wording of the regulation that essentially says, “11 pounds or 5 kg not including ammo case.”

Where in TZ are you hunting?

 

[NTX]

Lufthansa is VERY strict on weight, and they weighed the case with it on two of my trips. United also weighs your ammo. I wouldn’t gamble with it personally.

 

[kpoynter]

I’ve had my ammo case weighed a couple times so I personally wouldn’t go over. I think your 100 rounds count sounds about right. If worried, you might drop 10 rounds of 300 WSM and add 10 rounds of 375 H&H since it will work for either plains game or dangerous game.

Make sure you print out and carry the wording of the regulation that essentially says, “11 pounds or 5 kg not including ammo case.”

Where in TZ are you hunting?

We are headed to Lake Natron for 7 days… all the cool critters in Masaii Land I can get while there
Then Corey and I are headed to Western TZ/ Luganzo
Cats, Buffalo, and Plains Game

 

[kpoynter]

I perhaps should have added flying Delta….
Interesting you guys already saying you’ve been weighed…
I’ve flown with ammo who knows how many times and I swear I don’t think I’ve ever been weighed

 

[Mark458]

I've been a dozen times and I think eight of those trips were with guns. It's been Delta every time and I've never even had them ask to see my ammunition. I know if I was over on the amount allowed that would be the time they would check.

 

[Mike B.]

My last trip on Delta, I got asked to weigh it. They wanted case and all under 11 but that wasn’t an issue since I already knew I was under. I only took 40 rounds of 450-400 so it was well below the total weight. I believe by about 2lbs

 

[Rare Breed]

Hey Guys,

I’m headed to Tanzania on a 21 day safari soon and talking my son… he is under 18 so he gets no “ammo allotment” legally (I was told which I’m sure is true)
I’ve flown many many times with ammo, but I’ve never “needed” enough to worry about the weight limit.
Taking 3 rifles….
.300 WSM
.375 H&H
.450/.400

I weighed 60 .300. 20 each of Dangerous game ammo
100 total rounds is 11 pounds

I’d like to squeeze in at least 20 more rounds at least (especially if you mess around with sighting in when there)
Quick online search indicates they rarely weigh and it isn’t strict (but luck of the draw maybe on gate agent)
I’ve never had them weigh in over 20 years,but was never close to being over

Thoughts from the Peanut Gallery?

In all my safaris weighing ammo is the one thing they never miss. I always come just under. The problem you never want to find out is think of the people checking you…what would they do if you are over? What are they going to do with the overage for disposal…this is one thing I never tempt fate with given what if they confiscate all your ammo since it is in a container? Don’t do it

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I guess I would be the unlucky one then
6 trips out of Houston. 3 Delta. 1 United, 2 Qatar. Been asked to remove and weighed every trip. Qatar was only one that had me remove ammo from the case and just weighed ammo alone.

 

[Green Chile]

You might get weighed or not but being over isn't good. I really dislike ammo issues with the police and believe me, they can hold you for a long time arguing about it. How about dropping to 50 rounds of .300 and leaving the rest as is? You won't shoot more than 25-30 rounds of .300 and that leaves a cushion of 2x for what-if's.

 

[Rem280]

Why not leave a rifle home, bring more of the big game ammo and maybe a few less rounds of 300 win?

 

[Red Leg]

Well, they might check. If you’re over, it’s not like you can take out the extras and leave them with the lady at the check-in counter.

If it was me, I’d take enough DG stuff, and lighten up on the .300. You’re not likely to need it, and if you do, there are undoubtedly rifles in camp than can fill in if necessary. The .375 can fill-in for PG if needed too. I don’t think I’ve ever used more than 20 rounds in a week of PG hunting, even when helping a bit with culling.

I’ve flown with ammunition 4 or 5 times. It’s been carefully weighed independently 2 of those times.

Two people on a 21 day safari is rather different than your seven-day experience. He has a legitimate concern.

Were it me, I would maximize the most likely used. rounds - particularly for my son. I assume that is the .300. In fact, to be certain, I would park the .450 at home. The .375 is just as lethal a choice and far more versatile.

 

[Hedge774]

I've been a dozen times and I think eight of those trips were with guns. It's been Delta every time and I've never even had them ask to see my ammunition. I know if I was over on the amount allowed that would be the time they would check.

I agree with @Mark458 on both points. Even when I volunteered my ammo, it was not checked. It's still not worth risking for me though. Id make an educated guess on how many shots i plan on each rig and pack accordingly.

 

[K-man]

Another choice us to check with your ph to see if any ammo is available locally. If it is, reduce that cartridge choice and have the ph get some in advance. No reason to tempt the gods of the airline counter.

 

[Mark458]

Delta's own website refers only to the weight of the ammunition and not the case. It actually doesn't even mention a case being required, only that the ammunition must be in the manufacturer packaging or boxes designed to hold ammunition as so the cartridges don't contact each other.

 

[Hedge774]

Delta's own website refers only to the weight of the ammunition and not the case. It actually doesn't even mention a case being required, only that the ammunition must be in the manufacturer packaging or boxes designed to hold ammunition as so the cartridges don't contact each other.

Do they not need to be in a lockable case, Sir? If not, that saves a couple lbs that I've been wasting!

 

[Rare Breed]

Absolutely a lockable case

 

[Mark458]

They do need to be in lockable case, but the policy on their website doesn't mention it. Only when returning from South Africa does it mention a locked case.

 

[ftrovato]

I finding tempting fate very stressful.