michael458
AH fanatic
I have traveled and hunted in South Africa multiple times since 1997. My Wife is South African. In the early days I would get permits myself at the airport. Later years I would use various agents to get permits ahead of time. Guessing at the total number of times, around 35+ trips all together, either hunting in South Africa, or spending a few days in South Africa with permit, and then going on to another country to hunt. Not once, not ever, have I had SAPS check the barrel stamp against the ammo head stamp. In addition, I have hunted Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Tanzania multiple times and I have never seen them check barrel stamp against ammo head stamp. Check Serial #s Absolutely. On occasion had them count the # of rounds, but never check or even look at the head stamp. Sometimes counting was a challenge. Once in Zimbabwe they counted empty cases in as the total number of loaded ammo. I had to explain that the empty case was not LIVE ammo.
I have also hunted many other areas of the world, and have yet to see a comparison between barrel markings and ammo head stamp.
I am not saying that it is not possible, and I mark my barrels accordingly, JUST IN CASE........
For this example, 500 MDM/375 RUM. It is .500 caliber, and the brass is 375 RUM. Cover all bases.................
And I really hate to show this, it is one of my favored rifles on the planet, it is currently sitting with the Tanzania Central Police in Dar es Salaam. It was confiscated during the elections on October 30th this year as a "Security Risk" and we are still working even today to get it returned. Yes, of course I had proper permits for Tanzania, 100% legal with all the correct markings....... But what I did not count or even consider the fact that when we left because of the elections Martial Law was declared and we barely left the country, in fact, last plane out later that day, the airport was over run with protesters an hour after we flew out.
