Question on shipping ammo to Africa by a US exporter for availability

[cajunchefray]

Question out of my ignorance, but I know many experienced experts here.

Before traveling to Southern Africa for Safari, is it possible to ship ammo ahead of the trip, to insure supply?

Specifically, have an ammo supplier with export permits, and reliable importers, to ship ammo (like 375, 416 Ruger) to RSA, Zim, Namibia to ensure supply when arriving for safari?

 

[SDPlinker]

Why wouldn't you just bring it with you?

 

[R.M.C.]

If you're worried about your ammo lost in the airport system or something I think it would be cheaper and easier to have your ph aquire whatever ammo you want, shouldn't have trouble finding the calibers you mentioned. I think most of the time your ammos gonna arrive with you though.

 

[Andrew62]

You must be taking a very lengthy safari because 11lbs of ammo is a [emoji90] ton of ammo.

 

[375Fox]

There is a good supply of ammo in South Africa and Namibia already. You definitely would not be shipping ammo to Zimbabwe. There are enough problems shipping ammo domestically. You are not going to ship ammo internationally.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

Especially at present:https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-halts-exports-most-civilian-firearms-90-days-2023-10-27/

 

[Andrew NOLA]

I am interested in doing the same thing

how did it work out for you?

 

[375Fox]

I am interested in doing the same thing

how did it work out for you?

Why? A place like South Africa or Namibia you can just buy from store. A place like Zimbabwe or Mozambique doesn’t have the quota to let you shoot 5 kgs of ammo.

 

[Rare Breed]

There is a good supply of ammo in South Africa and Namibia already. You definitely would not be shipping ammo to Zimbabwe. There are enough problems shipping ammo domestically. You are not going to ship ammo internationally.

I was talking to my PH Lou Hallamore and in no way shape or form can he bring ammo from SA into Zim without threat of heavy penalties like jail. He is running short of ammo and I mentioned just buying from SA and he laughed and said you would have to smuggle it over the boarder with what he calls runners. No one in their right mind would risk it he said

 

[375Fox]

I was talking to my PH Lou Hallamore and in no way shape or form can he bring ammo from SA into Zim without threat of heavy penalties like jail. He is running short of ammo and I mentioned just buying from SA and he laughed and said you would have to smuggle it over the boarder with what he calls runners. No one in their right mind would risk it he said

I believe Zimbabwe is under an arms embargo from most countries. You can only bring ammo into country for personal use and are supposed to leave with it.

 

[Andrew NOLA]

I will be going to RSA to hunt. I want to send ammo there I hand loaded. I want it there 30 days ahead of time so I don't have to worry about it getting lost in transit.

Has anyone done this? I could send it from a FFL here to a gun store there and pick it up at the gun store. I am willing to spend the money and jump thru the hoops to do so. I would do the same thing with my rifles if I could.

Too many stories about delayed rifles/ammo in transit. Have a strong preference to use my rifles and my ammo. Just not the same to use a rented gun.

 

[375Fox]

I will be going to RSA to hunt. I want to send ammo there I hand loaded. I want it there 30 days ahead of time so I don't have to worry about it getting lost in transit.

Has anyone done this? I could send it from a FFL here to a gun store there and pick it up at the gun store. I am willing to spend the money and jump thru the hoops to do so. I would do the same thing with my rifles if I could.

Too many stories about delayed rifles/ammo in transit. Have a strong preference to use my rifles and my ammo. Just not the same to use a rented gun.

I’m assuming you haven’t hunted Africa before and these are first time concerns? I’d tell you to read the stories of how easy it is to travel with rifles and ammo on delta flight to Johannesburg and just abandon this idea. It’s probably not feasible. Spend the money choosing a reliable flight route. I’m 1 for 15 my ammo not arriving and that’s because I had to fly through Paris.

 

[JimP]

For what it's likely to cost it wouldn't be worth it

As for luggage,,and rifles getting lost I haven't heard of many that have.

Sure it can happen but I could hit the lotto too. Just fly out of Atlanta and don't worry. On both of my hunts I figured that if either or both my rifle and luggage were lost that I'd just use my outfitters rifles until mine showed up.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I will be going to RSA to hunt. I want to send ammo there I hand loaded. I want it there 30 days ahead of time so I don't have to worry about it getting lost in transit.

Has anyone done this? I could send it from a FFL here to a gun store there and pick it up at the gun store. I am willing to spend the money and jump thru the hoops to do so. I would do the same thing with my rifles if I could.

Too many stories about delayed rifles/ammo in transit. Have a strong preference to use my rifles and my ammo. Just not the same to use a rented gun.

In 20 years, I've had it once where a hunter's ammo did not arrive. Possibly get yourself some air tags to slip into your luggage and rifle case. That way you can watch your luggage being loaded and hopefully ease your concerns.

 

[Luvthunt]

I go along with the majority as I have never had a problem. Take it with you.

 

[PARA45]

I would contact someone who has a shipping company, or it's a Freight Forwarder, otherwise, I just take along what you are going to use and go from there.

There are a lot of regulations, and I assume red tape when it comes to the importation of ammo.

In my humble opinion, not worth the hassle.

 

[Andrew NOLA]

The AirTag suggestion is a great idea. I’m going to do that.

So many horror stories on here about lost rifles and ammo or delayed delivery have made me nervous about it

 

[Hogpatrol]

I sent some empty, deprimed brass to a PH collector in RSA. Two days to get there and one month before he received it. That was 2014. I understand it's a lot worse now.

 

[dchum]

The AirTag suggestion is a great idea. I’m going to do that.

So many horror stories on here about lost rifles and ammo or delayed delivery have made me nervous about it

There just aren’t “so many horror story’s?”
Read all the hunting reports.

You have smart people giving you advice. Please just get a travel agent who is used to dealing with Africa and firearms - if you are so worried.

 

[Andrew NOLA]

Thanks to everyone who has replied especially to those who have sent me direct messages, sharing their experiences.

It seems that I may create more problems than I would solve by shipping it. Instead, I’m going to put AirTags into everything and hope for the best.

I think we all try to control what we can do with this issues, especially in endeavors like these

This is a case where the squeeze may not be worth the juice.