Separated From Ammo

[Hogpatrol]

Does this fly with the airport customs agents? I'm guessing it would. If you were both carrying the same caliber rifles?

Can't speak for other countries but never did in South Africa.

 

[Gomer]

For international flights it must be separate from your gun case. You can do it inside the US though if airline has no policy against it.

This is no BS. I was flying out of Spokane, WA and they wanted me to remove my ammo from the box and LOAD IT IN MY MAGAZINES. I loaded 5 17-round Glock magazines at the ticket counter.

 

[Gomer]

You'll be safe if you take a 6.5 Creedmoor. View attachment 784141

Well, maybe except for the animal you piss off when you shoot it with it!

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

There are two different risks involved in using your own rifle in Africa:

1) Risk of rifle loss/damage by the airline (scope damage happened to me courtesy of British Airways)
2) Risk of rifle having some mechanical issue/breakage in the field (i.e., the airline didn't lose rifle/ammo)

My reply focused on #2. I get that the .375H&H can be used on PG as one's light rifle, yet double for DG if something broke on his .450 Dakota (which is rather improbable). It's a form of "insurance", though at the cost of carrying a 10 lb rifle which is overkill for everything under zebra/eland vs an 7-8 lb .30-06 appropriate for PG. I understand the choice, though it seems to me a bit "belt and suspenders".

Not necessarily a rhetorical question: What will back up your .375H&H if it breaks? Should you take a third DG rifle, such as a spare .375?

I guess it comes down to every hunter assessing the odds of specific troubles, and the cost of negating such. I'm comfortable taking one quality DG rifle, and a .30-06 for PG. (Before I book for DG, I do inquire if the PH has a spare DG rifle in case of emergencies.) If, for example, a quality DG rifle will survive/perform in 99% of hunts, then carrying only one risks 1% odds of hunt failure (assuming a loaner DG rifle is unavailable). Carrying a backup DG .375 reduces the odds of hunt failure from 1% to 0.01%.

Yes, my Dakota could be run over by the Land Rover, breaking the stock, or some such disaster. That is a 1% chance I knowingly take, just as Nighthawk's 0.01% chance if doesn't take a second .375 to back up the first one. Risk management is a personal thing, and there's a danger of recursiveness (e.g., a 4th rifle in case the 3rd one breaks, etc.). One must call it somewhere.

I wish Nighthawk a great hunt in October, and look forward to reading about it!

Thanks.

And to be consistent with the OP's ask, I'm primarily bringing a second big bore in .375H&H to insure against lost ammo for my 450. Otherwise, I would be using my .375H&H and a .243 - which is what I use for most PG... I'm not overly concerned with damage to my .375H&H. I can always use one of my PH's .375's if I were unable to use both of my large bore rifles - both meaning a loss of use of my 450 and 375.

 

[BTP-KennethWRoyce]

2 lb extra rifle weight on short PG stalks in Africa is the cheapest insurance I could imagine.

True, and a hunter who was always on primarily a DG hunt (with some PG here and there) wouldn't even need a light rifle if carrying two DG guns.

I can always use one of my PH's .375's if I were unable to use both of my large bore rifles - both meaning a loss of use of my 450 and 375.

Cool, you're well covered. "Murphy" will have a hard time bothering you.

This is no BS. I was flying out of Spokane, WA and they wanted me to remove my ammo from the box and LOAD IT IN MY MAGAZINES. I loaded 5 17-round Glock magazines at the ticket counter.

Wow, I've never heard of such a thing, and I've flown several times out of GEG.

That ticket agent was 100% wrong. Since a mag is considered part of the gun, s/he effectively made you "load the gun" as far as some legal interpretation goes.

Regarding being told to pack hunting ammo in a separate bag, I've never come across that, hence I've never been concerned with my rifle arriving without its ammo. The hard case arrives with me, or it doesn't. So far, it always has, but my experience has generally been only Lufthansa or SAS to Joburg.

 

[Gomer]

True, and a hunter who was always on primarily a DG hunt (with some PG here and there) wouldn't even need a light rifle if carrying two DG guns.


Cool, you're well covered. "Murphy" will have a hard time bothering you.


Wow, I've never heard of such a thing, and I've flown several times out of GEG.

That ticket agent was 100% wrong. Since a mag is considered part of the gun, s/he effectively made you "load the gun" as far as some legal interpretation goes.

Regarding being told to pack hunting ammo in a separate bag, I've never come across that, hence I've never been concerned with my rifle arriving without its ammo. The hard case arrives with me, or it doesn't. So far, it always has, but my experience has generally been only Lufthansa or SAS to Joburg.

Best part is, when I got to my destination, the gun box with red flag just came out on the carousel with all the other bags.

 

[BTP-KennethWRoyce]

Best part is, when I got to my destination, the gun box with red flag just came out on the carousel with all the other bags.

Yikes. I always cringe when that happens. Airports differ on this; try to know before you land so you won't dally from gate to carousel. An airtag in your gun case could save the day if it's stolen.

 

[Gomer]

Yikes. I always cringe when that happens. Airports differ on this; try to know before you land so you won't dally from gate to carousel. An airtag in your gun case could save the day if it's stolen.

I will definitely do that next time!

 

[coreydb]

I haven't had that misfortune. Leaving the States I carry the ammo in a small, separate locked container and pack it inside my check check-in baggage. I show the agent the ammo stowed in my luggage with my rifle and they approve. On the return trips however, I'm required to check them in separately; but so far it hasn't happened yet.