Separated From Ammo

[Gomer]

Has anyone ever gotten separated from their ammo? Is it that common? I wonder how often someone has had to find ammo at their destination, or had to borrow a rifle because their ammo was lost. Seems like everyone would only be shooting 308s, 30-06s, and 375 H&Hs if losing ammo was that common.

 

[375Fox]

There was a poll done on this not too long ago. It happens but I wouldn’t say it’s common. I had happen in Cameroon in 2021. Ammo and bag was left behind in France, but rifle arrived. Once out of 15 safaris. It happened to my Dad earlier this year in Zimbabwe. He got ammo and bag a few days into the hunt. It might not matter so much in South Africa or Namibia, but outside those countries you’ll be glad you had a common cartridge. 375 H&H ammo will generally be available in any camp. Maybe not quantity you’d like and a mix of multiple brands and bullets, but there will be some.

 

[Hooked Now]

My PH from my trip earlier this year sent me a pic of the hunter that arrived after us with a really nice buff. He was hunting in a fairly bright colored shirt and borrowed ammo when his bags didnt arrive. Rifle did arrive. I saw a bunch of his animals for the trip and it appears that borrowed ammo and a bright colored shirt may have been some kind of a lucky charm. He seems to have had a great trip in spite of the bag shenanigans.

 

[WAB]

It has happened to me once.

 

[BeeMaa]

How important is it to you to use YOUR rifle to take animals on safari? Sticking to the commonly used cartridges will make sure there’s ammo available in the event yours doesn’t show up.

7x57, 270WIN, 7RM, 308WIN, 30-06, 375H&H, 416RM, 458WM/LOTT, 470NE…etc. would be good choices.

If you’re dead set on using your 495A-SQUARE (or other uncommon cartridge) for a safari, understand that there is a possibility of using a camp rental rifle if the ammo is delayed.

 

[Odinsraven]

14 trips never happened mostly to South Africa

 

[Red Leg]

Once. Bag remained in Johannesburg while the rifle and I went on to Mozambique. Caught up with me eventually, but after I had taken a buffalo and sable with .375 ammo from the outfitter.

 

[Jack Stevens]

As far as lost ammo and/or lost rifles, does the particular airline taken and cross-over stops make a difference?

Like flying from somewhere in the States thru Europe versus, say, thru Qatar, and then on into your final destination - Zim, Tan, or RSA?

Any particular pattern?

 

[375Fox]

As far as lost ammo and/or lost rifles, does the particular airline taken and cross-over stops make a difference?

Like flying from somewhere in the States thru Europe versus, say, thru Qatar, and then on into your final destination - Zim, Tan, or RSA?

Any particular pattern?

Qatar won’t lose your rifle or ammo. However, the problem is you need to check directly in to a Qatar hub or buy a separate ticket on different reservation to get there with firearms now, so unless you live within driving distance of Dallas, Houston, Washington Dulles, Chicago, etc it can be a problem.

 

[Jack Stevens]

How important is it to you to use YOUR rifle to take animals on safari? Sticking to the commonly used cartridges will make sure there’s ammo available in the event yours doesn’t show up.

Well, since I’d be going halfway across the world for a lifetime safari with my .404 Jeff and .350 Rem Mag rifles - i.e., the rifles & cartridges I want to hunt with - it would be VERY important that both the rifles and the ammo get to where I’m going to hunt. …… So yeah, I’d be pretty pissed about my rifles and/or ammo not showing up after traveling all that way and after having spent the initial outlay to set up one of these hunts.

Given the modern services available these days to ensure smooth documentation, export/import, and delivery of rifles and munitions to hunting destinations in Africa, one would think that losing them is a very rare occurrence. I mean, this isn’t 1975.

The PH and staff would hear about it, with the expectation they’d be following up immediately with the airline(s) (or whoever) to find my rifles and/or ammo, and expedite their delivery to camp.

If you’re dead set on using your 495A-SQUARE (or other uncommon cartridge) for a safari, understand that there is a possibility of using a camp rental rifle if the ammo is delayed.

Sloppy seconds with a rental rifle you’re unfamiliar with - especially if it’s chambered for cartridge you might never have shot - is just that: frustrating and disappointing.

If I’m going there for, say, a 1 Buff and multiple PG hunt, I’d expect there might be some .404J ammo in camp assuming that my rifle arrived sans the ammo. It would be a simple task to check zero with whatever make of .404 they had.

But in the case of my model 660, there’d be no expectation of finding any .350RM on the shelf if mine didn’t arrive.

 

[uplander01]

Happened 1 out of 5 safaris. Could have been a nightmare, took a 500 Jeffery,...luckily Safari Outfitters in Joburg had 3 boxes of Norma 500 J softs on the counter, saved my safari. On returning from my trip I actually called and spoke with the manager of the store after we returned home, thanked him for such good service and having what I needed. Because the gun showed up but main baggage was delayed/pilfered/ stolen.....whichever adjective works for you. On top of buying ammo, we had to buy an entire set of safari gear for 2 including clothes, boots, underwear, jackets, binos,...everything.

 

[Doug3006]

Not yet, but the chances will eventually catch up with me! That’s why I prefer to bring a rifle chambered in something common. You can find 375 H&H ammo in most places you go.

 

[Razorback]

Happened to me once. Fortunately, my hunting buddy and I had switched some ammo and it wasn’t a problem.

 

[Red Leg]

Well, since I’d be going halfway across the world for a lifetime safari with my .404 Jeff and .350 Rem Mag rifles - i.e., the rifles & cartridges I want to hunt with - it would be VERY important that both the rifles and the ammo get to where I’m going to hunt. …… So yeah, I’d be pretty pissed about my rifles and/or ammo not showing up after traveling all that way and after having spent the initial outlay to set up one of these hunts.

Given the modern services available these days to ensure smooth documentation, export/import, and delivery of rifles and munitions to hunting destinations in Africa, one would think that losing them is a very rare occurrence. I mean, this isn’t 1975.

The PH and staff would hear about it, with the expectation they’d be following up immediately with the airline(s) (or whoever) to find my rifles and/or ammo, and expedite their delivery to camp.


Sloppy seconds with a rental rifle you’re unfamiliar with - especially if it’s chambered for cartridge you might never have shot - is just that: frustrating and disappointing.

If I’m going there for, say, a 1 Buff and multiple PG hunt, I’d expect there might be some .404J ammo in camp assuming that my rifle arrived sans the ammo. It would be a simple task to check zero with whatever make of .404 they had.

But in the case of my model 660, there’d be no expectation of finding any .350RM on the shelf if mine didn’t arrive.

I have always used my own rifles anywhere in Africa and North America. With respect to Africa, part of the mystique I suppose - particularly if using a classic loading or rifle.

On the other hand, I have only used rentals in Europe and South America. Typically trips to Europe also involve tourist time as well as hunting and often crossing borders within the EU. That quickly gets complicated, if not impossible with a firearm. The rifles and guns have always been exceptional with equally good glass.

South America has typically featured working class rifles with average glass. However, all shot exactly as advertised and I have never botched a shot due to the rifle I was using. Shotguns have universally been Berettas either in OU or semi-auto and worked as one would expect. Again, those trips to Argentina also typically involved significant time playing tourist, making bringing ones own problematic.

 

[BeeMaa]

Well, since I’d be going halfway across the world for a lifetime safari with my .404 Jeff and .350 Rem Mag rifles - i.e., the rifles & cartridges I want to hunt with - it would be VERY important that both the rifles and the ammo get to where I’m going to hunt. …… So yeah, I’d be pretty pissed about my rifles and/or ammo not showing up after traveling all that way and after having spent the initial outlay to set up one of these hunts.

Given the modern services available these days to ensure smooth documentation, export/import, and delivery of rifles and munitions to hunting destinations in Africa, one would think that losing them is a very rare occurrence. I mean, this isn’t 1975.

The PH and staff would hear about it, with the expectation they’d be following up immediately with the airline(s) (or whoever) to find my rifles and/or ammo, and expedite their delivery to camp.


Sloppy seconds with a rental rifle you’re unfamiliar with - especially if it’s chambered for cartridge you might never have shot - is just that: frustrating and disappointing.

If I’m going there for, say, a 1 Buff and multiple PG hunt, I’d expect there might be some .404J ammo in camp assuming that my rifle arrived sans the ammo. It would be a simple task to check zero with whatever make of .404 they had.

But in the case of my model 660, there’d be no expectation of finding any .350RM on the shelf if mine didn’t arrive.

You are right, it’s not 1975…but bags still get lost. And complaining to the PH/outfitter is like yelling at the waiter because your steak isn’t done correctly. It’s not their fault. Kindly task the airline with the issue and the outfitter will most likely pickup the misplaced luggage when it arrives.

If you want some assurances, ask your outfitter to have some 404J and 350REM ammo on-hand just in case something happens. Of course you will have to compensate them for it, but at least you’ll be using your own rifle.

BTW - I’ve been seeing more good quality camp rifles with nice scopes recently. After all, it’s not 1975.

 

[Tibavati]

Has anyone ever gotten separated from their ammo? Is it that common? I wonder how often someone has had to find ammo at their destination, or had to borrow a rifle because their ammo was lost. Seems like everyone would only be shooting 308s, 30-06s, and 375 H&Hs if losing ammo was that common.

Always split your ammo into two checked bags. This reduces but does eliminate the chance of having a problem.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Happened 1 out of 5 safaris. Could have been a nightmare, took a 500 Jeffery,...luckily Safari Outfitters in Joburg had 3 boxes of Norma 500 J softs on the counter, saved my safari. On returning from my trip I actually called and spoke with the manager of the store after we returned home, thanked him for such good service and having what I needed. Because the gun showed up but main baggage was delayed/pilfered/ stolen.....whichever adjective works for you. On top of buying ammo, we had to buy an entire set of safari gear for 2 including clothes, boots, underwear, jackets, binos,...everything.

Made this mistake once. Now, I’m wearing hunting clothes on the plane and have another pair in my carryon. Binos in carryon. A suitable pair of shoes or boots with me. Light jacket in the overhead bin. Nothing I can do about lost ammo, but I won’t end up hunting Mozambique like this again….

 

[bakerb]

Fiasco on the way to a Russian sheep hunt in 2018. Delayed and missed flights. Luggage lost at La Guardia. My rifle made it. Ammo and clothes did not. I had to buy 12 rounds of 300 RUM in Russia for $300. Wore the same Kuiu pants and shirt and underwear for 17 days.

Did not even see a ram. Weathered in 6 of 10 hunting days. Caught a cold. Just a mess of a hunt. Still glad I got to experience it though

 

[Jhsmith]

There was a posting on a different thread a while ago. It mentioned checking the inventory of a local gun shop before you leave your home country..
I.e. you’re flying into Johannesburg and maybe spending the night in Pretoria. You can go online and see what they have in inventory ahead of time..

 

[WAB]

Once. Bag remained in Johannesburg while the rifle and I went on to Mozambique. Caught up with me eventually, but after I had taken a buffalo and sable with .375 ammo from the outfitter.

This is exactly what happened to me only the ongoing flight was to Zambia. By the time my ammo got to Lusaka and then on a supply flight to our camp the hunt was pretty much over. I’ve tried to mitigate this risk on subsequent trips by extending my layover in Johannesburg.