Buying Ammo in Africa

[Tex .416]

The thread about the luggage system at Tambo breaking down made me wonder about buying ammo abroad. How many here have actually had to buy ammo abroad?

Where would one actually go to purchase ammo and what cartridges are mostly likely to be on the shelf? Are there any restrictions on non-residents buying ammo?

In RSA seems like a trip to a larger town or city might fix the situation. What about in other countries?

Guessing a spare box of .375 H&H is probably the most likely to be available in a camp. How available is .416 Rigby?

 

[AimSmall]

Many hunters leave their unused ammo with the outfitter for just such instances. Before you go, ask the PH if they might have your caliber. One of the reasons experienced international hunters lean towards "standard" calibers.

 

[Doubleplay]

If I'm not mistaken you can buy ammo in SA with your gun importation permit and only for the caliber stated.

 

[James.Grage]

If you have your SA520 with you (that you completed on arrival to South Africa) at a firearms business you would be able to purchase Ammo for your Rifle.

Bear in mind that the Firearms business will have a limited selection of brands and choices. The pricing on the Ammunition will make you take a second look. The stores that I have went into may have a few different selections. And usually the popular calibers to pick from. Federal, Winchester and Nosler were some of the ones that I remembered. I have not found my pictures that I had taken in the store for a better detail on brand, calibers and pricing.

And, This would depend on the city you are near by and looking, smaller locations carry the ammunition that local hunters use.

 

[James.Grage]

Many hunters leave their unused ammo with the outfitter for just such instances. Before you go, ask the PH if they might have your caliber. One of the reasons experienced international hunters lean towards "standard" calibers.

I am sure you are mistaken, as that would be against the law. When you leave an African country you are asked about your ammunition that you brought into the country. What do you tell them?

Now, if you forget to pack your ammo and it is mistakenly left behind that is another thing.

 

[Piet Brood]

They’ll probably not ask what happened to your rounds on departure. And if they do you just tell them you used them all.

Safari Outdoor has branches around Cape Town and Gauteng. They stock a generous selection of American and European ammo (Hornady, Federal, Norma) in various calibers. Perhaps check with your outfitter or PH if they can secure some for you before your arrival.

 

[JimP]

I am sure you are mistaken, as that would be against the law. When you leave an African country you are asked about your ammunition that you brought into the country. What do you tell them?

Now, if you forget to pack your ammo and it is mistakenly left behind that is another thing.

In two trips I have never been asked about my ammo, other than the last one where the Qatar agent asked me to weigh it. Never even opened up my ammo box, just took it out of my checked bag and set the ammo box on their scale.

 

[Andrew62]

I am sure you are mistaken, as that would be against the law. When you leave an African country you are asked about your ammunition that you brought into the country. What do you tell them?

Now, if you forget to pack your ammo and it is mistakenly left behind that is another thing.

I've been to Africa 18 times, and 18 times I left my ammo behind. When I checked in at the ticket counter and was asked if I had any ammo, I always said 'no'. I was never asked any questions about my ammo.

 

[Puddle]

I am sure you are mistaken, as that would be against the law. When you leave an African country you are asked about your ammunition that you brought into the country. What do you tell them?

First, that's never personally happened.
Second, if ever asked I simply shrug my shoulders and tell them 'all gone 'cause I'm a lousy shot'.

 

[James.Grage]

In two trips I have never been asked about my ammo, other than the last one where the Qatar agent asked me to weigh it. Never even opened up my ammo box, just took it out of my checked bag and set the ammo box on their scale.

Let see now, I have hunted in 4 African countries and I have watched in a few of the different countries for customs/police to count my ammunition one bullet at a time. It usually starts where they count every bullet individually in each box to make sure they match your rifle. And they did every box of ammunition I had with me.

Also, on departure, I have been asked in all the countries to account for my ammunition and wanting to count every bullet that you depart with. They were not concerned with empty casings.

But again I do not have the experience that you have.

Now hunters traveling with me, did not have the same experience as I was usually the first in line. I had all my paperwork filled out and availabe for inspection and my ammo was accounted for and all my ammunition matched my rifles.

Sometimes this was a teaching moment to the individual inspecting the rifles and shotgun and the ammunition in my ammunition boxes. I explained that the individual boxes contained 20 bullets for rifles and the shotgun ammo had 5 in the small boxes and 25 in the bigger box.. Showed them the marking on the box and proceeded to open the boxes and showed them how to match the bullet to the rifle.

Now the part, that did bother me a couple of times is where you are shown a private room to explain how come you do not have any ammunition to take out of the country, and you think you did good when you were able to leave that room, only to escorted to another room to go over it all again.

Now in the African countries, a person can only have ammunition that match rifles that they have and then can only have a-limited number of rounds availabe (I think that this is 100) and the ammunition needs to be under lock and subject to inspection.

 

[Neil Molendyk]

Its been a while ago, 2013, on my first rip to Africa, Namibia, I had my PH take me to a couple of gun stores in Windhoek with the specific intention to check out what ammunition was available locally if I ever returned and brought my own firearm for DG, just in case I lost my ammo in transit. What I found was 375 H&H, 450/400, 404J, 416 Rigby, 458 Win Mag, 458 Lott for bolt action rifles. Not found were 375 Ruger, 416 Rem Mag, 416 Ruger, or any other less common calibre. It also let me determine which calibre of DG rile I should purchase in event that i would return for a DG safari. 416 Rigby won the competetion. Times may have changed things though about availability in ammunition.

 

[375Fox]

I've been to Africa 18 times, and 18 times I left my ammo behind. When I checked in at the ticket counter and was asked if I had any ammo, I always said 'no'. I was never asked any questions about my ammo.

Did you take your own guns and ammo to Cameroon? That’s the only country I’ve had an issue. I didn’t leave with any ammo. It was a serious interrogation but they let me go after a few minutes. Another member here told me he was afraid he was going to jail his interrogation was so severe.

 

[375Fox]

Outside South Africa and Namibia your ammo choices will be very limited. I’ve had one trip where the gun arrived and ammo didn’t. I was very glad to have a 375 H&H. I got miscellaneous ammo left behind by several clients. Lucky I think I only needed 11 rounds for the whole trip. From what I’ve seen 270 win, 308 win, 30/06, 300 win, 375 H&H, 375 Ruger, 416 Rigby, 458 win, 470 NE could have been located or bargained for on most trips I’ve done. If you go with something less standard you are taking your chances.

 

[Andrew62]

Did you take your own guns and ammo to Cameroon? That’s the only country I’ve had an issue. I didn’t leave with any ammo. It was a serious interrogation but they let me go after a few minutes. Another member here told me he was afraid he was going to jail his interrogation was so severe.

Yes, I have hunted Cameroon 4 times, always took my own gun and ammo. Always left ammo behind, if/when I was asked about ammo on departure, I simply said I didn't have any, and nothing more was asked. I have read several stories of people having their ammo weighed on departure, counted entering Africa, counted departing Africa, I suppose I have just been fortunate that never happened to me. Last year my buddy went with me to SA, on departure, I checked in, told the ticketing lady I had ammo, did she want to see it, she replied 'no'. My buddy, 2 agents over, had to unlock his case, and have his ammo weighed. I feel often times it more about whoever the ticket agent is.

 

[Tra3]

I am sure you are mistaken, as that would be against the law. When you leave an African country you are asked about your ammunition that you brought into the country. What do you tell them?

Now, if you forget to pack your ammo and it is mistakenly left behind that is another thing.

This is a good conversation as people should know what questions may be asked and how to respond. I would posit that “forgetting to pack ammo and mistakenly leaving it behind”
Is a more risky statement than having used all of the ammo. Shooting all of your ammo is an acceptable outcome of a hunting trip.

 

[DLSJR]

When I’ve been heading home and have been asked, I simply say I shot the rest. Never had a problem.

 

[revturbo9967]

This is a good conversation as people should know what questions may be asked and how to respond. I would posit that “forgetting to pack ammo and mistakenly leaving it behind”
Is a more risky statement than having used all of the ammo. Shooting all of your ammo is an acceptable outcome of a hunting trip.

I brought 60 rounds to Zim and left with about 8. Everything was shot or left to the ph (he begged me for rounds as his next client asked for a camp rifle right at the last minute) . I was asked how many rounds I had left when checking out of Harare, and nobody batted an eye when I told them I shot most of it.

 

[meigsbucks]

It’s been ten years, but when I went to Zimbabwe, they counted my ammo on arrival. One of my rifles was a .375 HH. My PH’s camp rifle was a .375 HH. I left him a box. At the airport, customs gave me the third degree about how many rounds I had left. I just insisted, the last day, I just did some target shooting to kill time.

 

[Flipper Dude]

11 trips to 5 countries. Never once asked about ammo other than “Do you have any ammo?” and that only a couple of times. The answer was no and that was the end of that. Not illegal to shoot up all of your ammo.

 

[Hogpatrol]

There's no hard and fast, written in stone rule for every entry or exit from any African country. One day it's this, the next day it's that. One person's experience is another person's alternate universe. Trying to pigeonhole this info is an exercise in futility.