How much ammunition for plains game hunting trip to South Africa?

[curtism1234]

As to 1 vs 2 rifles: I dont see why 2 is so burdensome unless maybe the extra weight of ammo causes an oversized bag fee or if your rifles are similar in performance.

If you have a 30-06 and 300 win mag for instance, I can see just picking 1 bc they are similar.

A 7 pound 308 is probably easier to carry than a 9 pound 338, but you may want the 338 for eland - kill your eland and then downsize.

And of course we have the 375hh. Imo if you have not shot an African animal with a 375 and you own a 375 already, you are obligated to take it for at least 1 animal

 

[shootist~]

Bullet Performance Database

May I suggest a bullet performance data base topic, where members can place pictures of recovered bullets. You need to add data to the post relating to the performance. Type of bullet Bullet speed Distance of shot Original weight Recovered weight Calibre Species Shot placement e.g. Frontal...

www.africahunting.com

The "bullet performance" thread has some good information and is just really interesting reading.

 

[Jan Dumon]

Your 30 06 will be just fine for a plains game hunt. No need to take anything else. 2 boxes of ammo should do the trick. 30 06 is such a common caliber in South Africa that you will be able to get ammo anywhere should you run out for some unforeseen reason. And if you're worried , take 3 boxes , what the hell. Enjoy the planning.

 

[meigsbucks]

You need to take a lockable ammo box anyway, why just take the minimum? Do you need to take 11#? Probably not, but what if you did? What is the downside? Your duffle is 4# heavier? I think 80 rounds for a one rifle hunt would be way more than enough. Two rifles, maybe sixty / fourty.
On my most recent safari in Namibia, I took a bad fall landing on my rifle. After two misses, we checked the sighting and found it way off. Between the initial check on arrival and getting it back on took about eight rounds.

 

[Edster]

Now I need to rethink it all over again

 

[WAB]

Most of the folks will tell you to take a second rifle. I personally believe that is an anachronism left over from the days of 30-60 day full bag safaris where a battery of firearms was actually needed. Unless you need a really long range specialty caliber for a particular animal like a Vaal Rehbok, just grab 40 rounds of either the 30-06 or .375 and go hunting. If you are hunting PG in Namibia or SA make it the '06 with a premium 180 gr bullet. If you are going to a wilderness area where larger more hostile critters roam, then take the .375.

On my first safari (PG and leopard), I took a .270 and a .338. Other than sight in, the .270 never left the case. Subsequently, I have taken virtually everything from tiny suni to several cape buffalo with 300 gr bullets from a .375. This summer, I am headed to Zambia for two weeks for just PG and will bring a .275 Rigby (7x57) and 40 rounds of ammunition. And every PH I know has great stories about the wrong rifle or the right rifle and wrong ammunition when the world class whatever stepped out during the impala stalk.

As a rule, we don't take back-up rifles to Canada, Asia, Europe or South America and there is little practical reason to take one on our relatively short modern trips to Africa. If two of you are going, then certainly take two rifles, but in that case, one ought to be dedicated to him and the other to you.

I don’t disagree with you. I have gone both ways. We were in Africa for the month of August in 2019 and took three rifles for my wife and I. In hindsight two would have been fine, although the 7x57 was wonderful to have along and did get used. We took 40 rounds per rifle and had plenty of ammo.

 

[375Fox]

what about the Barnes 180gr ttsx? I have about 300 of those I could start loading and shooting

I really like TSX and TTSX 180 grain are great. If you like hornady interbonds, I think 200 grain bullets would do very well also, but I have no experience with them. I would go with heavier bullet if you choose interbond since they will lose weight as they pass through. Another post recommended the bullet performance database on here, that is a good resource to reference.

 

[Gatorhunter1313]

Bullet Performance Database

May I suggest a bullet performance data base topic, where members can place pictures of recovered bullets. You need to add data to the post relating to the performance. Type of bullet Bullet speed Distance of shot Original weight Recovered weight Calibre Species Shot placement e.g. Frontal...

www.africahunting.com

The "bullet performance" thread has some good information and is just really interesting reading.

I have been reading through a few different bullet choice threads on here getting ideas. I might go with the ttsx and get as many as I can so I can practice more

 

[Gatorhunter1313]

As to 1 vs 2 rifles: I dont see why 2 is so burdensome unless maybe the extra weight of ammo causes an oversized bag fee or if your rifles are similar in performance.

If you have a 30-06 and 300 win mag for instance, I can see just picking 1 bc they are similar.

A 7 pound 308 is probably easier to carry than a 9 pound 338, but you may want the 338 for eland - kill your eland and then downsize.

And of course we have the 375hh. Imo if you have not shot an African animal with a 375 and you own a 375 already, you are obligated to take it for at least 1 animal

I’m thinking the 375 because I would love to hunt a kudu and feel more comfortable using that. I have taken my 375 out mule deer hunting when I lived in Las Vegas and it is so amazing with accuracy and lethality

 

[mikecatt13]

I hunt with a .300 Win Mag and take 80 rounds with me, even if I'm hunting 3 animals. My lock boxes hold 2 boxes of ammo, each. I put one box in my luggage and one box in my wife's luggage. If a suitcase becomes lost along the way, hopefully, the other will make it through and I'll still have 40 rounds of ammo to hunt with.

Possible dumb question: is there not any trouble carrying ammo and not the gun, like your wife carrying ammo for your gun?

I know this isnt an issue flying domestically but considering they count ammo and it must match rifle caliber etc importing into african countries, it seems like having someone else carrying ammo with no gun or ammo that doesnt match caliber would be an issue since its THEIR luggage and your ammo?

 

[Uncle Sauce]

Not to sidetrack this thread but has anybody had any issues with not taking "factory" ammo boxes? I have the small Pelican case and reload my own ammo so I had planned on using that to SA.

Just curious if I should get some factory boxes and bring them, just in case the airline wants to see the ammo in factory boxes?

 

[Sika98k]

That’s always the biggest question. The more I look at hunting packages the more I change my mind. My real dream is an oryx in SA. After that anything is a bonus.

Go for an oryx in Namibia.

 

[Gatorhunter1313]

Go for an oryx in Namibia.

That is my ultimate dream. That is my number 1 dream animal. I know I could pay and pay and pay and hunt one in New Mexico but I want to do a real safari to hunt one

 

[Gatorhunter1313]

Here’s my ammo box. I have 3 sets of foam for it. This setup will depend what I plan to add next to it. I really need to get better foam and get away from the pluck foam.

 

[TOBY458]

That is my ultimate dream. That is my number 1 dream animal. I know I could pay and pay and pay and hunt one in New Mexico but I want to do a real safari to hunt one

Oryx should be plentiful most anywhere in SA I would think. At least that's been my experience so far. They are also relatively inexpensive. So put a big Eland and Kudu bull at the top of your list, and just consider the Oryx an add on.

 

[Gatorhunter1313]

Oryx should be plentiful most anywhere in SA I would think. At least that's been my experience so far. They are also relatively inexpensive. So put a big Eland and Kudu bull at the top of your list, and just consider the Oryx an add on.

Kudu and eland top my list as well but the oryx has always been my favorite. If I hunt and can only take 1 animal to the taxidermist it would be the oryx. I don’t know what it is but they are so beautiful of an animal

 

[JimP]

Not to sidetrack this thread but has anybody had any issues with not taking "factory" ammo boxes? I have the small Pelican case and reload my own ammo so I had planned on using that to SA.

Just curious if I should get some factory boxes and bring them, just in case the airline wants to see the ammo in factory boxes?

View attachment 384059

I had no problems using plastic ammo boxes when I took my reloads. I don't even think that they looked inside of the container that I had.

That's not saying that they won't but that they didn't on my trip.

 

[375Fox]

Not to sidetrack this thread but has anybody had any issues with not taking "factory" ammo boxes? I have the small Pelican case and reload my own ammo so I had planned on using that to SA.

Just curious if I should get some factory boxes and bring them, just in case the airline wants to see the ammo in factory boxes?

View attachment 384059

I always get a pre-approved gun permit and I’ve actually never had them look at ammo once. I do put all my ammo in old factory boxes just in case though.

 

[Gatorhunter1313]

I always get a pre-approved gun permit and I’ve actually never had them look at ammo once. I do put all my ammo in old factory boxes just in case though.

That’s the part I have to look into. Getting through all the paperwork

 

[375Fox]

That’s the part I have to look into. Getting through all the paperwork

Use a travel agent. @TRAVEL EXPRESS does a really great job at a very reasonable fee. They will set you up with a service to get the gun permit for you. These people know everyone at the airport and can take care of any issue. It’s a small amount to pay compared to your trip to nearly guarantee everything does right.