So How Much Does Cartridge Commonality Matter?

[CBH Australia]

I was at least 2 cases short at Bulawayo and didn't have issues as well. Hopefully it's only the strict employees....

2 cases is not going to cause suspicion that you are importing ammo for a resident.
Take in 100 and leaving with none might raise questions.

I’ve often read that ammo is costly in the African communities so some hunters leave ammo with outfitters as a token gift.

With low availability and prices increasing elsewhere this might be curbed a little in the future.

 

[TTundra]

2 cases is not going to cause suspicion that you are importing ammo for a resident.
Take in 100 and leaving with none might raise questions.

I’ve often read that ammo is costly in the African communities so some hunters leave ammo with outfitters as a token gift.

With low availability and prices increasing elsewhere this might be curbed a little in the future.

Zim was the first place the police counted each cartridge and checked its proper headstamp going into country that I've experienced. On the departure, they looked at all the ammunition again, counted the fired cases/brass but didn't ask on 2 missing cases from arrival.

Maybe you're correct, and 2 cases isn't of concern, but as Lon stated above, some officers/agents might push for more information on missing cases. In my case, the empty likely fell from my pocket. Never thought twice about it.

 

[Tra3]

Good move @TheRealMikeAllen

You'll find me a huge fan of storied old British / Safari calibers and I've hunted with a bunch: 275 Rigby, 500 Nitro for Black, 318 Westley Richards, etc, etc.

What I NEVER do is fail to bring a "normal" caliber with me as well. If the ammo goes missing in transport, or if I run out of ammo, the only calibers that will save your behind are as follows: 30-06, 308, 375HH, 458WM, 470NE. Those are the "normal" ones where pile of whatsapp SOS messages roll out, a 4 hour drive ensues, and some fellow operator or PH saves your behind.

No safari is resilient nor failsafe unless you have a 375HH as a backup with a few softs and solids. No matter what happens to your other gun, no matter what animal you're hunting, you're not out of all your luck yet.

This is excellent advice. I don’t mind carrying the weight of two rifles. A backup as a .375 (if it isn't your main) Is very smart.

 

[TheRealMikeAllen]

Good move @TheRealMikeAllen

You'll find me a huge fan of storied old British / Safari calibers and I've hunted with a bunch: 275 Rigby, 500 Nitro for Black, 318 Westley Richards, etc, etc.

What I NEVER do is fail to bring a "normal" caliber with me as well. If the ammo goes missing in transport, or if I run out of ammo, the only calibers that will save your behind are as follows: 30-06, 308, 375HH, 458WM, 470NE. Those are the "normal" ones where pile of whatsapp SOS messages roll out, a 4 hour drive ensues, and some fellow operator or PH saves your behind.

No safari is resilient nor failsafe unless you have a 375HH as a backup with a few softs and solids. No matter what happens to your other gun, no matter what animal you're hunting, you're not out of all your luck yet.

Thanks for your input. I also appreciate classic firearms and calibers. I bought my 375 H&H good "do it all gun" because one cannot anticipate what may happen on the trip. I also understand that good modern bullets in the 375 are adequate to take any game I desire to hunt. As for my plains game gun, I will be sporting a John Wilkes Sako Action Chambered in 308 winchester. My Grandfather's business had a manufacturing plant in london and he had the rifle custom made when he was accross the pond on business. I will post a separate thread at some point to show the gun and all of it's original accessories. It's quite the sight!

 

[TheRealMikeAllen]

If you don’t hand load, then cartridge commonality is quite an important factor. And yes. 50 years of experience going on African safaris, has taught me one thing:

The calibers of sporting ammunition which you can find most easily in African countries… are .30-06 Springfield and .375 Holland & Holland Magnum.

I saw this in the 1970s. I saw this in the 1980s. I saw this in the 1990s. I saw this in the 2000s. I saw this in the 2010s. And I’m seeing it now.

It’s also no coincidence that these are the two calibers which I’ve been using on my African safaris the most over the years.

I hate to sound pessimistic, but I fear that we are entering into another “Dark Ages” for big bore rifle calibers. The first dark age was in 1970, when I.C.I Kynoch ceased manufacture of all centerfire ammunition. Since they were the only manufacturers of big bore rifle ammunition at the time (barring the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum which were being loaded by Winchester and Remington), practically all big bore rifles in traditional safari calibers (like .416 Rigby or .470 Nitro Express) literally fell into disuse until 1983 when B.E.L.L (Brass Extrusion Laboratories Limited) began to load ammunition for these calibers again. I went on four African safaris between 1974-1983, and I never once saw any big bore rifles in use except those chambered in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum.

Based upon the patterns in ammunition availability which I’m seeing in recent years, factory loaded ammunition for many big bore calibers is once again getting very difficult to find. In such times, my money is on the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum for which cartridges will be the easiest to find.

A treasure trove of experience. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom.

 

[cajunchefray]

I can only speak about Zimbabwe laws and “policies”. The last two or three years if you come into the country with 100rds of loaded ammo they expect you to leave with 100rds of brass loaded and empty brass. Be forwarned, I know we always have xtra boxs of MT brass in case someone “loses” some brass.

Good information.