Suppressor

[Ed Hawkins]

After suffering hearing loss from shooting, I decided I would purchase a suppressor for my 300 mag. I know suppressors are widely used, and can be imported into South Africa, but are they allowed in Zimbabwe?

 

[thriller]

Hello again,
You cannot take them in or out of the US if you buy it here. I'm not sure all of the regs in zimbabwe however.

 

[wysongdog]

What if we have one in the US? Can we bring it with us?

 

[kesha]

That is false . I have taken mine to SA twice make sure you have 4457 on it and all paperwork associated with it. Last trip US Customs agent didn’t even know what it was.

 

[Grady]

Thriller, 3S Safaris is correct. You can take suppressors out and back into the US with the proper paper work (4457, ATF Form 4, Trust - if that what you used to purchase it), and make sure all the paperwork matches (serial numbers). With this, I would select my point of departure very carefully. Recommend staying away from New York airports. Getting into Zim, I don't have a clue.

 

[GA Hunter]

+1 on getting it in and out of the US. Make sure it’s on your 4457 and you’ll be fine. I’ve done it.

I’d bet you’ll be fine into and out of Zim but I do not know the laws. Someone here will.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

After suffering hearing loss from shooting, I decided I would purchase a suppressor for my 300 mag. I know suppressors are widely used, and can be imported into South Africa, but are they allowed in Zimbabwe?

Suppressor are strictly illegal to import, possess or hunt with. I suggest ear protection of some other type unless you plan on spending a very long time here!

 

[thriller]

Well i learned something. I guess I read that wrong when I looked into.

 

[Ed Hawkins]

Suppressor are strictly illegal to import, possess or hunt with. I suggest ear protection of some other type unless you plan on spending a very long time here!

Thank you sir, that’s why I asked! I’ll bring my hearing protection.

 

[Grady]

Suppressor are strictly illegal to import, possess or hunt with. I suggest ear protection of some other type unless you plan on spending a very long time here!

Can you confirm that you are only talking about Zim and not RSA?

 

[Shootist43]

Grady, take a look at the info below Lon Denny's Avatar and you will see that he lives in Zim. and is a PH there. IMHO you should take his comments as "gospel."

 

[GA Hunter]

Can you confirm that you are only talking about Zim and not RSA?

I am positive they are allowed in RSA. Been there done that. In fact there are reserves that are requiring them these days.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

As far as I know in RSA they are completely legal to possess, purchase (over the counter) and use for hunting, etc.
100% certain totally illegal in Zimbabwe both under the firearms and National Parks act!

 

[hunting4sanity]

As far as I know in RSA they are completely legal to possess, purchase (over the counter) and use for hunting, etc.
100% certain totally illegal in Zimbabwe both under the firearms and National Parks act!

I was considering one for a 375 with plans of Zimbabwe - not anymore. I'm sure I'll find other ways to spend that money ...... plus more.

 

[SilentShooter89]

Hello folks... hope I am not beating this topic to death. This is my first post here on AH, but I have been reading and learning a great deal.

I am from the US and would love to bring a suppressor or two along for my upcoming trip to South Africa.
I have searched the forums and this thread seems to yield the most detailed response I have come across so far. What I am looking for is detailed information on precisely what is required to legally temporarily export a US-made suppressor to South Africa, and bring it back without trouble. I know SA has no regulations on suppressors.

From what I understand so far, all I need to do is add the manufacturer/model/serial # to a Form 4457 (Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Aboard, US Customs and Border Protection), and make sure I have my Form 4 (if you know US law, you know what this is) with me as well. Is this correct, or do I also need to have an approved Form 5320.20 with a State Dept. License # for temporary export? Any info is greatly appreciated.

US laws regarding sound suppressors are absurd, but I would rather jump through the hoops at this point than risk getting in real trouble over trivial nonsense on my way in or out of the country. I will be departing from and arriving back through Georgia, where suppressors are legal, so there should be no state-level regulations to deal with.

 

[slam8031]

I have taken them to RSA --I filled out the forms that you have mentioned and had an original copy of the tax stamp and the trust. I traveled Raleigh NC to ATL and JNB and back. No one asked anything about it on either trips into or out of the usa airports. It was locked in my gun case once and locked away in my camera pelican case the second time. The other option is to have your PH purchase one over the counter in RSA for pennies on the dollar compared to our costs, get the correct thread pitch, and leave it with the PH.

 

[GA Hunter]

Hello folks... hope I am not beating this topic to death. This is my first post here on AH, but I have been reading and learning a great deal.

I am from the US and would love to bring a suppressor or two along for my upcoming trip to South Africa.
I have searched the forums and this thread seems to yield the most detailed response I have come across so far. What I am looking for is detailed information on precisely what is required to legally temporarily export a US-made suppressor to South Africa, and bring it back without trouble. I know SA has no regulations on suppressors.

From what I understand so far, all I need to do is add the manufacturer/model/serial # to a Form 4457 (Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Aboard, US Customs and Border Protection), and make sure I have my Form 4 (if you know US law, you know what this is) with me as well. Is this correct, or do I also need to have an approved Form 5320.20 with a State Dept. License # for temporary export? Any info is greatly appreciated.

US laws regarding sound suppressors are absurd, but I would rather jump through the hoops at this point than risk getting in real trouble over trivial nonsense on my way in or out of the country. I will be departing from and arriving back through Georgia, where suppressors are legal, so there should be no state-level regulations to deal with.

I’m from Georgia and have taken suppressors multiple times. Get a 4457 with them on it and you will not get a second glance on either side of the pond. Good luck on your hunt. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

BD

 

[Philip Glass]

Hello again,
You cannot take them in or out of the US if you buy it here. I'm not sure all of the regs in zimbabwe however.

Not true many of us are hunting overseas with suppressors now. I just took one on my .223 to RSA and Namibia and not one person took a second look at it or asked anything about it! I mean from the US to RSA to Namibia back to RSA then home to US Customs nothing, not a peep from anyone. Now I was a bit worried all along but it is no problem and everyone should be using a suppressor.
I’ve asked about Zim and Moz and they say no problem.
Regards,
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

Hello folks... hope I am not beating this topic to death. This is my first post here on AH, but I have been reading and learning a great deal.

I am from the US and would love to bring a suppressor or two along for my upcoming trip to South Africa.
I have searched the forums and this thread seems to yield the most detailed response I have come across so far. What I am looking for is detailed information on precisely what is required to legally temporarily export a US-made suppressor to South Africa, and bring it back without trouble. I know SA has no regulations on suppressors.

From what I understand so far, all I need to do is add the manufacturer/model/serial # to a Form 4457 (Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Aboard, US Customs and Border Protection), and make sure I have my Form 4 (if you know US law, you know what this is) with me as well. Is this correct, or do I also need to have an approved Form 5320.20 with a State Dept. License # for temporary export? Any info is greatly appreciated.

US laws regarding sound suppressors are absurd, but I would rather jump through the hoops at this point than risk getting in real trouble over trivial nonsense on my way in or out of the country. I will be departing from and arriving back through Georgia, where suppressors are legal, so there should be no state-level regulations to deal with.

4457 and copy of tax stamp but you won’t likely need either one. I didn’t. Take it and don’t worry!
Philip

 

[SilentShooter89]

Thank you all for the info! Now if only it were this easy to get the damn things here in the US in the first place...the last one I bought took a year and a half for the paperwork to clear. Hell, I may buy another one in RSA and leave it with the PH as a tip, just for the experience of buying one over the counter...Ha!