Thoughts on Borrowing Guns on Safari

[Mark A Ouellette]

Yesterday I returned from South Africa via Delta through Atlanta to Detroit. I had no problems going to or returning with two rifles and ammunition other than having to wait 45 minutes for a TSA person to find the Delta counter to inspect my rifles on the outbound leg. I used Riflepermits.com for pre-clearing the rifles with the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) and their VIP service that swiftly escorted me from the baggage pick up to the SAPS office. Somewhere along the way we cleared SA customs. Rifle Permits personnel also helped me and my wife take our luggage to check into the OR Tambo City Lodge for the night.

Upon return from Africa, clearing the rifles in Atlanta was a breeze! It was much the same last year at Chicago O'Hare when returning from hunting in SA and Zimbabwe. One just has to be patient as persons who may not know a muzzle from a chamber inspect their firearms to ensure they are unloaded and match their Form 4457’s.

Before starting my hunt, I told my PH that I was very confident in taking up to 200-yard shots off the sticks with my 375 H&H M70, and 100 yards with my Heym 88B in 458 Win. In preparation I spent many hours loading and testing how each variation of ammunition would group from my rifles. For each group I logged the mean velocity, extreme (velocity) spread, and group size. Along with load testing, I shot many rounds practicing off the sticks, offhand at short range, and from prone and sitting positions.

During my hunt, I made shots at 212 yards with the 375, and 164 yards with my 458 “off the sticks”. Most of my other game was killed far closer as I desired to do. Sometimes however, one has to take the only shot available. I would have been very reluctant to make either of the long shots with a rented rifle and who knows what ammunition.

 

[meigsbucks]

To each his own. For me, part of the excitement of the hunt is choosing which rifles to take and developing the loads. Couple that with the practice that goes with it in preparation and the satisfaction that goes with using my guns and loads. The minimal additional hassle is well worth it.
I’ve only been on two hunts, but haven’t had any issues. Is it a little more cumbersome to haul a gun case in addition to your luggage, but not unbearable. As far as paperwork, not a big issue. I’ve used TWG on both trips and they had everything lined up. Easy Peasy.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Had to go back through this post. Too much to absorb first time round…

“a 25-06 in South Africa to take virtually every species including the largest Cape Eland anyone I know has ever seen”

This should not be overlooked! I mean, that’s amazing! And, I’ve dispatched a few PG with a .243…

Also, I understand it’s not uncommon to use a solid in .375 H&H to take tiny ten. Least, that’s what my PH keeps telling me! Small hole in both directions…

 

[Tbitty]

I need to add a little to my previous post:

An excellent point was made by @NIGHTHAWK - be sure to have a plan in place with the PH before going. Knowing what calibers will be available, types of rifles/scopes, etc. can be important to the decision. The OP referenced that being familiar and comfortable with a variety of platforms and calibers will help with this, too. But making sure you have a gun to use is, obviously, of utmost importance.

Also, in the TL;DR of original, I overlooked the part about small small calibers, including 25-06 on Eland which is just plain dumb to do. If you do take your own gun, bring enough gun for the job. If your renting one, they will have something up to the task to use.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Just curious as to the bullet(s) you used in your .25-06 to take all of your PG on your RSA hunts, including the large Cape Eland?

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Just curious as to the bullet(s) you used in your .25-06 to take all of your PG on your RSA hunts, including the large Cape Eland?

I’d like to see the Eland… I thought I was pushing the Limits with my 7MM RM on my Eland…

Here is mine with the Rifle I shot it with:

I was lucky to make a good shot - low in the neck. Only place that was presenting itself to be honest… Although, that Browning is extremely accurate and I shot it well. If I had to do over again, I would use my .375 H&H and wait for a better shot… Browning 7MM was all I had at the time. I used a Barnes TSX, I believe it was 160 Grain.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I’d like to see the Eland… I thought I was pushing the Limits with my 7MM RM on my Eland…

Here is mine with the Rifle I shot it with:
View attachment 494777

I was lucky to make a good shot - low in the neck. Only place that was presenting itself to be honest… Although, that Browning is extremely accurate and I shot it well. If I had to do over again, I would use my .375 H&H and wait for a better shot… Browning 7MM was all I had at the time. I used a Barnes TSX, I believe it was 160 Grain.

Nice bull! Hard to beat the TSX/TTSX in just about any cartridge.

 

[Buffalo1]

I have done it before when dealing with a bad bow shot and have had no problems. I have also just borrowed a gun while on a bow hunt in Africa; again no problems.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I have done only four safaris to RSA. I took my own rifles each time and don’t find it all that complicated. I used Riflepermits on every trip and Jennifer at Travel Express handled any other paper work that Qatar needed. No big issues.
I have used PHs rifle during one hunt.
I had a 416 Rem Mag and 375 HH with me. I decided on last day to go for a Spingbok so I used PHs nice Musgrave 243 with Swarovski scope.
I will always take my own rifles even if just a cull hunt like I am planning for 2023.

 

[Safari Dave]

I waited 16 years to use my .416 Rigby on DG.

I waited 22 years for just the opportunity to use my double on a animal for which it would be practical.


I probably sent 200+ rounds ($1,500+++) down range working up the best loads.

If my rifles were not very important to my experience, then a borrowed rifle would be fine.




I'm also into fishing gear, in a big way.

I don't want to use borrowed gear for fishing either. I'll take $1,000 worth of gear on a $40 - 1/2 day fishing trip.

I won't mess up other anglers, but I know what I can do with the gear I own. I can bring a 100 pound fish to the boat in 15 minutes with my gear. It would take 2 hours to do the same with the loaner gear on a party-boat in the southern US.

 

[ActionBob]

Ok so you had great luck borrowing or renting guns. The one time I did that, it worked out fine. I got detailed pictures of the gun ahead of time.

The one time an African PH and Outfitter pushed me hard to use his guns the conversations went kind of this..... Me "Send me details and good pictures of the guns and scopes please." Outfitter "awe they are fine, I don't know what the details are, guns are just tools to me". Because I recieved no good info I took my own rifle but when I got there and saw the guns.... Me, "OK so I understand you consider your guns to be tools, but do you really need to use them to chop down trees and dig holes!?"

 

[Red Leg]

In North America , I always use my own firearms. Whether a whitetail out back, a Nilgai down south, bear in BC, sharpies in Montana or geese in Saskatchewan, it is easy, and frankly by most outfitters, expected that I’ll have my own rifle or shotgun.

I also bring my own rifles to Africa. As others have said, the rifle ias part of the experience, is important to me. And as @Tanks notes, I have no intention of ever hunting dangerous game with a rented firearm.

I would also agree with @ActionBob that many of the rental firearms I have seen in Africa are not the sort to inspire confidence.

Europe and South America are different for me at least, because such hunts are almost always combined with often significantly longer time spent playing tourist - often in multiple countries and using varied forms of transportation. There, a firearm is at minimum a hassle and often impossible. Fortunately, the firearms and optics I used have generally been of the finest quality.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Part of owning a rifle is being able to look at it and know...yeah, I shot that monster Buffalo on my wall with THAT rifle right there. Blooding it in so to speak. It's part of the hunt for me.

Secondly is all the time I spend practicing at the range with my specific rifle. I know how it feels, how it comes up, the trigger, the scope/sights...it's an extension of me.

Lastly, because it's an extension of me is also that it reflects the hunter I am. Synthetic, wood, blued, stainless, engraving or plain...etc. It's my opinion of what a hunting rifle should be.

I'll continue to deal with the stress and PITA of traveling with firearms.


Not sure exactly what you consider a "big bore", but when a 375/9.3 is listed as a minimum for DG...the holes can get MUCH bigger.

In 1983 I went on my first safari in Zimbabwe with the PH Clive Lennox. I bought a Whitworth Express in .458 Win Mag and got a good deal on it. I ended up breaking the buffalos neck when he was at about ten feet and closing on Clive. His rifle had stopped working and failed to feed. I was able to track down Clive, and after a year delay dye to covid we went out again. This time I had a much better understanding of where the heart was in the chest and placed the bullet through the shoulder, through the top of the bulls heart, out the side, then exited out the far side of the buffalo. He ran about 25 yards and piled up dead. Same rifle after 39 years and 2 months. Someday my grandson will inherit this rifle along with the pictures and stories that go with it. How could you do that with a rented rifle? I have shot other peoples guns, of course, but I always hunt with my own.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Nice bull! Hard to beat the TSX/TTSX in just about any cartridge.

Co, please educate me - what is the difference between TSX and TTSX?

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

In North America , I always use my own firearms. Whether a whitetail out back, a Nilgai down south, bear in BC, sharpies in Montana or geese in Saskatchewan, it is easy, and frankly by most outfitters, expected that I’ll have my own rifle or shotgun.

I also bring my own rifles to Africa. As others have said, the rifle ias part of the experience, is important to me. And as @Tanks notes, I have no intention of ever hunting dangerous game with a rented firearm.

I would also agree with @ActionBob that many of the rental firearms I have seen in Africa are not the sort to inspire confidence.

Europe and South America are different for me at least, because such hunts are almost always combined with often significantly longer time spent playing tourist - often in multiple countries and using varied forms of transportation. There, a firearm is at minimum a hassle and often impossible. Fortunately, the firearms and optics I used have generally been of the finest quality.

When I stalked my stag in Scotland it was done properly, correct attire, tie and all. Obviously the rifle would be provided. I had requested that the keeper acquire a Rigby Highland Stalker for the purpose if at all possible, and his come back was "my rifle is better, you won't be disappointed." And I wasn't, it was made for him, stainless unfortunately but that is essential in that wet day after day. It had a new Swarovski scope on it and it was deadly accurate in the pre-shoot and the same on the stag. I would still prefer to have used my own, but that was a close second.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Co, please educate me - what is the difference between TSX and TTSX?

The TTSX has a polymer tip. Supposedly increases the bullet’s aerodynamics?

 

[VertigoBE]

My thoughts,
Yes it is much easier to use a rented rifle.
Yes the rented rifle/optics combo will likely perform well.
The big question mark will be the ammo in my opinion. I wished I had better ammo on last year's safari.

However, for the aficinado's of fine rifles, as @BeeMaa pointed out, to be able to say, I hunted this or that trophy, with that rifle, there is something special about that.

I for one, will be taking my nice rifles with me on hunts, as it gives me great pleasure (and lot's of stress as well ) in doing so.

I do foresee that travelling with firearms will rather get more complicated than less. A good business opportunity for outfitters, would then also be to invest in quality rifles, optics and ammunition and advertise them on their sites. Perhaps even with a possibility to have a selection to choose from.

This could even be a reason perhaps to go with one outfitter over another. "I'll be able to hunt my buff with a vintage london best with that outfitter" for example. A hunter colleague from over here, goes to Africa every two years, to go hunt a buffalo. He always insists on the outfitter to make a large bore double rifle available to him, or he does not book. He has never travelled with firearms over there, but always hunted with fine firearms.

 

[Mountaineer]

I take my own rifles. I spend countless hours practicing with my rifle, dreaming and preparing for the shot. When I traveled to Namibia last summer it took 12 minutes extra time to check in at Dulles, 20 minutes to verify rifle in Ethiopia, and before I could get my SIM card changed out in Namibia they had my rifle ready to go at the police window. The return trip was as easy with the exception of getting my rifle in DC which about an hour. If you like your garden md take them. If you sight in two days before season and don’t go back to the range until next year year, rent them.

 

[Bush Buck]

I'm in both camps.

I found that bringing my own rifle was the most time consuming and stressful aspect of the trip. Consequently, it would be nice to rent a good rifle and avoid the hassle.

BUT assurance of a quality rifle, scope and ammo is difficult.

My PH had an old, heavily worn BRNO 30-06 with an assortment of loose ammo. It wasn't a rental but a back up in case a client's rifle didn't arrive (I'm glad mine did).

I have a friend who decided not to bring his beloved custom hunting rifle on his hunt in SA. He ended up hunting with a plastic stocked Savage with a silencer. He did fine - but was very disappointed in the quality of the rifle. He said he would bring his next time.

To sum up, I did not enjoy the hassle of bringing my rifle - but I think it's better to experience travel stress than safari stress!

Bush Buck

 

[WAB]

I'm in both camps.

I found that bringing my own rifle was the most time consuming and stressful aspect of the trip. Consequently, it would be nice to rent a good rifle and avoid the hassle.

BUT assurance of a quality rifle, scope and ammo is difficult.

My PH had an old, heavily worn BRNO 30-06 with an assortment of loose ammo. It wasn't a rental but a back up in case a client's rifle didn't arrive (I'm glad mine did).

I have a friend who decided not to bring his beloved custom hunting rifle on his hunt in SA. He ended up hunting with a plastic stocked Savage with a silencer. He did fine - but was very disappointed in the quality of the rifle. He said he would bring his next time.

To sum up, I did not enjoy the hassle of bringing my rifle - but I think it's better to experience travel stress than safari stress!

Bush Buck

I’m very curious on what the stressful aspect of taking your rifles was. I have never experienced any issues other than one ammo delay.

Do you use an agent to coordinate travel and permits?

Do you have someone meet you and expedite firearm processing?