Thoughts on bringing your own rifle?

[Eventually_Africa_Again]

Hello again all!

Gearing up for our first hunt in August and the question came up about renting or bringing rifles. On the one hand I'd love to bring my own rifle, and my wife want's to bring hers as well. On the other hand it seems like a lot of paperwork and worry (flying from Texas to England, England to South Africa) for the privilege, especially for our first hunt ever. So what are your thoughts? Bring your own? Rent theirs? Take on plains game with your bare hands like a real man?

Thanks for your input!

 

[cpr0312]

I've both rented and taken my own. It's not really a lot of paperwork (at least on the SA end, not sure about transiting through England) that may be the tougher part. Some people will only take their own, but I am one who is ok either way. 3 trips to SA, used the outfitters gun once and taken my own twice. In NZ I used the outfitters gun, and many times in Texas I use the outfitters gun.

 

[Pheroze]

Hello

I chose to take my rifle. The paperwork was no big deal at all. I transited through Amsterdam. There is a ton on info on AH that can help guide you but I used Google too. The airline staff were very civil. In JBerg I hired a service because I have a fear of securty in other countries. They were great.

Be prepared to tip the authorities for their pleasantness and professionalism.

I invested in tuffpak and I would recommend researching a good case.

Once you take your rifle it will forever have a connection with the memories!

I say do it.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I will take my own as long as I can. I think it adds to the experience to use your own rifle and ammo. I know a lot of outfitters have quality rifles to rent but if it's not mine it would feel like I'm borrowing a pair of boots.
Paperwork is not difficult for SA.

 

[wesheltonj]

Ok. There is no paperwork for you to complete on BA before you arrive at the airport. You must call BA at least 72 hours before your flight and list the guns that you are carrying and then call back 48 hours to see if you have authority to transport the weapons. (Your Travel Agent, if you have one, does not make that call to BA, you do. And I recommend that you don't use an agent on BA, I did and was unable to chose my own seat or use my BA mobile App, the Agent had control of my ticket, some folks like that, I don't.) At the Airport you will fill out a one page form. Make sure you get a copy of that form, you may need it to to leave JNB, if the BA contractors can't find your authority to transport in the computer system, I did. BA charges 100 Pounds to transport your gun. I heard some folks say that were charge 200 pounds for having two guns in one case, but I have no first hand knowledge of that. Just make sure any Intra Southern Africa are not on BA, that's really Comair and they don't carry guns. Also your Ammo will need to be in a separate case, not in your suit case.

As for SAPS you can either do that yourself or use a service.

Are you sight seeing before or after your hunt? If so storage charges, may eat you alive, if you take your gun. They did me, plus I had the cost of overnighting in JNB at Africa Sky. I could have bought a gun for what it cost me to store the gun - $704.97 USD.

My outfitter when I went had for rent a Browning topped with a Leica Magnus scope. Now he was for rent a Blaser topped with a Leica Magnus scope. With that kind of set up and costs why take a gun.

 

[JimP]

My first question is why are you going through England? You can get direct flights out of Atlanta on Delta to Joberg and then connecting flights from there if you are hunting elsewhere.

On my trip I used a permit service company and everything went through like clockwork. As was mentioned if you are planning on a tour either before or after the hunt then you will need someplace to store your firearms which can get expensive. On my trip we had a PH from our outfitter store ours for us until we were ready to fly out of Port Elizabeth home.

If you are thinking of renting a rifle then I would talk to your outfitter and see what he is offering. Mine had top of the line rifles with some of them being suppressed. If I do go a second time I'll be renting rifles. My personal rifle that I took now has 6 trophies hanging on my wall and I had the enjoyment of using it in Africa, but not a second time.

 

[BWH]

Who you are flying, where you are flying, stayovers...... play a factor in this answer/decision.

I have brought mine the 2x I have been. If/when I go back..... I plan on taking again. Paperwork & retrieval is a breeze.

The only cons: It's an additional checked bag.... and 1 more heavy piece of luggage. So your are not quite as nimble in "traversing" the airport, etc. However, that is really a non factor for most people, as they are picked up & dropped off basically at the ticket counter.

 

[Eventually_Africa_Again]

Hi all, thanks for all the input! We are going through England because those tickets were very cheap. We will have a 12 hour layover in England, but the guns (if we take them) are going from BA To BA, so that wouldn't be an issue. We will be in South Africa, flying into Johannesburg.

The outfitters have a ton of guns for us to use if we decide to go that route.

 

[BWH]

You're good then..... just your personal preference at this point. Taking your own you can get very familiar with it & the ammo.... good practice.

 

[Redruff]

Just take your own rifles! Tip (read bribe) the right guys and enjoy the pleasure of shooting what you are familiar with. It's kind of nice to pull out that rifle latter take a look at your taxidermy and think back to which ones you shot with it. Works for me anyways.

R.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

Just take a 3 inch Swiss Army knife, and be sure to wear two or three jock straps to support the giant stones you'll no doubt carry!

I took my own, and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. I had no tipping needed in SA either way. I also agree with the memory connection. Though it's an inexpensive Howa 1500, I doubt it'll be sold. Probably going to use it next month if I can hunt in Texas even though I have other options in the vault

 

[Divernhunter]

I am not going by way of England but wee took our own rifles in 2013 and I am again in May this year.
I enjoyed shooting the suppressed 30-06 of the PH fun shooting monkeys but I shot all my bring back/photo'd animals with my own rifles. They just mean more to me that way. Besides why have the rifles if I do not use them? Of course we had rifles suitable for the game we hunted.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Hi all, thanks for all the input! We are going through England because those tickets were very cheap. We will have a 12 hour layover in England, but the guns (if we take them) are going from BA To BA, so that wouldn't be an issue. We will be in South Africa, flying into Johannesburg.

The outfitters have a ton of guns for us to use if we decide to go that route.

As mentioned, you're good. Follow the advice above about informing BA you're flying with firearms. Get to the airport I would say 3 hours in advance. This will make the BA counter people happy as they won't be feeling the rush to get through the process. You'll be happy because they're happy. The same applies when returning, get to the airport early. I did this flying out of Phoenix to London to Jo'burg. It's a little bit of a hassle, but for me it's worth the trouble to hunt with my own rifles and loads.

With a 12 hour layover, you should have time to venture into London using the subway, aka Tube. But if you're not interested in that, I would find a hotel room close to the airport. Heathrow just can't keep you entertained that long.

 

[Eventually_Africa_Again]

Thank you again all. We have decided to take them. Also yes, we will be going into town in England, think we might swing by the British Muesuem that houses the world's largest elephant tusks to pay our respects. I understand they are not on display but if you call ahead they might let you see them!

 

[BRICKBURN]

This will be worth it on multiple levels.
Enjoy.

 

[CAustin]

I have always taken my own rifles because I am comfortable with them. Most days I shoot them very well, not sure I can say that about rented rifles. As mentioned by others it is really a personal choice.

 

[Velo Dog]

Hello Eventually_Africa,

I strongly dislike airline travel anyway but, it's a little less stressful when, I only go with one rolling duffle bag and one small back pack.

International travel with a firearm is too stressful for me any more.

It seems like many PHs in the southern countries of Africa these days, offer either Bruno or CZ, Mauser type rifles for rent.

It's not unusual for these to be complete with either a Zeiss or Leupold scope in good quality steel rings as well.

With such equipment in hand, if any hunt of mine does not go well, it most likely cannot be blamed on the rifle or sighting arrangement.

If I could afford to hunt elephant, I'd probably sing a different tune, because I would want to bring a double.

But I'd definitely go back to worrying myself half sick during all the flights over and back, in regards to my valuable rifle.

Not to worry though, because unless huge sums of money drop from the sky, and land in my back yard, from now on it looks like it's always going to be about non-dangerous game for me.

I'm definitely not complaining though, because I do love hunting of almost any sort so, I consider myself extremely fortunate to afford the carefully budgeted hunting trips that, I have had over the years and that I hope to continue having, rented rifles and all.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[petrusg]

If you really shoot your rifles well and know them inside out and you are very confident with them then take them along. if it is a rifle you just got and have not really bonded with or shot allot with then you might as well use the Outfitters rifle

 

[Adrian]

Thank you again all. We have decided to take them. Also yes, we will be going into town in England, think we might swing by the British Muesuem that houses the world's largest elephant tusks to pay our respects. I understand they are not on display but if you call ahead they might let you see them!

Just check you have the correct museum. I believe the tusks are in the Natural History Museum.

 

[Nyati]

It depends....if I have a direct flight to JHB and then a drive to camp, I will bring my rifle.

If I have to take flight connections, I prefer to hire.