Wildcat caliber/ammunition to pass SAP form?

[weaselthis]

Ladies and Gents:
Hello from CA. First post here as I skipped the "Hello" thread. Great website, WONDERFUL people here willing to impart a TON of free info. Been lurking here for 6 months. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Hunting Limpopo & Free State May 2013. First time. Good bud, his wife, and my wife can't wait to arrive. Trip of a lifetime.

Background & Question:
I have a Rem 700 BDL that started life out as a 7mm Rem. Mag. THAT'S stamped on the barrel. I like wildcats....had it reamed out to chamber a 300 Win Mag. round necked down to 7mm (300WM/7mm). Ammo is custom stuff made from 300 WM brass headstamp. Obviously barrel caliber and ammo headstamp don't match up. So, am I out of luck to bring my "Hammer of Thor" to my first Safari?

I appreciate any advise anyone has re: this issue. Thanks a million in advance.
Rick T.

 

[richteb]

Rick, not sure about RSA as when I overnighted there SAPS did not check any ammo on arrival, however I know from other threads that this not always the case. Maybe you need to discuss this with your outfitter. However when we arrived in Zim there they physically checked and counted my rounds, so in your case it would be a problem. Hope this helps.

 

[spike.t]

best for rifle and ammo to match. youre not going till may is there no way you can get some cases stamped with the same as what is on your rifle? this will equal less stress and worry when you arrive wondering if the ammo will be checked. dont know about sa so maybe they dont make a habit of checking, but as richteb said they do in zim, and they look and count when you go to zambia as well, as they charge import duty on the ammo in zambia. P.S. welcome to AH as well.

 

[35bore]

Welcome to the forum,

May be too simple of an answer, but take it to the guy that reamed out the rifle initially, and have him re stamp the barrel 300 wm to match the brass. While he is at it he could stamp "Hammer of Thor" on it as well....

 

[BRICKBURN]

Welcome to the forum,

May be too simple of an answer, but take it to the guy that reamed out the rifle initially, and have him re stamp the barrel 300 wm to match the brass. While he is at it he could stamp "Hammer of Thor" on it as well....

Welcome to AH. This sounds like a good idea or just pull out the Dremel tool and do it yourself.

 

[Nyati]

Welcome to the forum, Rick, SAPS never checked my ammo, but, just to be on the safe side, it s better if stamping on barrel and ammo match.

 

[enysse]

Welcome to AH!

I would get the barrel to match the ammo.

 

[weaselthis]

Thank you ALL for your timely suggestions. Much appreciated.
Don't think I can restamp the brass, but the bbbl. MIGHT be doable. It is not indexed fully from the OEM stamping, but the Remington 700 RM stamp IS visible on the ride side. I suppose I could get a smith to stamp the left side of the bbl. w/ 300 Win. Mag. Don't think I can get it stamped OVER the OEM stamping and be readable. Don't wann confuse anyone not familiar w/ how ammo is made up from other brass and have to answer a million questions about THAT! I'm not worried about someone trying to actually chamber a 300 Winnie round...but my luck would be, some sharp eyed SAP member would question why there are TWO stampings on the bbl.

lol......Don't really know why I'm complaining......guess a new rifle is in order. Sounds like wifey gets some new jewelry and a nice dinner out! Take care folks. Thanks for the great advise and great info resource on African hunting. I've learned a LOT in 6 months here!

 

[ikeda]

The only thing checked when I went to SA was the serial number of the rifle. When crossing into Zimbabwe they counted the rounds but did not look close enough to notice a head stamp. Sooo...

 

[35bore]

Thank you ALL for your timely suggestions. Much appreciated.
Don't think I can restamp the brass, but the bbbl. MIGHT be doable. It is not indexed fully from the OEM stamping, but the Remington 700 RM stamp IS visible on the ride side. I suppose I could get a smith to stamp the left side of the bbl. w/ 300 Win. Mag. Don't think I can get it stamped OVER the OEM stamping and be readable. Don't wann confuse anyone not familiar w/ how ammo is made up from other brass and have to answer a million questions about THAT! I'm not worried about someone trying to actually chamber a 300 Winnie round...but my luck would be, some sharp eyed SAP member would question why there are TWO stampings on the bbl.

lol......Don't really know why I'm complaining......guess a new rifle is in order. Sounds like wifey gets some new jewelry and a nice dinner out! Take care folks. Thanks for the great advise and great info resource on African hunting. I've learned a LOT in 6 months here!

Seen this process done in the past. They simply XXXXout the current chambering and stamp the new one right under the XXXX. Shouldn't be any confusion, then again????

 

[weaselthis]

Seen this process done in the past. They simply XXXXout the current chambering and stamp the new one right under the XXXX. Shouldn't be any confusion, then again????

35bore/Ikeda: You'd THINK everything would be hunky dory, huh? I'm the guy who, out of 34 motorcycles in a pack, got pulled out of the line by CHP for a sobriety check. "Why me?", says I. "Why not you? We can only stop one at a time", says they. They could have got ANYONE else and bingoed, but that day I was on the wagon! As sure as the sun rises, if it can go wrong it will when I walk thru the door. Just trying to cover all the bases and not ruin anyones trip...mine or my wife's, but especially my bud and his wife. I HATE being "that guy" who causes all the grief.
But, back on track, thanks for the ideas all of you. I'll probably wind up stamping over the OEM stuff. Gotta check w/ PH & GS first. I can't believe I'm the first person to ever try and bring a wildcat cartridge rifle in SA. Even if I stamp the bbl. w/ "300 Win Mag" tho, it's really NOT. I, too worry someone will say "WTH, over. Why the two stamp trick?" They won't pull out calipers and check bullet diameter, I hope! lol

 

[enysse]

They won't pull out calipers and check bullet diameter, I hope! lol

They certainly will not! They will look for bribes or something else. That is why I would have the caliber match the bullets. But I think you understand the problem.

 

[weaselthis]

They certainly will not! They will look for bribes or something else. That is why I would have the caliber match the bullets. But I think you understand the problem.

Yeah, I think I got it. "Always something, never nothing" . I'm thinking the 280 Ackley is going
to to SA or a new rifle is in order. Almost not worth the hassle nor the uncertainty. Still haven'
t heard back from the PH but don't think he will offer anything more than the wealth of knowledge here. It is what it
is. Thanks for all the help guys. It IS appreciated!

 

[BRICKBURN]

.......... I'm thinking ........ a new rifle is in order. ..........

This is always a good solution!