Blaser - any dificulties bringing multiple barrels on hunt in southern Africa?

[Hunter4752001]

I've often considered buying a Blaser R8. Several reasons, one of the main ones being the ability to have one rifle covering several calibres for different types of game. Essentially one set of muscle memory for everything from .22 to 458 and beyond.

For me, the ideal combination for an Africa hunt would be a 458 Lott and a 300 WM. With respect to South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique,:

• Are multi barrel rifles permitted?
• Does this create complications with the temporary import process?
• Do all of the barrels have to have serial number?
• Any other complications?

 

[Tanks]

As far as I know no issues, many of the forum members have done this. It does confuse the people doing customs control a bit but if serial numbers on the 4457 match the permit then no issue. Yes, you do need to put the barrel serial # and caliber on all paperwork especially if you wish to bring the ammo for it.

BTW, all Blaser barrels do have serial numbers from the factory.

 

[One Day...]

NO issue whatsoever. You just list the rifle stock serial number and each of the barrels serial number on the SAPS 520.

For example, here is what my wife's looked liked last weeks:

And mine:

I like your proposed battery Hunter4752001. Mine is .458 Lott; .300 Wby and .257 Wby. I just have the .257 Wby barrel listed on my wife's CBP 4457 and on her SAPS 520 alongside her .270 Win and 9.3x62, this way I also have room for my double .470. I carry the double on DG hunts, and ask a tracker to carry the scoped .458 in case I only get a longish shot (by 470 standards)

I know that a lot of folks will say that it is too much, but since it does not cost a penny more, or an additional piece of paperwork, why not ??? I like the .257 Wby for mountain hunting in the Karoo; the .300 Wby for Kudu, and the .45+ for DG. It just worked perfectly for me for the last 3 weeks in SA...

My shot at this Kalahari lion ended up being at 100 yards after several days of tracking. I was glad to exchange the .470 double for the scoped R8 .458 Lott (500 gr TSX)...

The .300 Wby (165 gr TTSX) was a no brainer for the Kalahari Southern Greater Kudu. It was an easy shot at 175 yards, and one round did the job...

This Eastern Cape Kudu ended up being a last light 517 yards shot, prone, resting on a rock after a 3 miles stalk. I can hardly imagine a better choice than .300 Wby (165 gr TTSX)...

And I will continue to argue that there is nothing better than the .257 Wby (100 gr TTSX) for MG (Mountain Game)... The Klipspringer was a difficult 295 yards shot, the Vaal Rhebok was an easy 175 yards shot.

And of course, the .257 Wby (100 gr TTSX) will also do anything in between, like this truly "monster" Bushbuck...

 

[yhc]

As stated above. Each Blaser R8 bbl does have its own SN so you have to list each bbl individually..

 

[Hunter4752001]

Thanks to all for the information. My bank balance probably wishes you had said it couldn't be done. LOL.

ps. @One Day... Congrats. Impressive results.

 

[Tra3]

Nice @One Day...

Another point about traveling with the R8, Consider the rifle case layout so the serial numbers are visible without removing the barrels. The stock receive you’ll have to remove to show the numbers. If you put your scopes in your carry on, I’d list their serial numbers on 4457 as well.

Finally, check each country regarding how many calibers you can bring. I recall Namibia was only 2 calibers.