Firearm restrictions

[publius]

I imagine the limit on the number of guns you can take to Africa is frustrating to most of us.. To make matters worse is S. Africa is the worst allowing only 2 guns. Is SCI or someone lobbying to get this changed?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I imagine the limit on the number of guns you can take to Africa is frustrating to most of us.. To make matters worse is S. Africa is the worst allowing only 2 guns. Is SCI or someone lobbying to get this changed?

Hmm, I’ve taken 3 rifles to RSA to n the past with no problem. Which is about one too many, some would say 2 too many. Are you sure it’s only 2, and if so are you sure you need more?

 

[publius]

No, I'm not sure. I read it somewhere on here. PG rifle, DG rifle, 375 backup to first two, shotgun.

 

[WAB]

I’ve taken three to SA as well. It didn’t seem to be an issue. However, I agree with Wheels, that is at least one too many.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I took 3 rifles this year. No issues at all, Henry at RiflePermits did all the paper work ahead of time. Just no two of the same caliber if I remember correctly.

 

[WAB]

I actually took two of the same caliber but had to send a letter with the application explaining why.

 

[Vinootz]

I imagine the limit on the number of guns you can take to Africa is frustrating to most of us.. To make matters worse is S. Africa is the worst allowing only 2 guns. Is SCI or someone lobbying to get this changed?

How many does one really need? A .375 should handle most anything and serve as a fairly good all around. Personally, I’d be satisfied with a 30-06 and live with the risk.
But yes, I do see your point. A wider range of cartridges could be more efficient when considering optimum game weight(OGW).
On the other hand a guy like me might end up coming home in a casket-lol. Where you stand a better chance of coming home alive. Lobbying wouldn’t hurt.

 

[Philip Glass]

As has been stated you can take three but you shouldnt. Unless you are going for several very long and very different hunts you should not take 3 rifles. I am just saying it would be a rare circumstance that it is truly warranted. The reason is that you will never have the "right gun" handy. This is why the .375 is so popular. It can hunt it all. For PG the .300Win covers it.
I had a dilema for my upcoming hunts and contemplated taking essentially 3 rifles being a double and my R8 with two barrels. I have a buffalo and elephant hunt in Zim followed immediately by Tanzania PG hunt in Massailand. I decided I would be better off with just the double amd the R8 in .300Win. Hauling ammo for 3 calibers also gets to be an issue.
As I always say it is fun planning a safari and making these decisions!

 

[WAB]

As has been stated you can take three but you shouldnt. Unless you are going for several very long and very different hunts you should not take 3 rifles. I am just saying it would be a rare circumstance that it is truly warranted. The reason is that you will never have the "right gun" handy. This is why the .375 is so popular. It can hunt it all. For PG the .300Win covers it.
I had a dilema for my upcoming hunts and contemplated taking essentially 3 rifles being a double and my R8 with two barrels. I have a buffalo and elephant hunt in Zim followed immediately by Tanzania PG hunt in Massailand. I decided I would be better off with just the double amd the R8 in .300Win. Hauling ammo for 3 calibers also gets to be an issue.
As I always say it is fun planning a safari and making these decisions!

I tend to agree, but it is difficult when you have allowed the herd in the safe to grow to such ungainly proportions! I must say, that the time I took three I was doing three consecutive safaris. Only one was for buffalo, hence the .458 Lott which actually stayed at Africa Sky during the other two safaris.

I also tend to take a shotgun as I love to do a little bird hunting while I am there.

 

[publius]

Does each barrel on an R8 count as a separate weapon?

 

[Mopani]

Interesting topic. I‘m living in South Africa, over the years I have sold all my other guns - kept just one: a double barrel in 9.3x74R. With that I do all my hunting.

 

[Andrew62]

Interesting topic. I‘m living in South Africa, over the years I have sold all my other guns - kept just one: a double barrel in 9.3x74R. With that I do all my hunting.

I’ve hunted Africa 15 times, just bought a 9.3x74R double and want to start taking a series of hunts with it. I’ve booked 4 Cape buffalo hunts with it, should be good humor!

 

[Spooksar]

Airlines only allowed 11 pounds of ammo so while you may take 3 remember you will take else ammo for each.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I imagine the limit on the number of guns you can take to Africa is frustrating to most of us.. To make matters worse is S. Africa is the worst allowing only 2 guns. Is SCI or someone lobbying to get this changed?

It might be frustrating if you are planning an invasion. For hunting???

SCI suggesting a foreign country should change its laws to allow foreigners in with more firearms, really?

If you can demonstrate that you require multiple firearms to go hunting, feel free to apply on your SAPS520. Note the actual SAPS guidance below.

"A temporary import permit will only be issued at the port of entry to the following persons ​

To a foreign visitor for the purpose of hunting.

To a foreign visitor to display the firearm and ammunition at a trade show or collections show or to display firearms and ammunition at a sports or hunting trade show.

To an official of a foreign government or a distinguished foreign visitor so designated by the SA Department of Foreign Affairs.

To a foreign law enforcement officer entering the Republic of South Africa on an officially approved policing assignment. To a foreign visitor to participate in a competitive sports shooting event, organised by recognised business, hunting, sport-shooting or collectors organisation.

If the applicant is twenty one (21) years of age and older.

If the rifles is not semi-automatic or fully automatic of action or hand carbines.

For only one(1) firearm per caliber.

Not more than two hundred (200) rounds of ammunition capable to be fired by the firearm imported.

For any other reasons the application must be submitted to the Central Firearms Control Register, Private Bag X 811, Pretoria, South Africa, 0001."

https://www.saps.gov.za/services/flash/firearms/importation.php

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

At the beginning of your hunt where you have all your quarry open I should think a single rifle capable of any of them is the logical choice because you can't predict what chances will present themselves.
Later, when you have taken all of your PG and just remain with the buff there is no point in having the light rifle, and vice versa.
So at least one rifle will be redundant most of the time. All seems to point to the one kills all approach.

 

[Mopani]

Interesting topic. I‘m living in South Africa, over the years I have sold all my other guns - kept just one: a double barrel in 9.3x74R. With that I do all my hunting.

By the way, my double is a Krieghoff Classic Big Five which is extremely accurate and it’s easy to regulate the barrels, so the right barrel I can use comparable to a precise single-shot rifle.

For day hunting I use a Zeiss 1.1-4x24, for shooting bushpigs at night with the moons’s assistance the telescope is a Zeiss 2.5-10x52.