Thanksgiving Week: My experience flying with a firearm

[tanks]

^^^^^Nice. That might make things easier.
How does it lock?
Would also like some input on transportation of rifles to Africa.

It comes with either a regular or a TSA lock, you pick when ordering.

Transporting rifles to Africa is pretty easy. Same airline rules apply as domestic as international.

In addition you will need a customs form from the US Customs showing make, model and serial number (so you can bring it back and also proves you are the owner). You also have to get a permit at the destination country for entry. Usually the Safari company will provide the information and the forms. I usually hire an expediter at RSA ($100) to fast track it for me. One caveat, at RSA one can bring only one rifle per caliber. So, I'll bring a .500 for main and .416 or a .458 for back up. It is a bit of a pain as I would need two different calibers of ammo. Solids and hollow points that have the same POI for each gun.

Semi-automatic rifles are not allowed in majority, if not all, of African countries. If you wish to hunt with a pistol that requires a few extra hoops to jump through as well.

For an extended hunting trip bring a companion. She can act as an ammo mule (an extra 11 lbs) and also keep you warm at night. You will not have too many rounds at 500/450 grain bullets using 90+ grains of powder.

[splithoof]

^^^^^Thank you for the helpful info. Looking to take a safari maybe next year upon retirement. Nothing too large, mainly buffalo and plains game. Primary for buff is a .375; for smaller plains game it will be one of my .308's.
Good suggestion about an ammo mule.

[RobinGoodfellow]

Ammo

Wanted to keep the experience as bare as possible this time around. Next time I'll be taking a larger SnapSafe to include 100rds inside to see how that changes the experience.

My guess is they see all this on X-Ray, and come grab you if they think they see a loaded mag in the firearm, one in the chamber, or if they see loose ammo in the case (all which break TSA regulations and rules).

If you carry ammo, remember it is supposed to be in a factory box.

[RobinGoodfellow]

That's been my experience

My experience is generally the same. But one time (I think it was LAX) the agent got real flustered when I declared--I think I popped her cherry.

[tanks]

^^^^^Thank you for the helpful info. Looking to take a safari maybe next year upon retirement. Nothing too large, mainly buffalo and plains game. Primary for buff is a .375; for smaller plains game it will be one of my .308's.
Good suggestion about an ammo mule.

People's view on calibers vary. My view on the Big 5 and the cats is to go as big as one can comfortably shoot. I am also more "scared" of buffalo than elephants, those suckers are tough and will keep on coming. I switched to larger calibers from .375 H&H after a close encounter with a heart shot buffalo that did not know it was dead. For plains game I'd recommend .300 Win Mag. While it is fine for some plains game .308 is marginal on some others at best, with the .300WM you are covered for all plains game.