Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Rifle Case(s)

Looking for recommendations on how best to bring three rifles to Africa.

Ok EdM can you be a little more specific please? Which part to get the rifles here are you enquiring about?

I need to transport two scoped and one open sighted rifle from the States to South Africa for a hunt. Thought the title indicated so but the message clearly didn't. Sorry about that.

Nice case, nice price

http://www.americase.com/catalog/rifle-cases/at3gun.aspx

Depending on the size of the open sighted rifle, you might be able to fit it into a two-gun case, but it would be a tight fit.

Sometimes I am a little dumb and mostly completely so. Are you looking for a rifle case that will fit 3 rifles or for the procedure to bring 3 rifles into SA?

Remember the airline you use may have a weight restriction on the number of rifles.

Tuff Pak !!!

Pieter's right. It depends on exactly what you are asking for. I assumed you were just talking about the case. I also assumed that you really did want to bring 3 rifles and had therefore accepted the fact that you'd most likely be paying overweight charges to the airline to get a big heavy case over there.

I know it depends on exactly what you want to do when in Africa, but 3 rifles seems like more hassle than it is worth to me. For my next trip, I will seriously consider only bringing one rifle to keep the hassles to a minimum, but I also realize the attraction of having multiple rifles for multiple purposes.

I leave in 10 days or so. I am borrowing a rifle from the PH. I would like to have my own rifle but the hassle of red tape and of lugging it around isn't worth it. Luckily, my PH has a couple good ones I can use.

I have found it relatively simple process to take two rifles to RSA for hunting. There are a number to specialist that can help, and they are worth the small cost. Air2000 and Gracy travel, turner travel are some that know their stuff.

I don't think you're allowed to take 3 rifles to South Africa. I believe the maximum is two rifles or handguns or a combination thereof and one shotgun and they all must be of different bore diameters.

Perfect assumption. There are four of us hunting hence the rifles. If it were only me it would be one rifle as it was last time. I am looking for how best to case them and transport them by airline from San Antonio Texas to J-Burg where they will stay for a bit. Steve Turner as done all of the arrangements for the entire trip which includes both game parks stays in Botswana and Zimbabwe and hunting in the Eastern Cape.

yep

Yes you can and in this case I would recommend you do a pre-clearance. Seeing as you have been here before you will know about the restrictions on which rifles you may not bring along. If not, PM me and I'll let you have the details.

The Tuff Pak mentioned would be the ideal rifle case. They have an octagonal one with plenty of space and you can even fit some other stuff in there also.

Have you started packing yet?

I took 3 to Africa on my first hunt, and they all fit in the one 2 gun case I had, but was tight. Don't buy junk, go with the metal ones. There were metal ones that were wider than normal, and that's what I used at the time. I don't know what they bit is on too heavy..my normal metal case with 2 rifles probably weighs like 25 lbs, max, so 30 or thereabouts with 3. If you want to save weight, don't take a bunch of clothes you don't need. Unless you're staying over for tourist stuff, 3 sets of underwear and socks, 4 at most, and a couple outer shirts and pants, all you'll need, and your hunting shoes/boots. Almost will fit in an overnight bag (we ain't girls here). I use a suitcase that's made of steel, so a lot heavier than the cordora ones, and with all my clothes, and ammo in it, etc and the gun case with 2 rifles, etc. I was within weight limits. Took meds, toiletries, etc, in the carry on bag.. I don't know of any weight limit, per bag, unless it's like 50 lbs or something.

Yes the Tuff Pak was what I was thinking but was curious for alternatives. Last trip I took one rifle and the balance of my stuff in an SKB hardshell golf case and it worked well though it did take a beating.

Pre-clearance is worked and packing is well under way but, unfortunately, I am here in Kazakhstan so my dear wife is doing it all so she is a touch nervous as you can imagine. She and the boy's will meet me in J'Burg as I will be flying direct from and back to Kaz. Skype is allowing us to keep it together...

Appreciate the views of all.

Tuff Pak. Took three rifles to SA (2 hunters) several years ago. No problems.

Used the Tuff Pak to take 2 to Namibia more recently, as well as some clothes in the Pak. No problems encountered.

The last I remember, international travel gives you a 70 lbs bag limit, not the 50 lbs domestic flight limit. But I'd check that to be sure.

I was told no handguns in RSA. Can you bring in a Contender?

Yes Randy you can. There are a few more forms we need to fill out but if you want to shoot it it is possible. Had a couple hunters a while back with 44's and they shot really good with them.

Tuffpak!

Get you some foam, and cut it to fit the bottom of the tuffpak to add a layer of cushion for the rifles. I tape the muzzles (to protect the crown) and remove the bolts. Wrap bolts in bubble wrap and place in a small day pack. Place each rifle in a soft zippered case.

Pack the rifles in the soft cases barrel down in the tuffpak. Place day pack and perhaps a jacket for additional cushion between the rifles so they don't shift around much in the case.

When TSA and SAPS want to inspect the rifle, all they need to do is unzip the soft case partially in order to lift the rifle out enough to verify the serial number, make, and caliber.

Do the airlines charge you for oversize an container with TuffPaks these days? The dimensions total more than the 62" allowed these days...

Thanks!