Is it worth the trouble to take your own gun ?
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Jon P
Well-Known Member
Obviously every one would like to use a gun they are used to, but with all the hoops you have to jump through to get one to Africa,is it not better to use the outfitters? What’s the average cost for using a half decent gun for a 5/7 day trip?
Hi . I went out to Africa last year , and was planning to go this May but that had to be cancelled, I took my own rifle as wanted to be comfortable taking the shot and any follow up shots, Kudu don’t come cheap and I did not want any incidents, i had a look through the scope my PH was using and I was glad I took my own scope. I was using a .308 tikka T3 last year and now also have a .300 win mag Mauser M12 and the Mauser safety catch has taken some getting used to. I would not want to be getting used to it on a £1000 animal. I am also fairly tall and when I used a friends rifle out foxing on night I found his scope to far back as he is 6 inches shorter then me. However if your PH is using the same kit as you it could be feasible
Jon P
Well-Known Member
Hi . I went out to Africa last year , and was planning to go this May but that had to be cancelled, I took my own rifle as wanted to be comfortable taking the shot and any follow up shots, Kudu don’t come cheap and I did not want any incidents, i had a look through the scope my PH was using and I was glad I took my own scope. I was using a .308 tikka T3 last year and now also have a .300 win mag Mauser M12 and the Mauser safety catch has taken some getting used to. I would not want to be getting used to it on a £1000 animal . I am also fairly tall and when I used a friends rifle out foxing on night I found his scope to far back as he is 6 inches shorter then me. However if your PH is using the same kit as you it could be feasible
. I am also fairly tall and when I used a friends rifle out foxing on night I found his scope to far back as he is 6 inches shorter then me. However if your PH is using the same kit as you it could be feasible 
For me the question is simple...
If I was to go stalking in the UK would I be comfortable using an estate rifle i.e. feel I have enough familiarity with the rifle, trigger and ammunition to be as confident as if I was using my own rifle.
The answer has always been "No" and I only use my own rifle/s in the UK. So why would I spend all of the time and money it takes to hunt abroad just to feel unsettled and lacking confidence on the shot. I deserve better and the animal certainly deserves me to be feeling confident so I can be the best hunter I can be when I pull the trigger.
It may be different for others but for me it is either the case that I can use my own rifle or I find somewhere different to go where I can use my own rifle. The only situation that I may feel differently would be if I didn't have a suitable rifle but then I would want some decent time on the range to become familiar with the kit before facing anything live.
If I was to go stalking in the UK would I be comfortable using an estate rifle i.e. feel I have enough familiarity with the rifle, trigger and ammunition to be as confident as if I was using my own rifle.
The answer has always been "No" and I only use my own rifle/s in the UK. So why would I spend all of the time and money it takes to hunt abroad just to feel unsettled and lacking confidence on the shot. I deserve better and the animal certainly deserves me to be feeling confident so I can be the best hunter I can be when I pull the trigger.
It may be different for others but for me it is either the case that I can use my own rifle or I find somewhere different to go where I can use my own rifle. The only situation that I may feel differently would be if I didn't have a suitable rifle but then I would want some decent time on the range to become familiar with the kit before facing anything live.
tusker
Well-Known Member
To invest many thousands of pounds on a dream safari and leave it to trust of an unknown rifle, scope and ammo is IMO madness.
I can only relate to SA and Namibia. SA is a total unessassery ball ache and be prepared to miss your connecting flight or pay a "bride" to get someone to do their job.
Namibia is sooooo easy and you can email all your firearms details in advance, you should be no longer than 10 minutes and last time I took 2 rifles. One of the main reasons I will no longer go to SA.
Tusker
I can only relate to SA and Namibia. SA is a total unessassery ball ache and be prepared to miss your connecting flight or pay a "bride" to get someone to do their job.
Namibia is sooooo easy and you can email all your firearms details in advance, you should be no longer than 10 minutes and last time I took 2 rifles. One of the main reasons I will no longer go to SA.
Tusker
Tusker have you tried Air2000 hunter support for pre prepped SAP paperwork when travelling in or through SA?
S
Donnachaidh
Well-Known Member
The decision was made for me in 2018 when I found out 6 days before going to Namibia that Qatar Airways were temporarily unable to carry firearms. I had intended to take my moderated .30-06, but ended up renting an unmoderated .300 Winmag with a trigger pull that must have been about 6lbs (as a safety measure). It took quite a bit of getting used to, which isn't ideal when you've only got a few days hunting.
Some outfitters will have first class equipment, well maintained, and looked after, others not so much.
If you're spending £ thousands on a trip, do you want to take a chance on what you may have to shoot with ?
If you have specific knowledge of the rifles, and scopes they use, then at least, you know what you're letting yourself in for !
If you're spending £ thousands on a trip, do you want to take a chance on what you may have to shoot with ?
If you have specific knowledge of the rifles, and scopes they use, then at least, you know what you're letting yourself in for !
Gsd99
Well-Known Member
Its clearly personal preference but i feel like you will get alot of people jump on here telling you that they take their own rifles and thats great.
Just to put your mind at ease Ive shot in Europe, Africa and NZ and have never taken my own rifle. Have taken probably near enough 30 species with other peoples rifles/shotguns.
Confidence definitely affects your shooting but most good guides will let you get use to the rifle anyway ( it benefits them aswell as you to kill the animals humanely and quickly). Not the best shot in the world but i like to think i can put a three round group into a three inch circle at 100yards with any functioning rifle, plenty good enough for me.
Josh
Just to put your mind at ease Ive shot in Europe, Africa and NZ and have never taken my own rifle. Have taken probably near enough 30 species with other peoples rifles/shotguns.
Confidence definitely affects your shooting but most good guides will let you get use to the rifle anyway ( it benefits them aswell as you to kill the animals humanely and quickly). Not the best shot in the world but i like to think i can put a three round group into a three inch circle at 100yards with any functioning rifle, plenty good enough for me.
Josh
Namman
Well-Known Member
As Tusker said , taking rifles to Namibia is easy. South Africa, even with the help of one of these agencies that help with the paperwork, is a nightmare especially when you have internal connections to catch.
Not taking my own rifles would spoil my hunt. One of the great pleasures in going on safari is getting your kit ready , including making the best ammo you can for your intended hunt.
Not taking my own rifles would spoil my hunt. One of the great pleasures in going on safari is getting your kit ready , including making the best ammo you can for your intended hunt.
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Have been through SA Jo'berg twice with firearms. Terrible experience and enough to put most sane people off ever returning with a firearm. However, there is something special about using your own rifle. Two of our little group have double rifles and what a shame that would be not to take them out to Africa.
Was due back out to Mozambique at the back end of this year but that just looks to have been kicked into the long grass.
In the big scheme of things nothing to fret about. Hoping the Outfitter will 'hold over' our deposits and that SAA exists in some form or other in 2021/2.
In the meanwhile I am reduced to just using this...
Was due back out to Mozambique at the back end of this year but that just looks to have been kicked into the long grass.
In the big scheme of things nothing to fret about. Hoping the Outfitter will 'hold over' our deposits and that SAA exists in some form or other in 2021/2.
In the meanwhile I am reduced to just using this...
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Skietindiekop
Well-Known Member
Only once have I used a rented rifle due to BA incompetence (will never fly with them again) and I was lucky as my PH had decent kit. However 2 of the other 4 hunters were not so lucky and one ended going 2 on 1 to get a reasonable rifle and the other had a spoiled trip.
Jo burg firearm personnel are corrupt but the trick is to show a wad of SMALL notes. They think they are getting fifty quid but end up with 5 to 10
Jo burg firearm personnel are corrupt but the trick is to show a wad of SMALL notes. They think they are getting fifty quid but end up with 5 to 10
TH4
Well-Known Member
Have been to SA several times with firearms and do not find the paperwork a problem, you can fill it in prior to arrival but do not sign it. Engage the services of a good meet and greet company and they will make sure it all goes smoothly. If you have a communicating flight just time your arrival so that you have some leeway in case of emergency. I personally do not see any point in travelling thousands of miles and paying thousands of pounds to take a chance on the quality of rifle and glass that may be available in the camp. For a lot of people it will be a once in a lifetime trip, why spoil it just because of the hassle of doing some paperwork. Also if your rifle is conditioned solely for use abroad will the police allow you to keep it if you dont take it abroad.
CarlW
Well-Known Member
Jo'burg is easy to navigate once you've done it a few times. Just triple-check your paperwork, be resolute and refuse to back down: the last thing they want is a scene involving their superiors.
If you want to give someone else the headache then, as @sh1kar says, just call Anne at Hunter Support, and get one of her lads to manage it for you.
Kind regards,
Carl
If you want to give someone else the headache then, as @sh1kar says, just call Anne at Hunter Support, and get one of her lads to manage it for you.
Kind regards,
Carl
levigsp
Well-Known Member
I have to admit Ive done both, used my own and the outfitters. I must say that the outfitters Ive come across have had brilliant equipment and enough of it for me to pick and choose what I wanted, hence the reason for forgoing taking my own. I can understand why people want to take there own but in my case age and aggro at airports tell me to leave them at home. Its a different story if I wish to hunt in Europe or the States, I always look and never see an outfitters guns that will fit me or suit my style of shooting.
TH4
Well-Known Member
Most outfitters I know charge between 20 and 50 pounds a day plus ammo depending on where you are hunting and the quality and calibre of rifle.
Hanechdene
Well-Known Member
I have hunted in SA a few times now and have only had trouble once.
That was down to the serial number been incorrect on my firearms certificate which neither myself or the FEO had noticed over two renewals.
Filling out the paperwork is straight forward enough and as long as you have all of the supporting information then there is no hassle. I now take photocopies of all the supporting information in a labelled bundle hand that over with the SAP form which dramatically speeds up the process.
The stressful part in Jo’burg is the cue for immigration, it seems to longer each year to clear especially when you have just under 3 hours to make the take flight.
My preference is to hunt with the rifles I am used to. I like a light trigger crisp which most PH rifles I have encountered are not.
That was down to the serial number been incorrect on my firearms certificate which neither myself or the FEO had noticed over two renewals.
Filling out the paperwork is straight forward enough and as long as you have all of the supporting information then there is no hassle. I now take photocopies of all the supporting information in a labelled bundle hand that over with the SAP form which dramatically speeds up the process.
The stressful part in Jo’burg is the cue for immigration, it seems to longer each year to clear especially when you have just under 3 hours to make the take flight.
My preference is to hunt with the rifles I am used to. I like a light trigger crisp which most PH rifles I have encountered are not.
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