Reloading cases from South Africa

[Matabele]

Hi all,

On a recent trip to South Africa I managed to find some new Norma 9.3x74R cases, and bought up 180 of them.
I was hoping to bring them back with me, as they are unregulated in SA but of course it wasn't as simple as that.

I was wondering if anyone knows of a company or courier in SA that would be able to ship them to the UK?
I have been in touch with Sporting Services, here in the UK, who said they are able to receive them on their open import licence I just need to find a company willing to ship them.

Any advice appreciated!

 

[Cyres]

What on earth is the issue?. They are brass cylinders. Why not post them.
D

 

[Leec6.5]

As above just post them to yourself

 

[Matabele]

Unfortunately it doesnt seem as though it's that easy. No courier like DHL, FEDEX will accept them. You can try and get them through as "brass scrap" but if they are flagged during security screening they'll be confiscated apparently.

 

[Essexsussex]

Unfortunately it doesnt seem as though it's that easy. No courier like DHL, FEDEX will accept them. You can try and get them through as "brass scrap" but if they are flagged during security screening they'll be confiscated apparently.

Tool making equipment?

 

[enfieldspares]

If they are unregulated in South Africa then, by extension, they can be sent through the South African postal service? And confirmation of that sought at any post office there?

 

[Heym SR20]

Just buy some in the UK. Unless you can bring it back yourself in your hold luggage, anything firearms related The embuggerance factorof shipping internationally is generally on the far far too high side.

 

[takbok]

If they are unregulated in South Africa then, by extension, they can be sent through the South African postal service? And confirmation of that sought at any post office there?

What postal service?

 

[Matabele]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I was hoping to avoid the 3-4 month wait time for new cases, and was prepared to pay a bit extra for the privilege to get them shipped to me. Ah well, back to the drawing board.

 

[M@tt]

I don't mean to hijack the thread but I might have some 9.3x74R cases available.
Just had some stuff turn up from a friend who sadly passed. Do you want them as a parent case for converting to something else?

Don't want anything for them but I'd rather pass on than drop in the scrap.

 

[Matabele]

I don't mean to hijack the thread but I might have some 9.3x74R cases available.
Just had some stuff turn up from a friend who sadly passed. Do you want them as a parent case for converting to something else?

Don't want anything for them but I'd rather pass on than drop in the scrap.

Hi mate, sorry to hear about your friend and thanks very much for the offer. I'm pretty well sorted for once fired brass though, it would be a shame for me to sit on them when someone else might be able to use them for working up loads etc. You could put them up on the classifieds perhaps.

Did you have any projectiles by any chance?

 

[M@tt]

I picked up a large bucket of bits earlier this week and there are some bullets, but I haven't found out what size yet.
And some old berdan primers, slightly corroded. Haven't seen them in a while.

 

[Jagdmatch]

Hi mate, sorry to hear about your friend and thanks very much for the offer. I'm pretty well sorted for once fired brass though, it would be a shame for me to sit on them when someone else might be able to use them for working up loads etc. You could put them up on the classifieds perhaps.

Did you have any projectiles by any chance?

Speak to Pete Watson at MME bullets. He supplies me with 286 Gn 9.3 projectiles . Sensible priced

 

[Fabnosh]

Just as a note, for years I’ve brought back my fired .308 and .375 cases in hold luggage. In April however, I got called back to the gate (East London) and there I had them removed and confiscated. My protestations proved useless…..as one would expect.

Back in the UK I challenged Safair to explain their policy on transporting fired brass and effectively said ‘not us gov, it’s SAPS jurisdiction’. I’ve now contacted SAPS three times to explain and the silence is deafening.

But of a nuisance as the cases, especially the .375 cases, are expensive.

FN

 

[Matabele]

Speak to Pete Watson at MME bullets. He supplies me with 286 Gn 9.3 projectiles . Sensible priced

Thanks for the suggestion I'll give them a try!

 

[Matabele]

Just as a note, for years I’ve brought back my fired .308 and .375 cases in hold luggage. In April however, I got called back to the gate (East London) and there I had them removed and confiscated. My protestations proved useless…..as one would expect.

Back in the UK I challenged Safair to explain their policy on transporting fired brass and effectively said ‘not us gov, it’s SAPS jurisdiction’. I’ve now contacted SAPS three times to explain and the silence is deafening.

But of a nuisance as the cases, especially the .375 cases, are expensive.

FN

Were you travelling with your firearms as well I assume, as opposed to using your outfitters guns? I had a similar experience although at OR Tambo, I had a look on the BA website prior to flying and was told as long as I declare them at check-in to verify they are inert all should be well. Naturally it wasn't.
The lady at check-in did say if I was travelling with my firearms I could have brought them back. It seems there's a different rule depending on the day.

 

[M@tt]

Did you have any projectiles by any chance?

Went through the bucket. There are some 45Colt bullets, and a few old Silvalube 9mm, 38 and 44. Haven't seen them since the pistol ban.
Sorry, no 9.3mm. On closer inspection the cases had been trimmed down to make a different case, possibly 38-55.
There were a load of case types/sizes that were used as donors for other cartridges. Ever seen a .357 case necked down to .22cal? The .22Rem Jet.

 

[Matabele]

Went through the bucket. There are some 45Colt bullets, and a few old Silvalube 9mm, 38 and 44. Haven't seen them since the pistol ban.
Sorry, no 9.3mm. On closer inspection the cases had been trimmed down to make a different case, possibly 38-55.
There were a load of case types/sizes that were used as donors for other cartridges. Ever seen a .357 case necked down to .22cal? The .22Rem Jet.

Not to worry, thanks for looking though! I have never seen a .22 Rem Jet although heard of it...your mate must have had quite the collection in his time.

 

[Heym SR20]

Just as a note, for years I’ve brought back my fired .308 and .375 cases in hold luggage. In April however, I got called back to the gate (East London) and there I had them removed and confiscated. My protestations proved useless…..as one would expect.

Back in the UK I challenged Safair to explain their policy on transporting fired brass and effectively said ‘not us gov, it’s SAPS jurisdiction’. I’ve now contacted SAPS three times to explain and the silence is deafening.

But of a nuisance as the cases, especially the .375 cases, are expensive.

FN

We might think that empty brass is just bits of harmless brass. But those in authority treat anything to do with guns and ammunition with great suspicion.

In the old days at the end of last century, visiting hunters to Africa would leave their unused ammo behind for the PH and his staff. Ammo was pretty much unobtainable in places like Zim or Zambia, and the only ammo available was what visiting hunters brought with them. Perhaps this is again the case, and a quiet word has been had with the airport staff to encourage visiting hunters to leave unused ammo behind.

 

[Fabnosh]

As it happens, I did leave live ammunition behind, these were just the empties.

FN