[curtis]

ok i am going up north on vacation saturday. i want to bring some spent brass and one bullet that i pulled from a round to give to my cousins 13 year old son as a souvenier should i declare i have it to the tsa before they scan the luggage?
i know loaded ammo has to be declared.
i just do not want to take any chances with security especially the kind that does not have a clue on what is going on.
thanks for any advice.

 

[brownie]

Send it via the post office.

I wouldn't be trying to bring brass or heads through security. In fact, I believe TSA rules state ammo can be checked but it has to be in it's original container.

Easier to mail it up there than deal with something at the airport.

 

[T.S.]

ok i am going up north on vacation saturday. i want to bring some spent brass and one bullet that i pulled from a round to give to my cousins 13 year old son as a souvenier should i declare i have it to the tsa before they scan the luggage?
i know loaded ammo has to be declared.
i just do not want to take any chances with security especially the kind that does not have a clue on what is going on.
thanks for any advice.

Here is the TSA site about ammo:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm

You must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.

You can't use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard).

You may carry the ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as you pack it as described above.

You can't bring black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms in either your carry-on or checked baggage.

Violations can result in criminal prosecution and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation.

Airlines may have their own additional requirements on the carriage of firearms and the amount of ammunition that you may have in your checked baggage. Therefore, travelers should also contact the airline regarding its firearm and ammunition carriage policies.

 

[curtis]

thanks for the replies. would it still be considered ammo? even if it is not loaded?

 

[brownie]

I don't think anyone can answer for what the TSA guys will call it when you get there.

As paranoid as they are, you start declaring components, they may strip search you for a small loader tool with which you could take the components and make a bullet on the plane

 

[curtis]

yeah good point it might be a hassle with them. thanks for the advice.

 

[T.S.]

thanks for the replies. would it still be considered ammo? even if it is not loaded?

Here is a number and a website you can contact them and ask ...

TSA Contact Center
If you are still unable to find what you are looking for, please email the TSA Contact Center at:

mailto:[email protected]

or call 1-866-289-9673.

 

[Buckley]

Call to be safe, but my interpretation of the statute is that a declaration is not needed. Once it is used, it no longer qualified as ammunition and can't be classified as such.

If I'm mistaken, set me straight. Do not put it in a carry-on bag under any circumstances. The pilot would be within his right to refuse your passage.

 

[SigNu34]

I'd do as others suggested and mail it. I travel a lot and find TSA doesn't follow and interpret the rules the same way at each airport.

 

[brownie]

Call to be safe, but my interpretation of the statute is that a declaration is not needed. Once it is used, it no longer qualified as ammunition and can't be classified as such.

If I'm mistaken, set me straight. Do not put it in a carry-on bag under any circumstances. The pilot would be within his right to refuse your passage.

A spent shell will have powder residue on that shell that could set off alarms going through security. Once that happens, it's going to be a long long process to get through their scrutiny [ probably miss the flight ].

Not all airports have the sniffers, but I've been through enough that did [ and was told to walk through them to be checked ] to not make it worth the effort to attempt to bring a spent shell on the plane.

I've had students who would not fly home with the clothes they wore while training out here for the same reason and preferred to ship them home instead.