Don't put empty magazines in your carry on...

[GhostTX]

...TSA tends to freak out.

Had my gun all packed and locked in my suitcase along with the ammo and checked that in. I was using my range bag for my carry on and didn't think twice about the magazines. No bullets, no worries, not a working part of a firearm, right? Wrong.

Bag goes through the x-ray. Guy stops the whole line. Calls his line supervisor, who looks and then calls the shift supervisor. That in-duh-vidual then asks me if I was a hunter and if I had any clips in my bag. I said no, and I have 5 empty magazines in my bag. She then goes back and opens another x-ray to keep the security line moving, takes my bag and rummages through it (magazines are on outside pocket). I tell her where the magazines are, she takes them out and put the bag to the side, then takes me to the side and asks for ID. She then calls for a LEO AND then some head TSA supervisor who shows up in a suit &tie. LEO shows up and the same woman hands over the magazines to the LEO. LEO looks at them and goes, "They're unloaded." Looks at me, shrugs the shoulders as no big deal and leaves. TSA in-duh-vidual then jots down all my information on a blank piece of paper and asks for my phone number. Then her and the suit & tie guy places the magazines on a table, with a ruler, and takes pictures of them. Finally she informs me these are "firearm parts" and are banned from carry on. Ok, can I have them back to check in? She escorts me out and hands the magazines and my bag to me. I then put them in my bag and pay American Airlines the extra $35 for a second checked bag. I gleefully waved hello to the TSA supervisor as I went back through security and on my way to the gate.

[pbwalker]

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... ems.shtm#6

There are signs all over the place too...you can't even carry on shotgun chokes.

Do you know where you information went? They have name, address, number...on a blank piece of paper. And they know you own firearms.

[Beiruty]

What so crazy thre are tons of items on the prohibition list. Last flight, i saw a red sign for Ax on one of the overhead cabinet back to the end of the airplane. It wouuld be really crazy if reAL ax is stored there!

[GhostTX]

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... ems.shtm#6

There are signs all over the place too...you can't even carry on shotgun chokes.

Do you know where you information went? They have name, address, number...on a blank piece of paper. And they know you own firearms.

Tell me where on that link it says "magazines"? I think the whole thing is very vague.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And ya...I guess "they" know, but the state should already know since I have a CHL. Oh well.

[pbwalker]

Tell me where on that link it says "magazines"? I think the whole thing is very vague.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Parts of Guns and Firearms - Carry-on - No

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... ems.shtm#6

They are not going to explicitly break down each part and specify whether or not it is allowed. So, they use an all encompassing term. "Parts".

Seems pretty clear to me...

[TexasGal]

I am wondering if your personal info so carefully written down will be showing up on the terror watch list.

[Jumping Frog]

A month ago I flew from Columbus back to Houston with a box of 500 Ranier bullets in my carry-on. They freaked out when they saw it on the xray machine, opened my bag, called the supervisor, etc.

I pointed out it was not ammunition, just unloaded bullets.

They swabbed that whole part of my bag for explosives and didn't find any.

I was very glad they didn't swab the part of the bag that held the powder measure I was also bringing. Seeing as it has had at least 100 lbs of smokeless gunpowder through, I was fairly certain it would swab as positive for explosives.

After all the excitement was over, they let me proceed to the plane with my luggage.

[OldCurlyWolf]

A month ago I flew from Columbus back to Houston with a box of 500 Ranier bullets in my carry-on. They freaked out when they saw it on the xray machine, opened my bag, called the supervisor, etc.

I pointed out it was not ammunition, just unloaded bullets.

They swabbed that whole part of my bag for explosives and didn't find any.

I was very glad they didn't swab the part of the bag that held the powder measure I was also bringing. Seeing as it has had at least 100 lbs of smokeless gunpowder through, I was fairly certain it would swab as positive for explosives.

After all the excitement was over, they let me proceed to the plane with my luggage.

At that point they are no more dangerous than a bunch of small rocks.

[Dave2]

Tell me where on that link it says "magazines"? I think the whole thing is very vague.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Parts of Guns and Firearms - Carry-on - No

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... ems.shtm#6

They are not going to explicitly break down each part and specify whether or not it is allowed. So, they use an all encompassing term. "Parts".

Seems pretty clear to me...

Yeah, I think that means that grip screws aren't allowed since they're part of the gun, but decking screws (longer and much sharper) would be fine since they're not part of a gun.

[Scott in Houston]

A month ago I flew from Columbus back to Houston with a box of 500 Ranier bullets in my carry-on. They freaked out when they saw it on the xray machine, opened my bag, called the supervisor, etc.

I pointed out it was not ammunition, just unloaded bullets.

They swabbed that whole part of my bag for explosives and didn't find any.

I was very glad they didn't swab the part of the bag that held the powder measure I was also bringing. Seeing as it has had at least 100 lbs of smokeless gunpowder through, I was fairly certain it would swab as positive for explosives.

After all the excitement was over, they let me proceed to the plane with my luggage.

About 5 years ago, while flying back to Houston from Columbus, I found my "OJ Simpson knife" (as my wife calls it) in my carry on. It's a 7 inch blade with a hilt and everything. It made it through the screening in Houston on the way up and Columbus on my way back. I freaked out a little then settled into my seat feeling safer on that plane than I ever have.

The mouth breathers who work for TSA are a sharp group I tell ya.

[pbwalker]

Tell me where on that link it says "magazines"? I think the whole thing is very vague.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Parts of Guns and Firearms - Carry-on - No

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... ems.shtm#6

They are not going to explicitly break down each part and specify whether or not it is allowed. So, they use an all encompassing term. "Parts".

Seems pretty clear to me...

Yeah, I think that means that grip screws aren't allowed since they're part of the gun, but decking screws (longer and much sharper) would be fine since they're not part of a gun.

I doubt those would be allowed as well...but you can certainly try.

I don't make the rules. My tax dollars do.

[Excaliber]

What so crazy thre are tons of items on the prohibition list. Last flight, i saw a red sign for Ax on one of the overhead cabinet back to the end of the airplane. It wouuld be really crazy if reAL ax is stored there!

There is.

It's for use by the air crew in a crash.

They used to be just clamped down. They may have a key lock these days - I haven't examined the mounting in some time.

[GhostTX]

I am wondering if your personal info so carefully written down will be showing up on the terror watch list.

I'm wondering if I'll get a nasty-gram from them.

Flight back was no issue. 'Course, it's the government, so I'll be added to the terror watch list in about 10-12 years.

[chuckybrown]

Well, kind of along the same lines......A coworker once told me of his friend that landed in London, and as he unpacked his duffel bag in his hotel, pulled out his .45 and a spare magazine. He had traveled in state by car the previous week, and had left it in the bag. So, he's in LONDON with his pistol.

His business trip was for a week, and included contact with another American that was working there, who was also a good friend. They boxed it up, took it to a freight store and shipped it to his home back in Texas. Supposedly a made up return address was used, and it wasn't declared. He never planned on seeing it again, assuming it would be confiscated. He got home, and a few days later saw the box at his front door as he pulled in the driveway, .45 still in the box.

So, check your luggage!!!

[KaiserB]

What so crazy thre are tons of items on the prohibition list. Last flight, i saw a red sign for Ax on one of the overhead cabinet back to the end of the airplane. It wouuld be really crazy if reAL ax is stored there!

There is a real axe stored there. That is how the flight attendant breaks out windows, forces emergency exits open etc.

Federal Aviation Regulations
Home > Aviation Regulations > Parts Index > Part 121 > Sec. 121.309 - Emergency equipment.
Sec. 121.309 — Emergency equipment.
(e) Crash ax. Except for nontransport category airplanes type certificated after December 31, 1964, each airplane must be equipped with a crash ax.