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This experience happened to me twice, and the sequence of events was almost identical each time. Heads up for hunters who fly to a hunt with handloaded ammo.
Fly out of PDX with my guns properly hardcased, ammo seperate, pass all inspections with flying colors.
Arrive in Billings MT without a hitch. All is hunkey-dory. Complete my hunt and go to the Billings airport to fly home.
Big controversy erupts when the TSA guys at Billings see my handloaded ammo in the hard-plastic, latch-top MTM (or RCBS) cartrige boxes. They recite their regs that say "ammunition shall be in its original container." I explain to them there never was an original box, that the new brass came in a plastic ziploc, and I know that would be unnacceptable, as a proper container. I also make great note that PDX had no problem with my containers.
One bright boy makes the suggestion that I "just get some factory boxes, and put my handloads in there." This, I know would be a direct violation of the TSA reg.
Then I'm referred to the "supervisor", (who in his infinite intelligence recites again chapter and verse from the regs), and I go thru the entire presentation again. He acknowledges that "bright boy's" solution is a violation, and plastic bags would not be good.
In both instances, the half-hour of debate (I am polite and respectful throughout) ends with them saying, "OK, we'll let you go this time, but next time you need to conform to the regulations, here's a printed copy."
I actually e-mailed TSA with the quandary in detail prior to the second trip. Their reply? They e-mailed back the reg. I'm sure I now have a "red check-mark" next to my name with them. I'm tempted to go with bright-boy's suggestion, and put my handloads in factory boxes, but I know this is a direct violation, and if asked, I'd have to admit these are not the "original containers", and that I deliberately violated their reg. This also presents a problem, in that I have very few factory boxes around, since I handload for everything. Winchester brass in a Remington box would be a definite "red flag" to them.
Still don't know what to do the next time. Classic example of bureaucracy ignorance endangering a law-abiding citizen.
What really floors me, is that this happened in Billings, Montana of all places, as if they'd never seen handloads before! I've flown to Alaska multiple times, and no problems there or back.
Anybody else with this experience? Just thought I'd share, in case one of you guys is planning a trip.
P.S.: If one of you comedians post the TSA reg, I'll scream and there'll be a hole in the wall here of my body shape, with arms extended over my head.
Fly out of PDX with my guns properly hardcased, ammo seperate, pass all inspections with flying colors.
Arrive in Billings MT without a hitch. All is hunkey-dory. Complete my hunt and go to the Billings airport to fly home.
Big controversy erupts when the TSA guys at Billings see my handloaded ammo in the hard-plastic, latch-top MTM (or RCBS) cartrige boxes. They recite their regs that say "ammunition shall be in its original container." I explain to them there never was an original box, that the new brass came in a plastic ziploc, and I know that would be unnacceptable, as a proper container. I also make great note that PDX had no problem with my containers.
One bright boy makes the suggestion that I "just get some factory boxes, and put my handloads in there." This, I know would be a direct violation of the TSA reg.
Then I'm referred to the "supervisor", (who in his infinite intelligence recites again chapter and verse from the regs), and I go thru the entire presentation again. He acknowledges that "bright boy's" solution is a violation, and plastic bags would not be good.
In both instances, the half-hour of debate (I am polite and respectful throughout) ends with them saying, "OK, we'll let you go this time, but next time you need to conform to the regulations, here's a printed copy."
I actually e-mailed TSA with the quandary in detail prior to the second trip. Their reply? They e-mailed back the reg. I'm sure I now have a "red check-mark" next to my name with them. I'm tempted to go with bright-boy's suggestion, and put my handloads in factory boxes, but I know this is a direct violation, and if asked, I'd have to admit these are not the "original containers", and that I deliberately violated their reg. This also presents a problem, in that I have very few factory boxes around, since I handload for everything. Winchester brass in a Remington box would be a definite "red flag" to them.
Still don't know what to do the next time. Classic example of bureaucracy ignorance endangering a law-abiding citizen.
What really floors me, is that this happened in Billings, Montana of all places, as if they'd never seen handloads before! I've flown to Alaska multiple times, and no problems there or back.
Anybody else with this experience? Just thought I'd share, in case one of you guys is planning a trip.
P.S.: If one of you comedians post the TSA reg, I'll scream and there'll be a hole in the wall here of my body shape, with arms extended over my head.
