Anyone experienced this? On my recent trip to the Nam, my bag didn't show at JNB. It arrived in Windhoek the day after I did. When I opened the gun case, there was a note that seemed to indicate TSA had opened the gun case at JFK where I made a connection, causing my bag to get left behind.

My initial reaction was "Those stupid low-paid brain-challenged morons: I told them there were guns in the bag, the Xray showed guns in the bag, the inspector opened the bag and guess what: GUNS!!; and then they had to do it all again en route". After I calmed down, I wondered what one can do to avoid this seemingly redundant inspection, especially the en-route one.

Fortunately, I only was only sans rifle for a half day, and I spent that with a borrowed rifle that I never had cause to use.

Anyone had a similar experience? Should one plan 3 hour connections to allow for this possibility?

Did your guncase not look like a guncase?

I just travelled last week from Los Angeles (LAX) to Boise, Idaho and found the TSA people at LAX to actually be very helpful. I was using an SKB double rifle case which looks exactly like what it is, a rifle case. The TSA agent asked if I had guns in there. I replied "Yes" and he told me to lock up the case. He put it through the scanner and then on to the plane. Arrived without a problem. The TSA agent in Boise was also great.

I am a bit concerned about your experience, because I will be flying from LAX to JFK and then on to Joburg. If there is anything I can do to avoid having my guns delayed, I would like to do it.

Thanks.

Tim

There are places one should never travel w/ guns; NY is one & London the other. The last time I left the country w/ a rifle was July before 9/11, I hope I don't have an experience like yours. I'll be going from LAX to Atlanta to JNB to Moz.

I used one of those BOYT soft cases that has wheels and a separate compartment below for a shotgun-style hard case (I was hunting with a Valmet double rifle with a spare set of shotgun bbls). This might be part of the reason. Also the case was super heavy, as the ammo etc was in a metal ammo can in the top portion, along with all my other gear. Can't say for sure but these might have been contributing factors. Anyway, I put a copy of the 4473 in the guncase as well.

Next time, I am going to ask TSA at the point of departure to mark the case "INSPECTED", if that is an option.

Very interesting Russ, I use cabelas duffel which holds a two rifle case and has duffel compartments above and has wheels but look like a duffel. I have never had any problems in the past including last falls hunt in the UK but then again I flew in and out of Gatwick which I think is better than Heathrow for hunters.

At check in, ask for a hand inspection of the firearms case and and the case with the ammo. TSA will put a sticker on it that indicates it has been inspected.



Regards,



Terry

The combined duffel/gun case cover is a USELESS piece of luggage in the post 9/11 world. I should know because I have one of the big ones from Cabela�s that I now wish I had never bought.

If the airline permits you to put your gun case in the duffel, you shouldn�t do it anyway--precisely because of the risk of the kind of in transit inspection/delay problem that Russ experienced in this case.

As Terry says, you should ask for a hand inspection of your gun case so that it can be PLASTERED with multiple TSA stickers as evidence for the in transit security folks that it has already been inspected.

But--the duffel/gun case combo is a bad idea even if you do that.

If, after it has been hand inspected, you stick your gun case back in the bottom of the duffel before your bags are checked, you will STILL risk the in transit inspection problem--because an in transit x-ray will show the gun, but NOT THE STICKERS, and your duffel will be set aside and subjected to another hand inspection that could keep it on the ground for an extended period of time while you fly away without it.

In this scenario, the second hand inspection may end as soon as the duffel is unzipped and the stickers on the gun case are seen, but if your connection time is short, you can't afford even a short delay.

So, the duffel/gun case combos are useless. Leave them at home.

Of course, if you want to, you can still use them as duffels. But they are huge. They are designed to hold gun cases, and that alone justifies their size.

The gun case provides needed rigidity to the duffel--without the case, it is impossible to use the wheels, and the duffels become terribly unwieldy to lug around.

If, in spite of this thread, anyone wants to buy my Cabela's duffel/gun case combo, please email me. I'll make you a really good deal.

Slingster,

I own a couple of Blaser R93s and see your point. A much smaller duffel (maybe 36-38") would be needed for a taken down R93 than my full length, 54" long behemoth from Cabela's. The exterior frame is also a good idea.

I can see how yours might be as useful as a regular, extra large, duffel bag. Perhaps I should have qualified my "USELESS" remark. But, as for the big ones, like mine, I'm sticking to my guns, so to speak.

I wonder what it would cost to charter a plane from Atlanta to Harare?