This topic has come up before... and everyone says go the the airline's website...

Well neither Swiss Air or AA indicate whether or not ammo can be in the same case as a firearm. At least a serch didn't turn up anything that specific.

Does anyone have a link to or specific information for this info?

It's been a considerable while since I flew Swiss Air to Africa, but then the rules were that the rifle(s) were to be in a hard side case, with the ammo in a separate, locked, bag. FWIW, I didn't realize that their rules said no more than 2 rifles per case, and I had a 3-gun case with 3 guns in it. They gave me no flak over it.

What I did was call up Swiss Air at the terminal 4 weeks before I left and told them that I'd have rifles and ammo. They duly noted it in their computer and I had no problems with them going or coming.

The IATA treaty actually provides that ammo in appropriate boxes can be carried in the same case as a rifle. The problem is that no attendants that will handle your luggage will have read this provision. You can make a special handling request and probably take care of any problems.There are members of this forum that know the laws or rules for carrying firearms better than the Airlines. Try Go-to- Girl on this forum.

Swiss International Airlines:

8.3.2 Firearms and ammunition other than for hunting and sporting purposes may not be carried as Baggage. Firearms and ammunition for hunting and sporting purposes may only be carried as Checked Baggage. Firearms must be unloaded with the safety catch on, and must be suitably packed. The carriage of ammunition is subject to the ICAO and IATA regulations specified in 8.3.1a) above.

[8.3.1 You may not include in your Baggage:
a) items which are likely to endanger the aircraft or persons or property aboard the aircraft, including those items specified in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations and our own regulations (further information is available from us on request);]

IATA:

Ammunition (cartridges for weapons) for sporting purposes, securely boxed (in
Division 1.4S), in quantities less than 5 kg (11 lb) gross weight per person for that person's own use, excluding ammunition with explosive or incendiary projectiles. Allowances for more than one passenger must not be combined into one or more packages.

Divison 1.4S [as defined in 49 CFR 173.50] means:

"Explosives, Low Risk
Items classed as explosives, UN Class 1, Division 1.4S and 1.6, as defined in 49 CFR 173.50. Division 1.4S consists of explosives that present a minor explosion hazard. The explosive effects are largely confined to the package and no projection of fragments of appreciable size or range is to be expected. An external fire must not cause virtually instantaneous explosion of almost the entire contents of the package."

No where could I find any directions/rules regarding whether you are allowed to carry your ammo in the same case as your firearm. Just going to have to see if you can get something in writing from the airlines before you travel.

Regards,

Terry

NEVER have I placed loaded ammo in the same case as a firearm when traveling by air. It is only ASKING for problems.

Put it in a separate lockable case--any small one pistol case will do--and put some in separate bags.

For several years now I've been using the metal cash box that Walmart sells for $7.98. It's lockable, doesn't weigh much, and holds the right amount of ammo for the weight limit of 11 pounds. Right now it has 3 boxes of .416 Rigby ammo in it and could hold one more if I could afford one more

Rich Elliott

What I do is go to the airlines web site and print out their policy reguarding guns and ammo.Then if the idiot ticket agent tries to give you a hard time, you can show them their own policy....Once on Virgin Air I got into an arguement with the agent, then her supervisor,won my case(had their policy) and as a gesture of goodwill they upgraded me to first class.....

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
NEVER have I placed loaded ammo in the same case as a firearm when traveling by air. It is only ASKING for problems.

Put it in a separate lockable case--any small one pistol case will do--and put some in separate bags.

I have a pelican case that the gun goes into, and inside that case with the gun, I have a second (small) pelican case with the ammo locked in it.

Everything else I take to Africa fits inside a cary-on and I'm trying to avoid a second piece of checked luggage, although if they dislike my current arrangement, I could always just check the smaller pelican case.

I have always placed ammo in the same case as the rifles. Even on my trip to africa. Carry a copy of the rules in your pocket. Be polite.
I have never had a problem.

I've only flown once with rifles, but I put the ammo in the same case as the rifle and had no problem in both San Francisco and Butte. As stated by the other members, bring a copy of the rules.