I returned last night from Namibia. TSA cut the locks off of my ammo box and then taped the box shut. Because everybody knows tape is stronger that Master locks...

On our recent trip to South Africa they busted my buddies ammo box open breaking the locks then taped it shut. This is after we checked the rifle cases through the TSA checkpoint and told them there was ammo in the suitcases. They could have inspected it there but didnt.

AT least on this side TSA locks on the ammo box might help as the TSA has the key for these.

Mark

They felt obliged to take away my packet of hand warmers which was in my checked luggage, so anything is possible with that lot!

Last fall I was going from GRR (Grand Rapids, Michigan) to RSA. When I checked my rifle and ammo through the TSA in GRR they took the ammo out of the factory box and swiped each cartridge in the box for explosives! I thought, this is going to be a LONG DAY! I guess they could not find any explosive material (?), put everything back and cleared us through.
Go Figure. By the way, all the cartriges I used on the trip did fire.

I always put my ammo box in my checked baggage UNLOCKED for that very reason. There is no requirement anywhere to lock the ammo box in your checked bag, and so you are just inviting them to cut the locks off of the box by locking it.

I put TSA locks on the ammo box, in my checked luggage, Quantas requested it be locked,, or the person checking me did and I had extra locks in my pocket so I did as I was asked, even though their guidelines did not show it had to be locked. It wasn't worth the argument. I always travel with extra TSA locks just in case. Like is always mentioned here on this site. Most employees you run into do not know their own rules,, even the customs officers in Australia last week did not know their own rules,, I had it all in writing and they had to read them and I had to explain numerous times that I had all the necessary paperwork to have the ammo and gun in their country.It still took 2 hours, and 4 differnt people to get my guns through customs.
Steve Turner , a travel agent who posts here had provided me with all the paperwork and explained to me all the documentation that was required so I was prepared to make my case..that was a huge help!..sure was a hassle though

This is the fourth time that box and lock combination has been used. On another note, while in Frankfurt, the police told me to leave the gun case unlocked while in their possession and they would put the case on my connecting flight...I politely pointed out that a locked gun case was much more secure while in their care and on my connecting flight than an unlocked gun case. After a short conference, they agreed and I locked the case.

quote:

Originally posted by 450/400:
This is the fourth time that box and lock combination has been used. On another note, while in Frankfurt, the police told me to leave the gun case unlocked while in their possession and they would put the case on my connecting flight...I politely pointed out that a locked gun case was much more secure while in their care and on my connecting flight than an
unlocked gun case. After a short conference, they agreed and I locked the case.

Good on you. A friend of mine did the same thing and his rifle was tampered with. . .On arrival we had to buy a new scope as the mounts had been loosened and the turrets had been turned so far they wouldnt return to zero the rifle.
To get back to topic ,you are lucky you still have your guns. . they also go missing from time to time.A friend of mine lost his guns after the TSA took possesion of them and they are still AWOL

They cut mine off on the way to Namibia back in April. They left me a note inside saying what they had done, but didn't tape the box shut for me nor bother putting the extra lock I left inside on it. They even took the note I left on top of all contents that asked them to please put the extra lock on....Bah-studs!!

lesee we're talking about govt. employees being responsible and responsive - well my father had a saying about things like that, it went - what to expect from a hog but a grunt

Cripes if a couple of cut locks is all you got to cry about things aren't really that bad. I'm waiting on a bag since 2007!

Someone is enjoying my 300 Short Mag right now in Africa....Since 2006!!!
Thanks SAA!!!

Here's a suggestion a friend gave m that I'm going to use on my next trip:

Even if you have your ammo in your check luggage, request at the check-in counter to have the TSA examine it along with your gun case, and when they're done, put their "TSA Inspected" tape around it. It won't stop anyone wanting to steal or mess with your stuff, but presumabley will allay any concerns of any subsequent TSA people who come across your stuff enroute. The theory is that they'll take the lazy way out if the see it has already bee looked at. I hope so, anyway!

Just received a lost bag yesterday. After re-checking baggage at Dulles, it didn't show up at the final destination. After it arrived, the problem was obvious - the metal container that held my ammunition and other tools had been pried open and inspected. Every cardboard box of ammo had been opened and inspected and taped shut (with official TSA tape!) - along with the metal container. My Wyoming knife had been tossed back into the suitcase without the scabbard - along with a couple of loose rounds of loaded ammo.

Pisses me off that I go to all the trouble to comply with the rules and the bastards who are in charge of enforcing them actually compromise the safety of travelers. Glad I didn't slice my hand open when I reached in the bag!

I never understood why they need to open the ammo box. You can plainly see on the xray that it's loaded ammunition. I suppose they're protecting us from a terrorist that can figure out how to make a bomb that looks like loaded ammunition.

And then that makes me wonder, how does the foreign made rifle and shotgun ammunition make it into the country without each box being opened and inspected and retaped with TSA tape? I guess homeland security has their own tape...

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
AT least on this side TSA locks on the ammo box might help as the TSA has the key for these.

Mark

I had these idiots cut my TSA lock (which uses their key) and then replace it with one of those cheapie combination finger-screw locks. I'm talking about my luggage - not even ammo.

I now place stickers all over the baggage where-ever the zippers could possible end up with a notice: TSA: DON'T CUT THIS LOCK - USE YOUR KEY AND THEN CLOSE AFTER INSPECTION.
It has worked a number of times so far.

quote:

You can plainly see on the xray that it's loaded ammunition

Same applies to firearms. They know there are firearms in the box because you have declared it and it has been routed to them. The XRay shows 2 rifles say, why open it? To verify that there are two rifles?
I have repeatedly asked this question and no one has answered it, to my knowledge.
Having said all that, if you are arriving back in the USA why is TSA even involved unless you are taking another flight to your final destination? It sounds like the Namibia thing is strictly coincidence. You get your luggage from the luggage pickup and walk it through the customs and immigration points yourself.
Peter.

Well, here's what's got me confused. I fly from Namibia to Frankfurt and then to Chicago, clear customs, who inspects my luggage and then rechecks my bags to Dallas.

My bags went from Customs directly to TSA. Both times I offered to open the ammo box. No takers. Then, some TSA person intercepts/inspects my bag after the first TSA officer sends it on its way, cuts my locks and then puts unlocked ammo back on the airplane. Makes no sense.

I guess everyone likes to vent now and again but really can you just imagine flying in today's world without TSA checking bags? Be damm glad they do an suck it up for the cost of a few cheapie locks.

Oh, I'm glad they do it and I don't care about the cost of the locks. I don't understand some of their methodology and the results of it, that's all.

If anyone thinks we are safer because of what the TSA is doing they are more optomistic than I am. These clowns take nail clippers away from folks and then when they get their meal in business/first class, they pass out knives, forks and other tools far more more deadly than the ones that were confiscated.
When you enter the airport area they have you stop your vehicle and open the trunk.They gaze haphazerdly inside and see all the suitcases and wave you on in.I guess there is NO WAY terrorist could fill those suitcases with bombs, is there?
We need to be realistic.The job of the TSA is to make people feel our government is doing SOMETHING to protect us from terrorist.It is the illusion of safety that we are getting.The reality is that we are every bit as vulnerable to an attack as we were before.