The Accurate Reloading Forums
Ammo Regs for Airlines
13 June 2011, 01:00
Austin HunterAmmo Regs for Airlines
What are the current regs for American, United/Lufthansa, and South African Air?
I might be able to get the firearm in with the ammo (depends whether I put two rifles in a case or now).
1. can I pack with the rifle?
2. If not, assume it has to be in a locked case.
a. Does this case need to be separate or in your other checked luggage
b. Does it need TSA locks or real locks like your gun case?
"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan
"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."
Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
13 June 2011, 06:43
LionHunterSince regulations change for each airline, why not go to their websites and look up the information yourself? Then you will KNOW it is current and you can print a copy for your travel papers to carry with you.

Mike
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13 June 2011, 07:31
BuffNutI can't tell you. But I can tell you that I always pack my handloaded ammo in factory boxes, which go in a plastic field box with a TSA lock on it, and that box goes in a duffel, not my gun case. I never pack more than a couple pounds of ammo.
I've never had any issue with ammo at all from any airline. Sometimes they just want to know which bag it's in.
However, I agree 100% with LionHunter. Go to the websites, print the regs and take them with you with your other travel papers.
13 June 2011, 08:00
RVL III...as I just said on another post...print them out the day of or day before your flight.
Might not hurt to bookmark the page if you have that capability on your cellphone or ipad
Robert
If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy. Thomas Jefferson, 1802
13 June 2011, 21:26
Austin HunterLet's see - if I found what I needed on the airline sites, why would I post here?
Why don't you guys try it for yourself? And call like I did and get a hold of different people at the same airline and get different answers.

Anyway, in absence of solid answers, I am doing what someone suggested recently - be prepared for any circumstance. So I am getting a small Pelican case in Orange (the 1200) and extra locks (both padlock and TSA) and will be prepared to put in checked luggage (a locked military footlocker) or as a separate piece. Or lock just the ammo into the rifle cases.
"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan
"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."
Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
13 June 2011, 21:36
MikeBurkequote:
Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
What are the current regs for American, United/Lufthansa, and South African Air?
I might be able to get the firearm in with the ammo (depends whether I put two rifles in a case or now).
1. can I pack with the rifle?
2. If not, assume it has to be in a locked case.
a. Does this case need to be separate or in your other checked luggage
b. Does it need TSA locks or real locks like your gun case?
This is how I understand it and has worked for my four recent Africa trips.
1)Pack the ammunition separate from the rifle.
2)I place all ammo in a factory box and place the boxes in a lockable case. I use a Pelican Case. It is then placed in a suitcase.
3) Once in Joberg they made me ship my ammo separate from Joberg to Bulawayo. That is why I use a Pelican case to pack the ammo. It did not happen on the next two trip through Joberg but you never know. The short answer is your ammo box should remain in your suitcase.
4) I use real locks on my ammo case, although I think TSA locks would do. I leave from a small airport and can watch them check my baggage. If they need anything I just hand them the key.
Hope this answers your questions.
13 June 2011, 22:19
Austin HunterThanks!
"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan
"Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians."
Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness.
Austin Hunter:
I do exactly as Mike 70560 does. A yellow Pelican 1200 with no foam and I use TSA locks on it. It perfectly holds 5 twenty round boxes of .375 H&H ammo or 2 fifty round Midway type of boxes.
Remember that you are allowed 5 KG's of sporting ammo per hunter. 5 twenty round boxes of 300 grain .375 H&H ammo weighs slightly under 5 KG for example.
Good Luck.
RCG
14 June 2011, 20:38
txlonghornIs it just me? I have never been asked whether I have ammo with me much less where it's packed. For my first trip to Africa in 3wks I plan on the locked pelican case in the duffle scenario for Delta.
27 June 2011, 00:06
BuffNutI have been asked a couple of times, but it's rare.
27 June 2011, 02:04
LionHunterI've been asked how much and when I reply "Less than 5kg." they (airlines) are always satisfied.
Have had foreign customs examine head stamps and count rounds, when entering and even ask and then search baggage when departing; all in different countries.
Mike
______________
DSC
DRSS (again)
SCI Life
NRA Life
Sables Life
Mzuri
IPHA
"To be a Marine is enough."