I always travel with a spare s spare scope in my carry on backpack that is sighted in the same as my checked rifle/scope with Talley detachable mounts. I do this in case of damage to my checked scope during baggage handling.

At Dulle this morning the screener stopped my bag and called his manager over. They took my boxed Swarovski scope out and told me I could not carry it on board and would have to go back to the counter and check it! I explained that I had done this for many years and just did the same thing in Sept. on an african hunt through the same airport. He would've back down and I damned sure wasn't going back to the counter, check it in it's box and go through security again. We were running very late because of TSA partly checking the guns as it was.

I asked to see his supervisor and he responded "I am the manager here". Meanwhile my buddy pulled uip the TSA flight rules and it clearly states rifle scopes are permitted as carry on! He went and made a phone calls and finally relented with a curt " Sorry about that".

My advice is if you are carrying ANY gun parts, clips, scopes etc. is to carry a copy of the TSA rules with you. It is amazing to me that the screener behind the viewer or NONE of the agents or their manager knew their own damned rules! I write this as we fly to CO for hopefully a successful mules hunt.

Sorry for the typos. Alot of turbulence. The TSA manager would not relent and it is a muley hunt we are going on.

Me and 163bc.

Blackdog, very glad you prevailed. Wish these folks knew their own rules, but I have had to pull out appropriate sections of the U.S. Code at the local post office.

I just hope they didn't mess with the scope when they took it in their locked room to examine it. It is a Swarovski so I had the arrows lined up on the turrets. The manager was definitely NOT a gun guy so hopefully they wern't smart enough to mess it up. It was almost down to leave the scope because there was no time to spare. One of the TSA guys that checked our rifles was also a very angry dude with an attitude, In fairness 2 others were very nice and courteous. You just never know these days. I will always carry a copy of the printed TSA rules in case I run into other agents in need of remedial education.

Glad you prevailed but to avoid the situation you encountered I always just tell clients to not put any scopes, bolts etc in carry-on. The angst these idiots can create is not worth it.

Mark

Well done on not backing down.

quote:

Originally posted by blackdogsrule:
I always travel with a spare s spare scope in my carry on backpack that is sighted in the same as my checked rifle/scope with Talley detachable mounts. I do this in case of damage to my checked scope during baggage handling.

At Dulle this morning the screener stopped my bag and called his manager over. They took my boxed Swarovski scope out and told me I could not carry it on board and would have to go back to the counter and check it! I explained that I had done this for many years and just did the same thing in Sept. on an african hunt through the same airport. He would've back down and I damned sure wasn't going back to the counter, check it in it's box and go through security again. We were running very late because of TSA partly checking the guns as it was.

I asked to see his supervisor and he responded "I am the manager here". Meanwhile my buddy pulled uip the TSA flight rules and it clearly states rifle scopes are permitted as carry on! He went and made a phone calls and finally relented with a curt " Sorry about that".

My advice is if you are carrying ANY gun parts, clips, scopes etc. is to carry a copy of the TSA rules with you. It is amazing to me that the screener behind the viewer or NONE of the agents or their manager knew their own damned rules! I write this as we fly to CO for hopefully a successful mules hunt.

On my last trip to Africa I carried the following copy of "rules".

5 different airline carrier rules.
TSA rules.
Customs and Border Patrol rules.
RSA paperwork
Mozambique paperwork
Zimbabwe paperwork

Didn't need any of it but I would never travel without the rules. Employees, whether Government or airlines, do not know all their rules.

Cheers
Jim

I carry a white binder with all of that, plus all of my paperwork for that particular safaris. Better safe than sorry!

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
I carry a white binder with all of that, plus all of my paperwork for that particular safaris. Better safe than sorry!

I forget this on my list. The now famous official Customs and Border Protection "yellow sticky".

Link to thread for those that don't remember this. The "sticky" story starts around page 9.

I was with blackdogs when this happened. I too have carried a spare scope in my carry on many many time without any issues at all.

I do not understand why these TSA screeners and especially their managers do not know their own rules.

Some of the TSA, are not only ignorant but are anti's. They do it just to hassle folks. Like several of the others stated carry a binder with TSA, airline rules, etc.

I got hassled by a NY transit authority or something or the other officer in 2004 flying through NY - I believe Kenndey? Said a needed a permit to own a bolt action rifle. A TSA agent heard the commotion and shooed him away, apologized for him "being an ass", and sent me on my way.

Always carry set of rules but always keep my extra scope in my rifle case . Why give them any excuse to hassle you if you do not have to

Just going along to get along just makes the "agents" more difficult to deal with. There are rules, laws, that must be followed. Next people will say leave your guns at home to avoid the hassles........we have rights and we have laws, both need to be respected.

When I get one of these turds that doesn't know his job I get his name and I write a letter to my senators and congressman, including the individuals name. This needs to stop, going along to get along will not make it better.

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