here is a new thing!

[Hyde Hunter]

just got back from the East Cape last night and when I got home and went to unload my gun case I saw a very heavy zip tie around it. upon cutting it and removing the 4 key locks I found a TSA card saying it had been inspected. so guys its looks like TSA now has a way of opening you pad locks without cutting them. Also found the cleaning cleaning bore brushes, jags, and bore mops were missing. now these are ACE hardware pad locks and on the bottom of them there is a hole and another hole with a pin inside of each lock like you might push in. this was done after I went thru the TSA check in Atlanta

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I'm a little unclear to the course of the events, so bear with my questions.

Your arrival airport into the USA was Atlanta it would seem. I would have to guess that as usual you went to the TSA glass room where weapons come into after arriving in ATL. And of course you then claimed your gun case and would go through inspection there with CBP.

Was this where you discovered the case had been zip tied? Or were the locks still present at this time and only were removed after you took the case down the hall for putting onto your next flight?

 

[Hyde Hunter]

hello Phil, no everything was on in Atlanta when I arrived and left. the issue was when I got my rifle case at my final destination home that is when I found the zip tie on the case and a note inside that they had inspected it. the locks were intact and still locked and items missing from the case

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

hello Phil, no everything was on in Atlanta when I arrived and left. the issue was when I got my rifle case at my final destination home that is when I found the zip tie on the case and a note inside that they had inspected it. the locks were intact and still locked and items missing from the case

Very odd. If I recall correctly you open it once with CBP at the glass room. After that you take it out of baggage claim area, down the hall to the left and once again open up for TSA before placing on the conveyor to be sent on to your plane.

Why TSA needed to get into it another time I don't know. And if they were able to open the locks without cutting them off, why didn't they put them back on?

I guess you're wondering the same.

 

[CADDIE5]

The fumes from the cleaning supplies: bore brush and mops set off the explosive sensor. The ctx xray scan. My thoughts.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

Very odd. If I recall correctly you open it once with CBP at the glass room. After that you take it out of baggage claim area, down the hall to the left and once again open up for TSA before placing on the conveyor to be sent on to your plane.

Why TSA needed to get into it another time I don't know. And if they were able to open the locks without cutting them off, why didn't they put them back on?

I guess you're wondering the same.

They put the locks back on and then zip ties it

 

[KuduKiller]

I was under the impression TSA can not open your gun case, hence the no TSA locks on the case???????

 

[Hyde Hunter]

That is correct, you are supposed to be there when they open the case, violation of federal law, I have filed a complaint but will probably never go through

 

[Daisy]

It’s always a double edged sword. By opening and removing the cleaning supplies your gun made it home safely. Other option is they had kept it and you’d be trying to get it home still.

Last hunt I went on a guy was at the destination but no gun. The tsa claimed they tried to page him overhead before we left but none of us heard it. Would he have been happier if tsa had opened, zip tied it back, then sent his gun on? Probably.

 

[Hunt anything]

Was there a name on the TSA tag?

 

[Hogpatrol]

Last hunt the oversize baggage machine was down for cleaning, 8:00 a.m. on a Friday morning at Dulles, go figure. Anyway, I requested a TSA guy go through my gun case and checked bag, put on the stickers that said both were TSA inspected. Somewhat of a time consuming process but everything was there in Joberg with me. Still trying to figure out the stupidity at Dulles. The return with guns was a semi-goat rope.

 

[Vintageguy]

I have never been allowed to be present when TSA has opened my case leaving the country. Only the opening by customs on return and the inspection prior to the domestic connection leaving Atlanta. The last trip I tried for 2 hours to give my keys to TSA for the departure inspection and never spoke to even one that seemed to know anything about the rules. My departure two trips ago they failed to properly close my case pinching some contents and when I arrived at my destination everything was soaked. Not impressed by airport staff at any of the larger airports.

 

[JimP]

My last departure from Denver the TSA agent just x-rayed my case while I stayed outside of the room and watched, I was then on my way. The return through Dallas the customs checked the numbers, I then dropped it off at the baggage check and was on my way.

Something must of been flagged on your case, and why was the zip tie used? Were all the hinges intact with nothing broken? What type of case were you using?

Something isn't adding up.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I would avoid packing gun cleaning solvent. Asking for trouble. My outfitter always has plenty on hand. And no need to clean my rifle bore or action after just a dozen or less shots fired on safari. Gun oil shouldn't set off any alarms.

 

[JimP]

If I am packing solvents the bottle is a single use bottle, and if it's opened and I'm headed home I'll just throw it away.

But the could of detected some residual on the rod.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

Jim P , nothing broken, Pelican 1750. not cleaning rods only new brushes and mops unused, no solvents. no reason for them to get into the case.

 

[Russ16]

I feel like it is a little different every time. I’ve had two instances when returning form overseas that CBP didn’t even check my gun case upon arrival. Both were in Dallas. And another in Miami where they had me open the case but never asked for the 4457.

Here at National when flying domestic they never open the case just have you stand there while they run it through the big machine. Almost every other airport they ask for the key and open the case.

 

[KuduKiller]

I honestly don’t remember needing to do anything at Dulles when I flew SAA coming back home. It was totally different than ATL but I do remember them doing GSR/Explosive test on my hands when I can home the first trip. I got nervous because I had been hunting but of course I had washed my hands. I don’t recall them even reinspecting my rifle like they do in ATL. Maybe they just ran it through the x ray?

 

[Hunt anything]

Has anyone brought back any spears or knobkerries back in gun cases?

 

[Fatback]

I have brought back some spears in my gun case. This was back in 2009 and 2011. I had bought them souvenir shopping.

I did watch a fella get some spears confiscated last year in Atlanta that they had gotten from a poacher’s camp. Not sure what country. All I know is the gentlemen was not happy about the situation and the border patrol agents were in the best of moods about it either.