OPSEC

[8 x 60]

Dear Friends

A salutary lesson in Operational Security (OPSEC)

After spending a wonderful 10 days back at home for, and over Easter (UK) during which time I enjoyed some rabbit and squirrel control with .22lr, .410 and 12 bore and also an unsuccessful Muntjac stalk with the 8mm double (great to get out and have a go. To grass a buck would have been the icing on the cake but not that time)

Yesterday I headed back to the Middle East for work.

I had carried out a full search of my suitcase before I left just in case a round had been dropped in there - I was moving around a few locations with rifles and guns etc so needed to check. This morning on arriving back at my place in the Middle East (location not disclosed for reasons which should become clear) at 4 am this morning, I opened my suitcase to get toothbrush etc, only to see 3 x .410 shells and 4 x 12 bore shots-shells sitting inside the top of my suit- case

The last minute before leaving home in the UK I had thrown in a pair of trousers that I had been hunting in thinking "oh I might need those" (trousers)
The ammo was in the back pocket.

The suitcase had been through three sets of x ray machines. UK, Dubai !! and here in XXXXXX and never got picked-up.

I am lucky I am here to share this as I could now be looking for a very expensive lawyer whilst experiencing a world of sh*t. This also says a lot about how "Secure" airports are I suppose. (I am glad in this instance)

Needless to say I won't be taking the ammo back.. Probably take it on an offshore fishing trip and not bring it back.

An easy mistake to make. Mea - Culpa. I was exteremly lucky and wont be so careless again,..

Thought I should share.

Stay safe.

Feeling a bit of a muppet.
Ade

 

[Shootist43]

Something similar happened to my son a number of years back. He'd come home on a business trip after which we went hunting. Naturally he used the same backpack for both. On his way home X-Ray discovered the Cold Steel hunting knife in his carry on. The inspector was very polite and asked if he'd been hunting. My son told him the story which after confiscating the knife and giving him a "citation" allowed him to get on the plane. He "lost" the knife, paid a $500.00 fine and was put on probation for a year. Those guys don't have any sense of humor at all!!

 

[BeeMaa]

Something similar happened to my son a number of years back. He'd come home on a business trip after which we went hunting. Naturally he used the same backpack for both. On his way home X-Ray discovered the Cold Steel hunting knife in his carry on. The inspector was very polite and asked if he'd been hunting. My son told him the story which after confiscating the knife and giving him a "citation" allowed him to get on the plane. He "lost" the knife, paid a $500.00 fine and was put on probation for a year. Those guys don't have any sense of humor at all!!

He's lucky to get just the fine.
I wouldn't be surprised if, even after the year of probation is over, that his name will be on a list...somewhere.

8x60 - Stay frosty and good luck with the tour.

 

[Red Leg]

Coming out of Saskatoon twice after wildfowl hunting, I have been asked by uniformed Canadian baggage control folks if I wanted to run my carry-on through their x-ray scanner before heading to the security line to make sure I hadn't left a shell somewhere. Great folks.

 

[CAustin]

WOW! Lucky not to have been stopped.

 

[Eeleel]

I had a sheath hunting knife found in my backpack leaving Casper, Wy X-ray. They shrugged it off allowing me to exit and mail it home, commenting they find loaded firearms during checks!
Thank god it was Casper and not O’Hare or NYC,

 

[8 x 60]

Once upon a time an Englishman could travel all over the world with his Paradox in a bespoke case and it was normal. Now one cannot even take a fly-reel in ones hand luggage.

What a carry-on! (Pun intentional)

 

[Hunting Sailor]

It happens quite often when guests are boarding cruise ships that ammo is found in the x-ray. Central and South Florida ports are typical, although I’ve seen it in the NE as well.
After being cleared by a back ground check from the Port Police or Sheriff’s department the ship’s management can decide if they would be allowed to board the ship.

Mostly pistol ammo and 223, loose cartridges or in magazines left in bags. The odd pistol has been detected on the x-ray, but then the boarding is denied.

//Gus

 

[thriller]

I made it to Argentina with shotgun shells in bag liner us customs missed them but Argentinian customs found them. After doing a short carpet dance they decided I indeed was not a terrorist and hunted birds. They took the shells and let me go.

 

[8 x 60]

Glad I started the thread. It seems like we have lots of beans to spill. All the the replies make me feel less stupid.

It is still a shame the world we now live in sees anyone connected to fire-arms as a terrorist.

We have the misguided foreign policies pf Messrs, Blair and Bush to thank for that. If ever either of them apply for a firearm I trust any "profilers" will see them for the Psychopaths they clearly are. No apologies for getting political but my blood gets near to boiling on this and at my age that is dangerous..

Open to criticism ... Best Ade

 

[Hank2211]

My wife had asked to borrow a cartridge for a demo she was doing for a class (legal thing). I gave her a .300 WM.

A few months later we’re on our way to the US and the scanner says “Ma’am, is this your bag?” Yes, and he rummages around and pulls out the cartridge. He says “Sorry. You cant take this past here.” My wife said “oh, sorry, forgot it there. Can you get rid of it? ‘No problem Ma’am. “

Seriously. I was dumbstruck. I’m not counting on that ever happening to me. Empty everything before I leave for Africa and on the return. Only way to be sure.

 

[BeeMaa]

Once upon a time an Englishman could travel all over the world with his Paradox in a bespoke case and it was normal. Now one cannot even take a fly-reel in ones hand luggage.

What a carry-on! (Pun intentional)

Alright, you win, I don't know and Google isn't helping me.
What is "Paradox in a bespoke case"?

 

[Nyati]

Try Paradox gun in Google.

Bespoke is how the brits say "made to order", so that would be a fitted case for the gun.

 

[BeeMaa]

Try Paradox gun in Google.

Bespoke is how the brits say "made to order", so that would be a fitted case for the gun.

Thank you sir.
Paradox gun, very interesting.