Can you put locked ammunition case inside your suitcase to save on amount of luggage?

Ok Guys and Gals I've got a question on taking your ammo to South Africa I've looked around and don't know if I've just overlooked it or it's not been asked but heres my question I'm leaving in may for another Safari and I know I've been told that your ammo must be in a seperate locked case then your guns but can you put that locked case inside Your Suitecase to save on amount of Luggage? Just wondering.

It is fine in the suitcase.

Hi Bob
You can put the ammo container in your suitcase, no problems at all.

Yes, it is perfectly fine to put you locked ammo case in a suitcase.

Suitcase is ok. That's where I put mine when I went to SA last may. Flew United and SAA.

Originally Posted by Bobpuckett

Ok Guys and Gals I've got a question on taking your ammo to South Africa I've looked around and don't know if I've just overlooked it or it's not been asked but heres my question I'm leaving in may for another Safari and I know I've been told that your ammo must be in a seperate locked case then your guns but can you put that locked case inside Your Suitecase to save on amount of Luggage? Just wondering.

Yes you can do that, at least you could when I went on Delta. However, be prepared with an extra lock on that suitcase that contains the locked ammo box. Why you might ask? Well when I was checking in at O.R. Tambo to come back that's what the woman at the Delta counter said was required. Even if it's one of those cheap luggage locks that a child could force open. Funny that Delta didn't require this on my way to RSA, just on the way back.

I stood there dumbfounded, but you know there comes a point where it's just best to comply and not argue over the obvious stupidity.

Thanks Guys for the quik reply this saves me another headache, with the gifts I'm packing and a double Gun Case I don't need anymore luggage then is required at $75 for each extra piece by Untied Airlines.

Ok so ammo cases can be locked in the regular checked luggage from USA to Jburg..but what about the internal flight..say Jburg to Cape Town...doesn't the locked ammo case have to be checked as its own "standalone" piece?

Originally Posted by PHOENIX PHIL

Yes you can do that, at least you could when I went on Delta. However, be prepared with an extra lock on that suitcase that contains the locked ammo box. Why you might ask? Well when I was checking in at O.R. Tambo to come back that's what the woman at the Delta counter said was required. Even if it's one of those cheap luggage locks that a child could force open. Funny that Delta didn't require this on my way to RSA, just on the way back.

I stood there dumbfounded, but you know there comes a point where it's just best to comply and not argue over the obvious stupidity.

My buddies ammo boxes were allowed into the luggage on the way to JNB. On the way back they ran into someone with the same insightfulness you ran into and the ammo boxes came out on the carousel!! Glad someone felt that was more secure!

Awesome advice:
....there comes a point where it's just best to comply and not argue over the obvious stupidity.

Originally Posted by desertloper

Ok so ammo cases can be locked in the regular checked luggage from USA to Jburg..but what about the internal flight..say Jburg to Cape Town...doesn't the locked ammo case have to be checked as its own "standalone" piece?

Good question desertloper I hadn't thought of that, I figured in Africa I was on home base.

Who knows:
TSA allows it to be in your gun case.
Delta requires it be in a seperate piece of luggage. Doesnt have to be locked?
It seems to be different depending on whos standing in front of you at the time.

Probably the safest way is to have it in a lockable case in different bag.

Originally Posted by desertloper

Ok so ammo cases can be locked in the regular checked luggage from USA to Jburg..but what about the internal flight..say Jburg to Cape Town...doesn't the locked ammo case have to be checked as its own "standalone" piece?

Yes, in RSA, they will have you check the ammo box seperately.

Probably the safest way is to have it in a lockable case in different bag.

100 percent.

In 2009 they separated my ammo from my bag in Joberg on my outbound SAA flight.
In 2010 they left my ammo in my bag in Joberg on my outbound SAA flight.
In 2010 they left my ammo in my bag in Joberg on my outbound SAA flight.

Like the Boy Scouts, Be Prepared.

How does TSA treat all of these locked ammo cases thew come across when screening? To me it seems like they would want to see inside and cut the locks or hold the bag?

Wouldn't a guy be safer off just raving the ammo box unlocked until reaching south Africa?

TSA will let you put the ammo with the gun. You can put it in your reg. luggage as well. SSA requires the ammo to be in a separate locked case inside your checked luggage. If my memory serves me right the lady had me open the ammo container and she then taged the ammo container. After that we closed our bags and locked them up and sent them on their way. Just a word of caution is to check the websight of each airline you are flying with. Print out the regs and keep them handy just in case. Here is TSA rules.

TSA: Traveling with Special Items

TSA will allow you to put your ammo in with the rifle, domestic flights that is ok...however, Do Not Do that when flying internationally.

If you reach South Africa and have your ammo in your rifle case you are in BIG trouble as you have broken a SA law on transport of rifle and ammunition. You do not want to be in that position...

Put your locked ammo case in your luggage. At Most airports TSA will have you wait until your rifle and Luggage with Ammo is scanned and then you can move on.

Remember that you cannot use TSA locks on your rifle or ammo case...

I have had it both ways checking my rifle and ammo some times they do inspect it and some times they do not.

I take the Bolt out of my rifle and that is the easy way to show the airlines the rifle is unloaded and then they give you the tag to sign and put into your case and lock the case and then they take it.

One time i also had my ammo case checked and they inspected and tagged it. Plus they put a tag in my soft sided case saying that it was inspected. Had to do with the aspirin and other cold pills i was taking along on my trip.

One time they asked me to lock the soft suit case that contained my locked ammo case. So be prepared just in case.

This idea of having to have a separate piece of luggage for ammo seems patently absurd! Its also news to me. I realize that RSA is picky about ammo and when last I hunted there in 2009, they made a bigger fuss about it than my rifle. I had the ammo in my checked bag in plastic ammo boxes duct taped closed, not in locked containers. In Zim last summer my ammo was counted and checked for caliber against the rifle but otherwise it was not a big deal. These idiots that come up with this nonsense are going to kill the goose that layed the golden egg! Bureaucrats, ruining the world one country at a time.