Firearm handling at OR Tambo Int. airport

[Tanks]

Thanks HH, I wanted to know because I am getting a fancy fitted case built and would prefer it to be assembled.

I do remember HeymUSA saying to travel with it be disassembled though. I didn't delve into the reasons as that is how I wanted to do it to take advantage of the shorter length of take down cases.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

My reason for wanting the full case is to use that on the back of the hunting vehicle too. I am done with my rifles getting messed up in soft bags on the back of bakkies

 

[BRICKBURN]

So help me as I am not clear....the bolt is NOT suppose to be in the rifle case?

Dear all

Be aware that the bolt on your rifle no longer should be within the checked in baggage, but with your firearm or in the ammo case.

It (the bolt)was in his checked baggage. ie. Suitcase vs gun case.
Keep your firearms and parts in a locked case and avoid the issues.

To export a rifle with a scope from Canada temporarily, the Canadian government department responsible has to make sure that the rifle scope (Scopes are defined as "optical weapons systems".) is not on the USA restricted list.
Plenty of countries treat any part of a firearm "seriously".

UN non proliferations treaties, etc.
https://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/salw/

Translate that through Airport/Airline staff and ....

Note: Remember the recent change regarding COVID paperwork requiring a QR Code in RSA. Policy changed over night without notice and without the QR Code, the paperwork was refused.

 

[scott fairchild]

I returned from South Africa on June 4th with no issue having the bolt in the gun case. However, I had an issue with taking a scope in my carry-on. I don’t have room for 2 rifles and scope in my case. This was the first time I ever had an issue with a scope in my carry-on. It was explained to me that a scope is considered part of the firearm and must be checked, either in the gun case of checked luggage.

 

[Pheroze]

I returned from South Africa on June 4th with no issue having the bolt in the gun case. However, I had an issue with taking a scope in my carry-on. I don’t have room for 2 rifles and scope in my case. This was the first time I ever had an issue with a scope in my carry-on. It was explained to me that a scope is considered part of the firearm and must be checked, either in the gun case of checked luggage.

Yep, had the same issue at OR Tambo. Fortunately, the person said "sorry we thought it was part of the firearm" and gave it back to me. They thought the scope was a telescope! (It's only 2.4 - 12 xbtw)

The scope in carry-on also caused a problem at every other airport because the 1" tube attracted attention and I was subject to secondary searches.

On the way home it stayed on the rifle.

Bolt was in the gun case pocket. No problems at all.

 

[Philip Glass]

Dear all

Be aware that the bolt on your rifle no longer should be within the checked in baggage, but with your firearm or in the ammo case.
Sunday 12 of June I departed and at check in no one informed me about the new changes made (guess they did not know it).
Just before boarding I was called upon and had to go the baggage handling and remove the bolt from my checked in baggage.
Firearm and ammo was already loaded in the plane and they did not want to fetch it so I could put the bolt in there.
Result is: I now have a firearm without a bolt, bolt is somewhere in Johannesburg ☹

Regards
Gjermund

I am sorry for your troubles. JNB can be lots of trouble. This is not a rule of any kind. You just drew the short straw of the idiot in charge. I was just through there with 15 other hunters and no mention of bolts.
I will make a report of the idiots I encountered on my 4 flight journey to the EC Soon.
I suppose we all just need the IATA firearm rules printed out.
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

I returned from South Africa on June 4th with no issue having the bolt in the gun case. However, I had an issue with taking a scope in my carry-on. I don’t have room for 2 rifles and scope in my case. This was the first time I ever had an issue with a scope in my carry-on. It was explained to me that a scope is considered part of the firearm and must be checked, either in the gun case of checked luggage.

This is also false but there is nothing we can do about the idiot in charge. It’s like playing craps with air travel these days!

 

[Philip Glass]

Airlines I have used always states that a vital part of your firearm must be removed and put in cheked in baggage. Been travelling with firearms since 2001 and still the same rules apply.

Maybe for Europe but no where else on earth sir.

 

[Philip Glass]

Never ever heard of such a rule and I have been flying with firearms for longer than that. I have heard some people do that in the belief that the rifle is less likely to be stolen. That reason always seemed a bit silly to me (what thief is going to take the time to carefully inspect a firearm).

That is simply not the case in my experience. I have transited Frankfurt several times, flown South African and Namibian pre-Covid and was never required to separately pack the bolt.

He just drew the short straw. there Is no such rule.

 

[JPmbogo]

As I have previously commented, I think we are rapidly heading to a time where outfitters supply the guns.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Um, the bolt has to be in checked baggage? The gun case IS checked baggage.
I put my bolt in an old sock and stick a long chamber flag in the action that reads:
GUN IS NOT LOADED. Complete firearm is in the gun case.

 

[Areaonereal]

Utilizing their services of pre approved service for your firearm arriving and departing eliminates the idiot that you may encounter with their own set of rules.

 

[MarkB]

Seams the idiots are becoming more common. Just last summer I had the Ethiopian Airlines gun luggage rules printed and in hand. The SA booking agent at the desk handling check ins for Ethiopian in Joberg still charged me a $40 fee for firearms. After trying to explain for some time, she stated, you cannot board until you pay, with time getting short I just went and paid fee.

As for bolt rule above I have never encountered it. Last few safaris I travelled with bolt in gun, with trigger locks on and then locked in gun case. Never had any issues. As some state about extra scopes, being Canadian I am sure there are rules concerning such. I had to register my guns, ammo, scopes before leaving Canada and have a customs officer verify and sign document stating all I took out were returned to Canada, I then sent copy to Gov, all this for a SA hunt.

MB

 

[TerryBlauwkamp]

Been through ORT many times,
I keep bolt out of the gun, but in the same gun case was not a problem.

 

[Nickcusato]

I've alway flown Delta (ATL) or United (NY) out of the US to Joburg Africa and had no issues putting the bolt in the gun case but not in the gun. Never put it in checked bags, never had any issues.

 

[C.W. Richter]

When flying with one or two rifles in separate compartments of the SKB cases I'll pull the bolt and store it next to the rifle to clearly demonstrate that it's unloaded. But when carrying four rifles placed more closely together I just leave the bolts in. They really don't care and never have. They ask you to sign a certification that the rifle is unloaded.

 

[Nyati]

This is new for me, I don´t travel with guns anymore, but when I did, the bolt was in the case, out of the gun.

And I have traveled with Iberia, Lufthansa and Swiss Air.

 

[Doug3006]

I’ve been through Frankfurt and Windhoek several times and the bolt remained in the rifle in the locked case! Harare and Lusaka too. My case has several different foam inserts that are die cut to my safari rifles, so I don’t worry ton much about stress cracking the stock. Maybe I should. .