Flyer Beware! Gun Case Sabotage (?) on ATL to CPT flight

[Philip Glass]

Hi Philip. It was Tulsa to ATL to CPT to PE. Latches were discovered open and dampness present upon arrival at CPT. As pointed out above, there was a ground stop at ATL for heavy rain prior to departure. It's possible that the latches were opened and the case just left in the rain with the "crack" exposed rather than water being poured in. But it was A LOT of water.

Thanks for the info. If there was a ground stop due to a storm I would basically rule out foul play. More likely TSA didn't get it shut well but could be rough handling. I have had bags get pretty wet while getting loaded on a plane before. Sorry that happened.

 

[Philip Glass]

In March I had both locks cut and my swaros stolen. It’s all a risk.

Where? What airline? Rifle case or suitcase?

 

[Philip Glass]

Obviously SCI, DSC, etc spends tons of time and money on lobbying efforts in regards to conservation, in which hunting is an integral component. Is it possible - or wishful thinking, that SCI could champion the establishment of competent, standardized inter/intra policies for the transportation of hunting firearms within airlines, countries, etc??

Our travel rules are set by IATA. Then airlines and countries can have their own regs. Sure they can all be lobbied. Good idea. We would need a clear plan of action of what we are asking for.

 

[Philip Glass]

I used padlocks until my bow case apparently needed a second look after TSA checkpoint. They must have miss placed their bolt cutters because it took them some time, but they twisted the locks which ruined the ears where the lock went and threw them inside my case. Raised hell at Delta to no avail. So now I just use TSA locks as to not have to buy a new case every trip.

Good point.

 

[Philip Glass]

I use this type of lock on my gun case. When installed it doesn't leave a place on the shaft for bolt cutters to get at.

https://www.amazon.com/TSA-Approved-Hard-Gun-Case-Locks-Firearm-Travel-Security/dp/B0C16LXNYV/ref=zg_m_bs_g_4200821_m_sccl_4/141-2897950-0664514?psc=1

These are cool! May have to give them a try.

 

[Philip Glass]

no one will ever agree on TSA locks

I give up. If it keeps you up at night then ok........

 

[Shaw]

Locks only keep honest thief out. If they want in they will get in.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

These are cool! May have to give them a try.

I might’ve missed it, but has anyone tried these lock?

HH

 

[Shaw]

These are cool! May have to give them a try.

I just ordered 8 of them. Never seen those. Thanks for posting.

 

[Rafiki]

I might’ve missed it, but has anyone tried these lock?

HH

Yes, they are used on my 2 rifle Boyt gun case. They work great. @Dhutson also uses them.

 

[Parkerpusher]

Where? What airline? Rifle case or suitcase?

I had them in my “suitcase”, which was a small pelican hard case. I know better than to put them there, so I’m partially to blame.

Delta from JNB to ATL.

 

[Dhutson]

Yes, they are used on my 2 rifle Boyt gun case. They work great. @Dhutson also uses them.

Yes, they work great. Highly recommend them, (but only when you put them in the gun case not in the suitcase).

 

[Philip Glass]

I had them in my “suitcase”, which was a small pelican hard case. I know better than to put them there, so I’m partially to blame.

Delta from JNB to ATL.

Man sorry to hear that.

 

[Parkerpusher]

Man sorry to hear that.

Thanks. Is what it is, I knew that I should have had those in my backpack on the plane with me.

My gut tells me it happened in Atlanta not Joburg.

 

[MontanaPat]

I might’ve missed it, but has anyone tried these lock?

HH

These are made by Nanuk, I have a small Nanuk case that I use for ammo in my checked bag and I use these locks on that case, then I can recheck it after Joburg onto Airlink flights. I think they work well and like the design. May have to buy more for my rifle case

 

[Kalthoff]

These are made by Nanuk, I have a small Nanuk case that I use for ammo in my checked bag and I use these locks on that case, then I can recheck it after Joburg onto Airlink flights. I think they work well and like the design. May have to buy more for my rifle case

I bought the Nanuk branded locks from Nanuk alongside a riflecase and an ammunition case.

When used on the Nanuk cases, the locks sit nicely protected without protruding. That is a benefit compared to most other types of padlocks.

https://nanuk.com/products/tsa-approved-case-lock

My Nanuk riflecase came with "TSA locks" built into two out of four latches:

https://nanuk.com/products/tsa-latch-retrofit-kit?_pos=1&_psq=retrofit+kit&_psid=e39a26b16&_ss=e

Of course, any "TSA lock" will always be a form of "legal fiction", rather than serious anti-tampering device. Use good quality padlocks if at all possible.

 

[Philip Glass]

Thanks. Is what it is, I knew that I should have had those in my backpack on the plane with me.

My gut tells me it happened in Atlanta not Joburg.

Cut locks usually indicates Africa. It's all a risk but we can't worry about it. We have to move on and go hunt!

 

[Bonk]

I have no idea whether a rainstorm on the ramp or someone intentionally introduced water into the case, however, let me point out that the cargo/luggage compartment on an airliner is pressurized and climate controlled by the same system that takes care of the cabin. The fuselage is one big tube not two separate pressure vessels. Bottom line, the water in the guncase was absolutely positively not caused by condensation in the aircraft. If that were true everything in the cabin would be equally drenched.

 

[Shaw]

I have no idea whether a rainstorm on the ramp or someone intentionally introduced water into the case, however, let me point out that the cargo/luggage compartment on an airliner is pressurized and climate controlled by the same system that takes care of the cabin. The fuselage is one big tube not two separate pressure vessels. Bottom line, the water in the guncase was absolutely positively not caused by condensation in the aircraft. If that were true everything in the cabin would be equally drenched.

I have been on a plane pouring down rain before flight delayed bags sitting on tarmac well over an hour at the time I had soft sided luggage, clothes were soaked when arrived at destination took 3 days for suitcase to dry out.

 

[TnKen]

I just got back last night and found a pair of binoculars gone from my gun case. It appears they opened it by driving out the hinge pins in the back. They stole the Lecias I was bringing back for my PH, but left my leupolds. I’m going to contact BH but will be surprised if they do anything about it. They were in the case at Joberg, and I doubt they were stolen in London.