Flying with Bolt Action rifle - Bolt in or out?

[trperk1]

I travel with firearms several times per year. Never have I taken my bolt out. Other being asked if my firearms was loaded, one time I was asked to show the agent. In my pelican or any gun case I'm not really worried about damage to my rifle. As far as that goes, I pull all the foam out of my current case, a pelican. But my firearm in the soft case that I intend to use at my destination and pack clothes around it.

 

[Sika98k]

The Rigby bolt holder is a very nice step up from an old army sock or dish towel!

https://www.johnrigbyandco.com/shop/rigby-bolt-holder

Sure but the socks are a hell of a lot cheaper and you get 2 !

 

[Tintin]

Sure but the socks are a hell of a lot cheaper and you get 2 !

Well ... you start off with 2.

 

[Hedge774]

I leave my bolts in the rifle and never had an issue. If you think it makes more sense to remove the bolt, you might want a bolt case like this one.

TOURBON Rifle Bolt Holder Hunting Cover Pouch Durable Canvas Protection Holster | eBay

✨Random color send out ✅Made of quality durable canvas. The bolt holder is fully padded and enclosed to protect your gun bolts. Keeps the bolt out of harms way while in transit and has a handy loop to mount it on your belt during competition. It is safe to store your rifle bolts away from your...

www.ebay.com

That case is wayyy to big for my bolt...sigh.

 

[M70375!]

I always travel with the bolt in the rifle and have never had anyone object to it.

 

[Safari Dave]

I remove the bolt because my Pelican Vault holds rifles so tightly, that the bolt handle pushes through the foam otherwise.

 

[Rafiki]

Well, I left the bolt in but wish I hadn't; not because of damage, that would be near Imposable with vault like travel cases. This is admittedly minor but I discovered that the checkering on the bolt knob ste into the foam lining as it was getting tossed around.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Well ... you start off with 2.

And it's an easy way to have an extra pair of socks for the hunt.

 

[Hififile324]

I travel with firearms several times per year. Never have I taken my bolt out. Other being asked if my firearms was loaded, one time I was asked to show the agent. In my pelican or any gun case I'm not really worried about damage to my rifle. As far as that goes, I pull all the foam out of my current case, a pelican. But my firearm in the soft case that I intend to use at my destination and pack clothes around it.

Great idea! Thanks

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I’ve been asked to remove it so my bolt is always out and in a sock inside the same gun case. Except for my ammo case, I use Masterlock padlocks that only I have the key for so I’ve never lost a bolt in 25 years of international hunting travel. I would NEVER put TSA locks on my gun case. During initial TSA inspection right after check in, the gun case is logged into TSA’s database and they rarely need to look at your gun case again. If they do, they will contact you to get the key.

last April after returning from Africa thru Atlanta when I opened my case at home I found a TSA card in the case saying inspected the case. I had 2 padlocks on it and somehow they opened both locks and relocked it so they can get in your case.

 

[Nicaburns]

Bolt out… if you have a steripen, the bolt fits nicely inside the case.

 

[Scott CWO]

last April after returning from Africa thru Atlanta when I opened my case at home I found a TSA card in the case saying inspected the case. I had 2 padlocks on it and somehow they opened both locks and relocked it so they can get in your case.

Wow what type and brand padlock? They opened it after it was opened at US CUSTOMS in Atlanta with you present?

 

[CBeck]

If this forum has proven anything, it’s that the only true consensus here is that nobody agrees on anything.

• Bolt in or bolt out
• QD mounts
• Scope magnification
• Tripods vs quad sticks
• Hornady bullets
• TSA locks
• .375 Ruger

Every topic somehow ends the same way:

⅓ are absolutely certain
⅓ are absolutely certain the first group is wrong
⅓ are just here to watch it burn

Carry on….

 

[Hogpatrol]

If this forum has proven anything, it’s that the only true consensus here is that nobody agrees on anything.

• Bolt in or bolt out
• QD mounts
• Scope magnification
• Tripods vs quad sticks
• Hornady bullets
• TSA locks
• .375 Ruger

Every topic somehow ends the same way:

⅓ are absolutely certain
⅓ are absolutely certain the first group is wrong
⅓ are just here to watch it burn

Carry on….

Addendum to #5, solids vs cup and cores vs bonded vs Bergers.

Add South Africa vs everywhere else.

Edit to my previous post using socks. The best ones to use are cotton or wool, no synthetic. Cleaning fluids remaining on the bolts could cause a melting of the fabric and having it adhere to it, cause the use of a rental rifle that you may trip and fall with and subsequently be responsible for it's repair. This in turn would allow for a new thread repeating for the umpteenth time, the virtue signalers lessons in life. In these forums, you really have to drill down deep to make sure you have all bases covered.

We now return you to our regular programming.

 

[skydiver386]

If this forum has proven anything, it’s that the only true consensus here is that nobody agrees on anything.

• Bolt in or bolt out
• QD mounts
• Scope magnification
• Tripods vs quad sticks
• Hornady bullets
• TSA locks
• .375 Ruger

Every topic somehow ends the same way:

⅓ are absolutely certain
⅓ are absolutely certain the first group is wrong
⅓ are just here to watch it burn

Carry on….

That's because I'm Right, everyone else is Wrong, and the sooner we all come to that understanding the better off we're all going to be!

 

[Hyde Hunter]

Wow what type and brand padlock? They opened it after it was opened at US CUSTOMS in Atlanta with you present?

it was a brass padlock from Ace Hardware, and I went thru customs then TSA and they had to swab and tear everything apart as it showed explosives and got the ok, then after I checked it sometime over the next 9 hours waiting for my flight they got into it. I was never called or reached out to. my phone number is on a brass plate on the gun case and paper work inside.

 

[coreydb]

I've always traveled with my bolts in the rifles.

 

[VertigoBE]

Since I use an Americase 2-rifle for my travelling, I have no choice but to take the bolts out, otherwise they do not fit. There are two separate pockets in the lid in which I place the bolts after having them wrapped in a shemagh.
I guess bolt out, if possible, is probably better so the bolt cannot act as a fulcrum on the rest of the rifle.

 

[Troubleshooter]

Regardless of whether you prefer to travel with the bolt in or out, you should be prepared for the latter possibility. I've seen the CBP inspectors at the return-flight checkpoint announce that everyone was required to remove the bolt from their rifles.

My impression is that they are being taught to do this during their training, and that they do not necessarily understand the reason. At least that was my impression after watching a CBP inspector insist that one of the traveling hunters remove the bolt ... from his double rifle.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I routinely fly with firearms (monthly or more). The bolt is always in the rifle regardless if it’s a bolt action or an AR. Slide is always on the handgun. I’ve never been asked to take the bolt out by TSA and in a dozen trips to Africa never had SAPS ask me to upon inspection. The only rifle I travel with taken apart is my double rifle, or my turkey gun (let’s me use a smaller case).

That said my firearms are almost always in a soft case within my Pelican or SKB hard cases. Upon being asked to open them, I unlock, unzip the soft cases, open the bolt or lock the slide to the rear without removing from the case, and lay the up so the inspecting agent can visually see into the chamber before touching the firearm. Many times i also insert my pinky into the chamber to reconfirm it’s empty but have had a TSA Agent in both Boise, ID and Newark, NJ get made about that.