Help with TSA

[Dholupko]

Domestically when I’ve traveled with firearms I sign a red tag that gets put in my gun case, verify it’s unloaded and off it goes. What can I expect when traveling to and from Zimbabwe? Will anyone unpack and attempt to repack my firearms in the case? I’m traveling through Atlanta to Jo’burg then on to Bulawayo. My return will be Bulawayo to Jo’burg to Cape Town then back to Atlanta.
My concern is if I break my guns down (remove the stock from my bolt action and separate my double into two parts) that someone will struggle to repack them and therefore scratch them. Is this a legitimate concern?
Thank for your insight!

 

[375Fox]

The process in the US when you fly to Africa will be exactly the same as domestic travel. You should get a pre-approved in-transit permit for South Africa. You are likely going to have to claim your bag in Johannesburg on both ends for police to verify serial numbers and recheck. You will have to open your case in Zimbabwe on both ends to verify serial numbers too. Your firearm case will only be opened in your presence. Why would you remove the stock and separate your double in two?

 

[K-man]

You will be the only person with a key to your gun case. If anyone requires it to be open they will do it in your presence. TSA will x-ray it and if they have a question you will be called over to open it. In DC you are not allowed to carry the gun through the airport but a police officer will escort you and the gun to be checked. Most places in Africa the average native person cannot handle a firearm without a license so they wait on police to inspect. The damage can come from careless baggage handlers and/or firearm haters purposely trashing your gun cases. Rare but does happen.

 

[Dholupko]

Thank you for the reply. The case id like to use is shorter than both guns. It is, however, a very secure case.
They will check serial numbers in my presence which is understood but will they handle the guns for this and repack them without me being able to assist?
My concern is someone handling them and then being ham-handed in putting them back in the case and me not being able to assist.
I’ll try to attach pictures of the case.

 

[Ridge Runner]

You will be the only person with a key to your gun case. If anyone requires it to be open they will do it in your presence. TSA will x-ray it and if they have a question you will be called over to open it. In DC you are not allowed to carry the gun through the airport but a police officer will escort you and the gun to be checked. Most places in Africa the average native person cannot handle a firearm without a license so they wait on police to inspect. The damage can come from careless baggage handlers and/or firearm haters purposely trashing your gun cases. Rare but does happen.

@K-man.

Just Curious.

When and which airport in DC aren't you allowed to carry/transport your firearms case through the airport?

I've flown out of Dulles 3 times at no time did I or the other fliers, that I saw, with firearm cases have a police escort to the Qatar check-in counter.

 

[375Fox]

Thank you for the reply. The case id like to use is shorter than both guns. It is, however, a very secure case.
They will check serial numbers in my presence which is understood but will they handle the guns for this and repack them without me being able to assist?
My concern is someone handling them and then being ham-handed in putting them back in the case and me not being able to assist.
I’ll try to attach pictures of the case.

The worst I’ve had was actually in Dallas surprisingly. They opened the deep side of case (intentionally) so all foam was exposed. They did it in front of me but I wasn’t allowed to touch. You’ll probably be fine, but I’d recommend the less moving parts or separate pieces in your gun case the better off you are. I can’t promise you’ll be allowed to repack anything yourself, but you’ll mostly likely be able to.

 

[375Fox]

@K-man.

Just Curious.

When and which airport in DC aren't you allowed to carry/transport your firearms case through the airport?

I've flown out of Dulles 3 times at no time did I or the other fliers, that I saw, with firearm cases have a police escort to the Qatar check-in counter.

Every time I’ve returned through Dulles an airline representative walked my gun to the domestic counter from customs. I wasn’t allowed to do myself.

 

[TnKen]

I don’t know about the process in Zim, but I just went through Joberg last week. I opened my case up and showed them the serial number, and they never touched them. As a side note I did have a pair of binoculars stolen from my case on the return trip.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Thank you for the reply. The case id like to use is shorter than both guns. It is, however, a very secure case.
They will check serial numbers in my presence which is understood but will they handle the guns for this and repack them without me being able to assist?
My concern is someone handling them and then being ham-handed in putting them back in the case and me not being able to assist.
I’ll try to attach pictures of the case.

Nice case.
It looks strong enough to wart off most baggage handlers.

I would recommend replacing the rod and put a lock, if possible though each hole. Common sense says the 1 lock and rod is securing the case. SAPS...well...there's suppose to be a lock in each hole.

My Experiences: four trips to RSA, and one trip to Zimbabwe:

As for anyone opening your case or checking/handling your firearms; only in your presents as @375Fox mentioned you are using your own locks, not TSA locks, for securing your case; thus US, SAPS, and Zimbabwe customs will have you open your case to check serial numbers, verify rifle caliber, Zimbabwe may check your ammunition for correct caliber and amount. SAPS is a 50/50 on checking your ammunition for caliber and quantity listed on your SAPS 520.

Some or none of the agents may ask you to pull your firearms out of the case, then hand your firearms to them so they can read the serial numbers off to a second agent. If they have you to hand them your firearms they will hand the firearms back to you for repacking.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Every time I’ve returned through Dulles an airline representative walked my gun to the domestic counter from customs. I wasn’t allowed to do myself.

Come to think of it. Returning this last trip, during normal business daylight hours, to Dulles, an airline rep told me that my firearms case was already at customs. I thought it was taken over to the customs area for me due to the case being oversize.

IIRC it also seems there was only one agent checking firearms and I had to wait about 10 minutes, or so, for him to come back from his break; since I was the only one in the holding area with a firearms case.

After being checked the agent pointed me to the exit and the direction to the correct shuttle stop.

The previous 2 times, I was using a smaller, lighter firearms case. We arrived either late evening or early-wee hours of the morning, a baggage handler had our firearms cases and the one bow case near our luggage carousel, he checked/ verified each claim ticket, to our respective weapons cases, then pointed us to take our weapons over to the custom's office.

 

[M70375!]

Nice case.
It looks strong enough to wart off most baggage handlers.

I would recommend replacing the rod and put a lock, if possible though each hole. Common sense says the 1 lock and rod is securing the case. SAPS...well...there's suppose to be a lock in each hole.

My Experiences: four trips to RSA, and one trip to Zimbabwe:

As for anyone opening your case or checking/handling your firearms; only in your presents as @375Fox mentioned you are using your own locks, not TSA locks, for securing your case; thus US, SAPS, and Zimbabwe customs will have you open your case to check serial numbers, verify rifle caliber, Zimbabwe may check your ammunition for correct caliber and amount. SAPS is a 50/50 on checking your ammunition for caliber and quantity listed on your SAPS 520.

Some or none of the agents may ask you to pull your firearms out of the case, then hand your firearms to them so they can read the serial numbers off to a second agent. If they have you to hand them your firearms they will hand the firearms back to you for repacking.

My case is of the exact same desing, , one rod for all four holes ,one lock, no one anywhere ever said a thing about it anywhere in Africa or the US.

 

[Andrew62]

I've flown out of and returned to Dulles 10-12 times, mainly on Qatar. When I arrive to the airport I ride the long term shuttle bus to the terminal, wheel my luggage and gun to the Qatar check-in counter, there they will ask for copies of my passport, 4457, Letter of Invitation, etc. After I get checked in I take my gun to TSA, the person there scans the gun, sometimes they will open the case, but once that is done I am off to my gate.

On return, through Dulles, I deplane, go through Customs, go get my checked bag, go to the Border Patrol area, my gun arrives there, they may wait on me in 15 minutes, they may make me wait an hour. Just depends on the attitude of the person in charge, (I learned to pray the guy with Napoleon's Syndrome would be off that day). When my name is called, I walk over, unlock and open the case, they check the serial numbers, and off I go to the shuttle bus.

In the airports I've been through in Zimbabwe it has been a fairly easy process, though long and aggravating at times. Watching 7 different people count my 30 rounds of ammo, 2x each, can make you want to scream, but you just smile and soon enough you'll be on your way. This past September I went through Harare, another member from this site happened to be on the same flight, we flew from JNB to Harare, then we went on a private charter, from arriving to departing Harare, it was just over 2 hours. So yes, sometimes you have to exude a great deal of patience.

@Dholupko, no one will open your case unless you are present. I always pack my rifle in my Pelican 1750 case so that when I open the case, the side with the serial number is facing up, that way they never really touch my gun.

 

[BigGame]

I was just in Zim last month at Vic Falls airport. Its a fairly simple process. Your PH will be outside of the area where they make you unpack your rifle and check your serial number and do the round count. Just be polite and smile and you'll do fine. Just remember it is their duty to check your bag and allow you into thier country. They will give you paperwork and then a guy 10 feet away from you while you wefe being checked will need to recheck all your paperwork before you are free to be on your way. Good luck!

 

[Philip Glass]

Domestically when I’ve traveled with firearms I sign a red tag that gets put in my gun case, verify it’s unloaded and off it goes. What can I expect when traveling to and from Zimbabwe? Will anyone unpack and attempt to repack my firearms in the case? I’m traveling through Atlanta to Jo’burg then on to Bulawayo. My return will be Bulawayo to Jo’burg to Cape Town then back to Atlanta.
My concern is if I break my guns down (remove the stock from my bolt action and separate my double into two parts) that someone will struggle to repack them and therefore scratch them. Is this a legitimate concern?
Thank for your insight!

Yes you will sign the red card and place in the rifle case while at the ticket counter. Then TSA may open and swab and this is where stuff can get messed up. Usually here are no issues and it goes on the plane. I keep my rifles in soft cases so they are not touching my rifles at all.
You'd have to give us more info on your African itinerary to provide more insight. Will you overnight in JNB? What is your layover? What airlines? Are you booked in one ticket all the way to Bulawayo? There are many variables on what comes next. We will overnight at City Lodge in JNB then take Airlink to our next destination on all these safaris. Two weeks to wheels up!