Question about packing ammunition

[Ontario Hunter]

I pack my ammo in a lockable $5 Harbor Freight plastic ammo box. This last safari I only took twenty rounds each 404J and 30-06, each in their own individual plastic ammo containers. I customized the plastic container for 404J so the cartridges could not rattle. All plastic ammo container lids are secured with elastic ribbon from my late wife's sewing box. And I used Dremel tool with carving burr to engrave the caliber on one side of container lid and my name, address, etc on the other side. Not real classy (I misspelled my last name on 30-06 container ) but does the job.

The ammo box also contains 1) two screwdrivers, one large for action screws and one tiny for resetting iron sights 2) extra locks for gun case and ammo box 3) a couple pairs of socks or underwear to keep everything packed tight.

Twenty rounds for each rifle proved sufficient but thirty for the 30-06 would have been better. Thirty for both would require four plastic ammo containers and I don't think they would all fit in that ammo box.

I additionally secure the latch and lock on ammo box as well as each latch on my Pelican Vault gun case with duct tape. Put the duct tape roll in checked bag. Some security agents won't let it go through in carryon.

For anyone departing from Canada, Air Canada now will not allow guns that do not have trigger locks ... inside locked gun case. Don't ask ...

 

[Mark458]

It doesn't have to be pretty as long as it works good.

 

[ClarkC]

How would TSA lose locks off a locked ammo box? Someone in another thread mentioned using Aloy (?) locks.

Abloy locks. Made by a Finnish company. You can find them on eBay for reasonable prices.

I originally ordered TSA locks and they are the cheapest thing out there. A bored 9-year old would figure out how to open one. And the regulations indicate the locks need to be of a type that only you have a key. So TSA locks seemed to be a no-go. Abloy has received high marks from The Lock Picking Lawyer.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Abloy locks. Made by a Finnish company. You can find them on eBay for reasonable prices.

I originally ordered TSA locks and they are the cheapest thing out there. A bored 9-year old would figure out how to open one. And the regulations indicate the locks need to be of a type that only you have a key. So TSA locks seemed to be a no-go. Abloy has received high marks from The Lock Picking Lawyer.

Plus if you forget the combination, you can get keys for TSA locks on Amazon.

 

[Mark458]

The purpose of TSA locks isn't so much for security, but to give TSA personnel access to your piece of luggage without cutting your lock. It's been many years ago but I had a regular padlock on a duffle bag on a hunting trip to Texas. They cut it off and put it in a Ziploc bag in my bag. I know of other people who have had regular locks cut. I think they look for them and use it as an excuse to cut them and look for what you may be hiding.

The regulations say it has to be locked. It doesn't say it has to be of good quality. They make different grades of TSA locks.

 

[Jack Stevens]

The purpose of TSA locks isn't so much for security, but to give TSA personnel access to your piece of luggage without cutting your lock. It's been many years ago but I had a regular padlock on a duffle bag on a hunting trip to Texas. They cut it off and put it in a Ziploc bag in my bag. I know of other people who have had regular locks cut. I think they look for them and use it as an excuse to cut them and look for what you may be hiding.

The regulations say it has to be locked. It doesn't say it has to be of good quality. They make different grades of TSA locks.

Why would TSA cut non-TSA locks on a rifle or ammo case they’ve already checked and cleared for your flight?

 

[Hyde Hunter]

Last year they got in my rifle case after checking it in and somehow unlocked my Master Locks and looked around and put them back on after putting card inside, this was in Atlanta on the way home

 

[Mark458]

Why would TSA cut non-TSA locks on a rifle or ammo case they’ve already checked and cleared for your flight?

I've never had my ammunition checked by anyone. Just got back from my 13th trip to Africa. Who knows what s TSA employee is thinking or looking for. Why did they cut my lock off my bag? They didn't leave a note with my cut lock as to why they cut it. If they want in they are going to get in.

 

[coreydb]

My rifles and ammo are secured separately with locks only I can open.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

My rifles and ammo are secured separately with locks only I can open.

That is what I thought also. If they want in your case they will

 

[Rare Breed]

I've never had my ammunition checked by anyone. Just got back from my 13th trip to Africa. Who knows what s TSA employee is thinking or looking for. Why did they cut my lock off my bag? They didn't leave a note with my cut lock as to why they cut it. If they want in they are going to get in.

lol, have you gone through Harare? Never seen such a disaster!!! Don’t ever want to go through that airport again if I can avoid it

 

[Mark458]

lol, have you gone through Harare? Never seen such a disaster!!! Don’t ever want to go through that airport again if I can avoid it

Never been through there, but I have heard some stories.

 

[Andrew62]

lol, have you gone through Harare? Never seen such a disaster!!! Don’t ever want to go through that airport again if I can avoid it

Harare, where it takes 7 different people to each count your ammo 2x each to be sure there really are only 30 shells! Last year when I went through Harare, another member from this site was going through there at the same time, it took us 2 hours 15 min to clear customs from flying up from JNB then through Customs to take a charter flight. It can be challenging sometimes to just let the process play out and keep your mouth shut!

 

[Russ16]

lol, have you gone through Harare? Never seen such a disaster!!! Don’t ever want to go through that airport again if I can avoid it

I don’t think it was that bad. Silly for sure. They took all the ammo out and took pictures but didn’t look at headstands. It was weird they just laid it all out on the floor with the whole world watching but other than the multiple people taking pictures Not stressful.

 

[KPinOKC]

I have a question about the lockable ammo cases. I was thinking about about splitting my ammo, which are in their original boxes, between two or three small cases with the idea the airlines might be less likely to lose all my ammo. Now my question. I have a few empty pistol cases, Glock etc., that are perfect for two boxes of ammo. The cases are the basic hard sided cases with holes for two locks. Would those cases work?

 

[Andrew62]

I have a question about the lockable ammo cases. I was thinking about about splitting my ammo, which are in their original boxes, between two or three small cases with the idea the airlines might be less likely to lose all my ammo. Now my question. I have a few empty pistol cases, Glock etc., that are perfect for two boxes of ammo. The cases are the basic hard sided cases with holes for two locks. Would those cases work?

To better understand, are you saying you're thinking of putting different boxes of ammo in different checked on luggage, or putting 2 or 3 smaller ammo holders in the same checked on bag?

 

[KPinOKC]

To better understand, are you saying you're thinking of putting different boxes of ammo in different checked on luggage, or putting 2 or 3 smaller ammo holders in the same checked on bag

 

[KPinOKC]

I would put two boxes in one case, and two boxes in a second case. I would put the cases in separate carry on suitcases.

My primary question is the suitability of using pistol cases to carry the ammo boxes.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I think he is going to put 2-3 factory ammo boxes in the pistol boxes, then put in one checked bag with the idea that they might loose one or two boxes and he will still have some ammo. NOT a good idea, TSA or the Airline might think you are trying to pull something on them. Has anyone lost their ammo case out of their checked baggage? I have not.

 

[KPinOKC]

I think he is going to put 2-3 factory ammo boxes in the pistol boxes, then put in one checked bag with the idea that they might loose one or two boxes and he will still have some ammo. NOT a good idea, TSA or the Airline might think you are trying to pull something on them. Has anyone lost their ammo case out of their checked baggage? I have not.

Each one would have to declared. I don’t see how they would be suspicious of something that was clearly declared beforehand.