Removing Scope for transport

Borderer

AH senior member
Joined
Jun 27, 2022
Messages
60
Reaction score
63
My rifles got a bit of a battering on the plane last year which had lead me to think would I be better removing my scope and putting it in hand luggage for transport (if it is in QD mounts)?

Does anyone do this?
 

375Fox

AH elite
Joined
Feb 19, 2020
Messages
1,852
Reaction score
5,659
Location
Pennsylvania
Media
151
Hunting reports
Africa
3
Europe
2
Hunted
Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Cameroon
What rifle case were you using? I’ve done a lot of traveling for hunting and I’ve never had any damage to my rifle or scope. I use a boyt case for last 10 years or so.
 

RR 314

AH veteran
Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
184
Reaction score
261
Media
7
I have Alaska Arms QDs and take one scope off. After seeing some issues I am convinced there are some greenies purposefully stomping on cases.
 

Borderer

AH senior member
Joined
Jun 27, 2022
Messages
60
Reaction score
63
Peli case copy. There was very little damage to the rifles, just a minor scratch on a moderator which was my fault for not packing it properly and the safety was jammed on, although I was told that it common if Mauser 98s are dropped and a light tap sorted that out (side safety not flag) but the case was a bit scuffed and I just wondered if it might have been more sensible for me to remove the scope.
 

Borderer

AH senior member
Joined
Jun 27, 2022
Messages
60
Reaction score
63
I have Alaska Arms QDs and take one scope off. After seeing some issues I am convinced there are some greenies purposefully stomping on cases.
I think it was just incompetence in my case. We saw several cases dropping out of the cargo door when they unloaded the plane.
 

JimP

AH legend
Joined
Dec 14, 2014
Messages
3,640
Reaction score
7,326
Location
Gypsum, Co
Media
62
Hunting reports
Africa
2
USA/Canada
3
Member of
NRA, RMEF
Hunted
US (Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada. Canada (British Colombia), South Africa (Eastern Cape)
I have traveled quite a bit with my hunting rifle and have had zero damage to the rifle or scope.

This last year I watched my rifle case get bounced around and dropped no less than several times and the scope still held it's zero.

My case isn't a expensive on, it is a Harbor Freight Apache case that is modeled after a Pelican
 

TKessel

AH veteran
Joined
Dec 29, 2021
Messages
173
Reaction score
245
Location
Hiland, Wyoming
Hunting reports
Africa
1
Hunted
RSA Namibia
I have QD bases and rings on both my safari rifles. I take an extra identical scope with rings to use incase of damage to the existing scope on the rifle. I’ve never had any issues, but feel it’s worth doing just in case.
 

Shakka

AH enthusiast
Joined
Oct 25, 2019
Messages
292
Reaction score
416
Location
NEW YORK
Member of
NRA SCI
Hunted
Namibia Zimbabwe
Peli case copy. There was very little damage to the rifles, just a minor scratch on a moderator which was my fault for not packing it properly and the safety was jammed on, although I was told that it common if Mauser 98s are dropped and a light tap sorted that out (side safety not flag) but the case was a bit scuffed and I just wondered if it might have been more sensible for me to remove the scope.
There you go, a "Pelican Case copy."

I flew with the same Pelican 1750 case about 20X and I NEVER had a problem with my rifles...and they never lost zero either
The case is beat-up but structurally sound.

Spend the money and get a real case
 

Pheroze

AH legend
Joined
Jul 6, 2013
Messages
4,877
Reaction score
7,495
Location
Ontario
Media
90
Articles
24
Hunting reports
Africa
1
USA/Canada
6
Member of
OFAH, DSC
Hunted
South Africa, Canada, USA
On the issue of removing the scope: the first time I did not, and it was no problem. I decided to take it off the second time I went. Security in Johannesburg took exception, and the agent took it over to her superior. They mistook it for something else because she returned it saying that they mistakenly thought it was off of a rifle, and that's not allowed. Yikes. So it stayed on the gun for the return trip.

There is a thread somewhere about South Africa not allowing it anymore. I don't know the rules, but if you get someone who doesn't know the difference between a scope and a telescope, and you should be fine.

By the way, I use a tuffpak and like it very much.
 

Borderer

AH senior member
Joined
Jun 27, 2022
Messages
60
Reaction score
63
Thanks for the replies. I had no issues in spite of my case being dropped, so the Conetrol mounts I have seem to have held up well. Probably best leaving things as they are.

I did fly several times with a spare scope in hand luggage which was not picked up. Probably will not repeat that now!
 

Forum statistics

Threads
47,907
Messages
980,960
Members
81,395
Latest member
Rjrothe
 

 

 

Latest profile posts

hunt 65 wrote on wvfred's profile.
Have strong interest. could you send more close ups of the top and bottom of receiver etc.. Thanks, Neil
hunt 65 wrote on wvfred's profile.
do we know what year it was made?
hunt 65 wrote on wvfred's profile.
Has this 404 Jeffrey been drilled/ tapped on the receiver? Thanks, Neil
I have a cancelation leopard hunt available for May 2023 10 to 25 May, 16 days, 14 hunting days. info@leopardlegend.com
john corry wrote on Rolf Risnes's profile.
Hi, is your lovely westley for sale? Thanks. John.
my email is [redacted]
 
Top