Using TSA approved locks on Gun case or Ammunation case

[deewayne2003]

I’m surprised they would know to recognize Swift A Frames, but that’s a lot more ammo than most hunters leave Zimbabwe with. Probably a tempting target if they knew who to sell them to.

The people they are selling them to probably told them exactly what brand/s to look for.

Same thing happens with pawn shops in the USA, they’ll often tell their regular clientele what they want them to go out and steal.

Given the price of ammo in Zimbabwe, I’m surprised we haven’t heard of this before.

 

[375Fox]

I agree getting acompany with airline representetive to TSA room for inspection which would be more pleasant experence, ( since TSA workers are not police officers). I had having one in LAX to escort me to TSA check room every thing went smooth. Johannesburg is extended part of UK, Brithish airway and all other world known agents, I had no problems. ( the agent came with me). But Zimbabwe is a whole diffrent country, runs by cummunist goverment and regime under US embargo. Corruption is the name of the game, you may take names and all information you want for your fuature need which it goes straight down the drain by them. Tipping them behind the instaled cameras is the only solution to have more agreeable oucome. maybe?

I think you are seriously underestimating corruption in South Africa. Johannesburg isn’t the place you pack valuable items in your checked bag. If you hunt Africa enough things will happen.

 

[Mike McCartney]

It doesn't matter. I've had non TSA locks opened. If they want in, they will get in.

 

[dchum]

In my only two trips I just left the ammo in Africa,
PH is happy and I’m stress free.

Of course I don’t shoot a big bore or custom ammo.
Im sure my boxes of 30/06 don’t hurt as much to leave behind .

I used Combo locks on my rifle case and tsa locks on ammunition. This is on Qatar / Doha and then on United / Newark > Jo burg routes

 

[Hogpatrol]

Out of the U.S., I leave the el cheapo walmart mini locks on my ammo case unlocked and the last two times out of Newark, when I got to RSA, both times the locks were closed and there was an inspection card inside the box. Gun case gets regular locks with extras inside that take the same key.

 

[BeeMaa]

Locks only exist to keep honest people honest. Watching just a few videos of the LockPickingLawyer on YT will clarify that anyone with a second grade education on locks can open and take whatever they want without you knowing until it's too late. Those that want in and don't have the education will cut the locks or steal the entire bag.

I use some pretty cheap Master combo locks that are non-TSA for my rifle case and ammo. I should probably upgrade to an Abloy 341 or equivalent.

Imagine the confidence to buy a lock WITHOUT a key.

 

[WAB]

I use non-TSA combination locks, 4 on my gun case, 2 on my ammo case. However, I take a spare set of TSA combination locks with me just in case some uninformed agent raises a stink, which has happened to me.

 

[BeeMaa]

I use non-TSA combination locks, 4 on my gun case, 2 on my ammo case. However, I take a spare set of TSA combination locks with me just in case some uninformed agent raises a stink, which has happened to me.

I do that too. LOL.

 

[deewayne2003]

I do that too. LOL.

Same here, you can’t predict which government employees are going to create issues; but you can minimize how much affect they have on your travel plans.

 

[TSIBINDI]

...TSA locks are not approved on gun boxes

...I should have qualified my statement. According to the rules the last time (2017) I was traveling to Africa, gun boxes had to be secured with locks that could NOT be opened by TSA. The owner/passenger of the gun box had to have the key for entry. TSA personnel had to request the key/combination to the gun box with the owner /passenger in attendance.

The early TSA approved keys were of simple key type, and the TSA personnel had master keys for all the approved TSA locks. Obviously, in today's world the TSA approved locks are vastly improved and deemed secure. But, if I were still going to Africa, IMO, Mtn-Infantry has the solution.

 

[Duke1966]

...TSA locks are not approved on gun boxes

You may use any brand or type of lock to secure your firearm case, including TSA-recognized locks.
From TSA

Transporting Firearms and Ammunition | Transportation Security Administration

Learn how to properly prepare, pack and declare firearms and ammunition in checked baggage when flying. Review TSA rules, airline policies, and legal requirements.

www.tsa.gov

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I have travelled with firearms in many USA states and used a non-TSA lock on my gun case without issues. Sometimes (Cali) The TSA agents literally dumped everything in my case out and searched under the foam for "Contraband".

Travelling to/from African I used two TSA locks on my gun case and one on my ammo case. In only one instance I had TSA request that I add two more locks for a total of four onto my gun case. I was told that this was because the case had four locking points and thus required four locks.

This year when returning to Africa via the same airport, same gate, using the same gun case, I once more applied only two locks and it was approved coming and going without issue. When travelling domestically 2021 with a rifle and ammo from KY to Cali and back, I locked the ammo and the rifle in the same case. Obviously that is not allowed going to/from Africa. I have found that every airport seems to have practices that differ from the next which implies a lack of training and/or lack of TSA agent professionalism. Not exactly the cream of the crop. Some agents did not want to see the guns, let alone allow me to open the case. When I arrived in California once for a rifle match, I received my gun case at the baggage claim point and asked if I could open the case in front of the agent to inspect my rifle to confirm that it arrived intact and undamaged and was told emphatically that I was NOT to unlock the case until I was outside the terminal on the sidewalk.

I was not at all happy about that since I felt much safer inside the terminal. They are a wonky bunch. You would have thought that I wanted to open a case full of Monkey Pox or Nuclear fissile material.

 

[Russ16]

I have travelled with firearms in many USA states and used a non-TSA lock on my gun case without issues. Sometimes (Cali) The TSA agents literally dumped everything in my case out and searched under the foam for "Contraband".

Travelling to/from African I used two TSA locks on my gun case and one on my ammo case. In only one instance I had TSA request that I add two more locks for a total of four onto my gun case. I was told that this was because the case had four locking points and thus required four locks.

This year when returning to Africa via the same airport, same gate, using the same gun case, I once more applied only two locks and it was approved coming and going without issue. When travelling domestically 2021 with a rifle and ammo from KY to Cali and back, I locked the ammo and the rifle in the same case. Obviously that is not allowed going to/from Africa. I have found that every airport seems to have practices that differ from the next which implies a lack of training and/or lack of TSA agent professionalism. Not exactly the cream of the crop. Some agents did not want to see the guns, let alone allow me to open the case. When I arrived in California once for a rifle match, I received my gun case at the baggage claim point and asked if I could open the case in front of the agent to inspect my rifle to confirm that it arrived intact and undamaged and was told emphatically that I was NOT to unlock the case until I was outside the terminal on the sidewalk.

I was not at all happy about that since I felt much safer inside the terminal. They are a wonky bunch. You would have thought that I wanted to open a case full of Monkey Pox or Nuclear fissile material.

It isn’t just training or professionalism.

Some of the difference has to do with scanner equipment at different airports. Here at DCA all checked bags are walked to TSA where they go through the newer advanced scanners. Only if something doesn’t look right do they ask to open the case.

At some other airports where they have older x-ray machines they an always ask for the key to inspect the case visually. This isn’t just smaller airports, it has always been my experience at DFW as well.

I’ve flown 100,000+ miles a year domestically for over 20 years (minus 2 during Covid) many times with guns. You pretty quickly realize that the procedures even for regular security differ pretty significantly and it is almost always based on the scanner technology a particular airport has.

 

[Andrew62]

60 rounds

Being curious, how many rounds did you take, and how many animals were you looking to hunt?

 

[JG26Irish_2]

It isn’t just training or professionalism.

Some of the difference has to do with scanner equipment at different airports. Here at DCA all checked bags are walked to TSA where they go through the newer advanced scanners. Only if something doesn’t look right do they ask to open the case.

At some other airports where they have older x-ray machines they an always ask for the key to inspect the case visually. This isn’t just smaller airports, it has always been my experience at DFW as well.

I’ve flown 100,000+ miles a year domestically for over 20 years (minus 2 during Covid) many times with guns. You pretty quickly realize that the procedures even for regular security differ pretty significantly and it is almost always based on the scanner technology a particular airport has.

Agree that the generation of equipment in use at the time would affect procedures. But... Pretty sure the scanner technology at the airport has zero impact on how many locks that TSA required me to place on my gun case for security. It was locked and secure with one lock. Double locked with two. So, why require me to place four? And if that is really necessary, why was two enough on the next trip? Inconsistent at best. Arbitrary perhaps. If it is based on the opinion or whims of the staff on duty at the time, that is just unprofessional. Sorry, everyone is entitled to his/her opinion.

 

[JimP]

If you have a case that has four spots for locks just cut two of them off and use two locks.

Just remember, you are in their sandbox and likely will never win any arguments with them.

 

[Russ16]

If you have a case that has four spots for locks just cut two of them off and use two locks.

Just remember, you are in their sandbox and likely will never win any arguments with them.

Or just put 4 locks on it. I don’t find it any more annoying than putting 2 on.

 

[BeeMaa]

If you have a case that has four spots for locks just cut two of them off and use two locks.

Just remember, you are in their sandbox and likely will never win any arguments with them.

I think @Philip Glass cut his lock holes off his Pelican case so he could use just two locks.

 

[Sourdough]

Sorry this happened to you but SA Police are just one consideration. This is rare but is going to happen once in a while.

I would rather deal with some stolen ammo on the way home once in a while than miss a flight on the way to Africa due to being paged for a key or forced to go open my ammo case that I put regular padlocks on. I use regular padlocks on my firearm case but I use TSA locks on my ammo case ever since I was paged by TSA to open my ammo case. I was told to use TSA locks on ammo by those TSA Officers or risk missing flights or having the luggage containing my ammo case, seized or delayed. This has worked for 13 trips to Africa and I have never had ammo stolen on my way home but I suppose it could happen. I’m willing to take that risk.

Which airport?

 

[Scott CWO]

Which airport?

It was either Houston or DFW several years ago.