Flying with range gear

[jefftk]

Is flying with gear that you have taken to the range actually a real concern, with regard to any "bomb sniffing" methods?

For example: I have a cheap suitcase which I used as a range bag for lack of something better for a while when I first started shooting around here. May have had spent cases rolling around inside of it, etc...

Would using that as a suitcase for traveling now be any cause for concern from a TSA standpoint?
Opinions based on real experience, and not wild assumptions will be appreciated....

 

[MachineHead]

Personally, I'd dedicate a bag for flying and one for range gear. But in this situation, I'd make sure to keep the suitcase immaculately free of any loose ammo or casings. That's just me because I've flown and made sure to keep all ammo in original containers.

 

[bigblue]

I've never been patted down for wearing range clothes but I've never had my crotch sniffed by a bomb sniffing bitch either.

I did have my range clothes swabbed by MSP at Copley MBTA without incident a couple years ago so I'm not sure how sensitive they are about smokeless powder residue.

 

[ChevyGuy91]

Personally, I'd dedicate a bag for flying and one for range gear. But in this situation, I'd make sure to keep the suitcase immaculately free of any loose ammo or casings. That's just me because I've flown and made sure to keep all ammo in original containers.

Meh, I had a few 9mm cases in the pocket of a jacket once. It went through the xray, they went through the jacket and my bag, I told them I am a shooter, they kept the brass and sent me on my way. I am flying like twice a month for work these days, so I get real lazy going through all my stuff.

 

[DecOFlaherty]

... I once walked though the naked scanner with (2) 9mm rounds in my back pocket.

It was the result of a crazy mix-up in the morning and a last minute plane ticket

The TSA agent sheepishly asked me "Are they Live?" as they shook in his hand. I told him they were and the State troopers we called.

Basically they asked why I had them and then he looked to make sure I didn't have any outstanding warrants and let me go. I'm sure they went through his Glock later that day.

 

[SigNut]

Their swab and sniff system got a hit on my backpack once. The only thing we could come up with was that I had used it at the range a couple of times.


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[Tweed]

from stories I've heard from friends: get a second bag and dedicate one for the range. it's not worth the fine or getting on a no-fly list.

 

[tuna]

I used to use the same bag as carry-on and range bag, including bench rest. Never had a problem. TSA is bullcrap anyway.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

from stories I've heard from friends: get a second bag and dedicate one for the range. it's not worth the fine or getting on a no-fly list.

There is no fine or no-fly list if you score a false positive on the sniffer. They just do a thorough manual check and fill out a report. All bets are off though if there is a Koran in the bag.

 

[Sully]

Is flying with gear that you have taken to the range actually a real concern, with regard to any "bomb sniffing" methods?

For example: I have a cheap suitcase which I used as a range bag for lack of something better for a while when I first started shooting around here. May have had spent cases rolling around inside of it, etc...

Would using that as a suitcase for traveling now be any cause for concern from a TSA standpoint?
Opinions based on real experience, and not wild assumptions will be appreciated....

No opinion on experience, but I can karma you a carry-on size suitcase that hasn't been used for a range bag before so you aren't worried about it. PM me if you're near Waltham area and are interested.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

I haven't had a false + in years, even on range bags. I think the sensors are getting much more compound specific.

When I did have one in checked luggage, the protocol was a manual inspection of the luggage, and noting it in a log book. The luggage was full of handguns and related materials so they didn't bother with WTF?

It is not anything to be worried about.

 

[boscru]

There is no fine or no-fly list if you score a false positive on the sniffer. They just do a thorough manual check and fill out a report. All bets are off though if there is a Koran in the bag.

koran in the bag probably gets you bumped up to first class

 

[pastera]

Had a nice range day on a business trip several years ago. Went straight from a busy indoor range to the airport and received my dose of government mandated man rape. Machine didn't hiccup even though I was stinking like gunpowder.

 

[tuna]

Just clean your stuff with hydrogen peroxide and you'll be fine.

/Sarcasm

 

[M1911]

Is flying with gear that you have taken to the range actually a real concern, with regard to any "bomb sniffing" methods?

No.

 

[JayMcB]

I've had shoes that have been to the range THAT DAY swabbed and they came up negative. Don't try and take a $4.00 can of soda through though

 

[jar]

... I once walked though the naked scanner with (2) 9mm rounds in my back pocket.

It was the result of a crazy mix-up in the morning and a last minute plane ticket

The TSA agent sheepishly asked me "Are they Live?" as they shook in his hand. I told him they were and the State troopers we called.

Basically they asked why I had them and then he looked to make sure I didn't have any outstanding warrants and let me go. I'm sure they went through his Glock later that day.

I know a guy who got 5 22LR cartridges through TSA by accident. He pocketed them at the range and forgot about them. There was a hole inside his jacket pocket, so they went in to the lining so he didn't feel them when he checked his pockets.

I wouldn't worry about residue at all, but I wouldn't use the same bag for fear of having ammo or brass in a nook or cranny somewhere. Even if they don't pursue anything, finding them is definitely going to delay you.

 

[Gimlet]

Slightly off topic...
My reserve unit was coming home from a training exercise in California (long before 9/11 and TSA). For some reason the battalion was divided across 3 different flights, both military and civilian. Being on the last civvy flight out my group decided to partake in the cultural offerings of San Diego.
MAS CERVESAS POR FAVOR!!!
By the time I got to the security checkpoint I was well and truly lit. One of our snipers just happened to be in front of me and had innocently put his cleaning kit in his carry on. When he was asked to explain the kit it made perfect sense in my addled brain to say, "Watch out for him. He kills people for a living" and keep going on my way to grab some floor space and sack out in the terminal.
So I never saw the four guys escort him away for questioning. He damn near missed the flight and I damn near got my ribs kicked in when came running into the terminal with about a minute and a half to spare.
Thankfully, he recognized that I was young, dumb, and sh#tfaced and accepted my sincere apologies.

 

[Wrench75]

No opinion on experience, but I can karma you a carry-on size suitcase that hasn't been used for a range bag before so you aren't worried about it. PM me if you're near Waltham area and are interested.

+1

OP the lat time I flew out of TFG I was wearing the same jacket I had work to the range the day before. Put ~ 500 rds through an SBR so plenty of powder exposure. No problems at all. I actually stopped and talked to the dog officer for a bit and his dog couldn't have cared less. Meanwhile my wife flying out of logan was singled out and searched, swabbed, etc... because her jeans had little rhinestone studs on them near the pockets.

 

[jefftk]

Thanks for the responses. Sounds like it shouldn't be a problem - I'll either use what I have or borrow something from my parents.