Riflescope in carry on luggage.
- Thread starter ERGJ
- Start date
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm
Near the bottom of TSA: Traveling with Special Items...different cominations of allowable and prohibited items for carry-on as well as checked.
Item Carry-on Checked
Parts of Guns and Firearms No Yes
I assume they will classify it as a "part" prohibited by the TSA rules, therefore checked baggage only.
HTH
Bruce
Near the bottom of TSA: Traveling with Special Items...different cominations of allowable and prohibited items for carry-on as well as checked.
Item Carry-on Checked
Parts of Guns and Firearms No Yes
I assume they will classify it as a "part" prohibited by the TSA rules, therefore checked baggage only.
HTH
Bruce
Found this on the web. I copied this from Yahoo:
Here is the absolute and correct answer.
Yes you can.
You are correct, in this instance it is not up to the airline it is the TSA at the checkpoint you have to run your scope by. The TSA website has no answers for you and it can take a while to get an e-mail reply. Scopes are not a gun part they are an accessory and non lethal unless i guess you wanted to beat something with that huge Nightforce. As someone else alluded to there is no difference between it and a camera more specifically a telescopic lens.
I did make a call to someone at the TSA to verify my answer. If you would like to re-verify here is there contact info:
TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov or call: 1-866-289-9673.
Good hunting
Source(s):
TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov or call: 1-866-289-9673.
Asker's Rating:Asker's Comment:
Thank you! I did call the number (sorry for my on sanity) and they did say a rifle scope as a carry on is no problem. They did have to put me on hold to find out...
Here is the absolute and correct answer.
Yes you can.
You are correct, in this instance it is not up to the airline it is the TSA at the checkpoint you have to run your scope by. The TSA website has no answers for you and it can take a while to get an e-mail reply. Scopes are not a gun part they are an accessory and non lethal unless i guess you wanted to beat something with that huge Nightforce. As someone else alluded to there is no difference between it and a camera more specifically a telescopic lens.
I did make a call to someone at the TSA to verify my answer. If you would like to re-verify here is there contact info:
TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov or call: 1-866-289-9673.
Good hunting
Source(s):
TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov or call: 1-866-289-9673.
Asker's Rating:Asker's Comment:
Thank you! I did call the number (sorry for my on sanity) and they did say a rifle scope as a carry on is no problem. They did have to put me on hold to find out...
I would not count on taking it on. I think it depends on who you get at the screening. I wanted to carry mine on last summer and was eventually allowed to do so, but only after begging three layers of TSA supervision. I had it in a carry-on Pelican case with my spotting scope in case I had to check it through. They only let it on after testing it for explosives. I was really surprised when it came up clean sitting over the action as it does.
Thanks for the help.
Called TSA this morning, twice! Got the same answer both times. During my second call I pointed out that their website seems to say no for carry-on. The agent thanked me for pointing this out, and said she would report this error. I then asked for, and received an e-mail confirming that a rifle scope is not considered a firearm part.
"Thank you for your e-mail regarding travel with rifle scopes in checked baggage.
A rifle scope is not considered a firearm part, and passengers are permitted to transport rifle scopes in checked or carry-on luggage. However, be aware that regardless of whether or not an item is on the prohibited items list, Transportation Security Officers have the discretion to prohibit an individual from carrying an item through the screening checkpoint or onboard an aircraft if the item poses a security threat. Therefore, TSA security screening personnel make the final decision on whether to permit rifle scopes and other firearm accessories into the sterile area of the airport."
I will carry a copy of the complete e-mail with me. On it I will add a contact number, in red marker, for FlyersRights.org.
Called TSA this morning, twice! Got the same answer both times. During my second call I pointed out that their website seems to say no for carry-on. The agent thanked me for pointing this out, and said she would report this error. I then asked for, and received an e-mail confirming that a rifle scope is not considered a firearm part.
"Thank you for your e-mail regarding travel with rifle scopes in checked baggage.
A rifle scope is not considered a firearm part, and passengers are permitted to transport rifle scopes in checked or carry-on luggage. However, be aware that regardless of whether or not an item is on the prohibited items list, Transportation Security Officers have the discretion to prohibit an individual from carrying an item through the screening checkpoint or onboard an aircraft if the item poses a security threat. Therefore, TSA security screening personnel make the final decision on whether to permit rifle scopes and other firearm accessories into the sterile area of the airport."
I will carry a copy of the complete e-mail with me. On it I will add a contact number, in red marker, for FlyersRights.org.
I don't know that I would do the flyersrights.org part. Kind of like telling a police officer he can't write you a ticket for that after he pulls you over and seeing what happens. If the person has the power to tell you no regardless of the law, I tend not to piss them off.
Good luck and let us know how you do.
Good luck and let us know how you do.
ratguner
Gold $$ Contributor
I hate to differ with those who contacted TSA and they said a scope is ok to carry on, but I will.
Experience dictates, if you go to the airport and speak eye to eye with a TSA agent, you will get 3 different answers from 5 different agents. If you are stopped and question them at the security gate, at a minimum you will have a supervisor come talk to you; worse case, your lead off to speak with a uniformed officer.
TSA standards and policies may be published somewhere, but the interpretation of these rules seems to be the individuals decision given a wide variance depending on the agents intelligence or phase of the moon. I can’t tell which.
If you have documents supporting your position, bring them, they will be needed! And good luck!
Experience dictates, if you go to the airport and speak eye to eye with a TSA agent, you will get 3 different answers from 5 different agents. If you are stopped and question them at the security gate, at a minimum you will have a supervisor come talk to you; worse case, your lead off to speak with a uniformed officer.
TSA standards and policies may be published somewhere, but the interpretation of these rules seems to be the individuals decision given a wide variance depending on the agents intelligence or phase of the moon. I can’t tell which.
If you have documents supporting your position, bring them, they will be needed! And good luck!
Killshot said:
I can agree with that, but when standing in front of someone that has the all the power to do whatever they want, my experience tells me otherwise.
On another note, my sister-in-law is a flight attendant for the past 20 years and I asked her this scope question. She stated that people carry rifle scopes today with no problems. She stated that you can carry many things today that you could not a year ago.
I brought my camera bag with a big monopod collapsed in it, and 2 large lenses, the larger 300mm is about 4" across and atleast a 14" long. I was expecting atleast a question, but the bag went through fine. however i did get a random "chemical swab test" on the way back home, and i am surprised i passed! all that powder and primer residue i thought i was a goner haha.
Report on Trip……..
Outbound, going through security at Fort Lauderdale Airport: roller carry-on pulled for further inspection as was small gym bag. Night-force bench rest scope taken out from it's protective covering, then both scope and carry-on were reinspected,separately, on x-ray machine after negative GPR test. Sinclair front bench rest (30 plus lbs) pulled out of small gym bag, tested for GPR with negative results. Both then were separately reinspected thru the x-ray machine. No problem! At no time was there an issue relating to firearm part. I did remove the three legs from the bench rest, as they have rather sharp pointed ends, and placed them in my checked-in luggage.
Returning Home, going through security at McCarran Airport (Las Vegas): wiser now, I took both rifle scope and front bench rest out of their containers and placed them in trays as I would my computer. No problem, no questions. Well I was asked by a TSA agent what the bench rest was…told him it was used in target shooting, he replied "You must have a rifle scope then".
At no time was there any indication of the scope being considered part of a firearm. Once again, thanks for all the input and help.
Best of the Season to all!
Outbound, going through security at Fort Lauderdale Airport: roller carry-on pulled for further inspection as was small gym bag. Night-force bench rest scope taken out from it's protective covering, then both scope and carry-on were reinspected,separately, on x-ray machine after negative GPR test. Sinclair front bench rest (30 plus lbs) pulled out of small gym bag, tested for GPR with negative results. Both then were separately reinspected thru the x-ray machine. No problem! At no time was there an issue relating to firearm part. I did remove the three legs from the bench rest, as they have rather sharp pointed ends, and placed them in my checked-in luggage.
Returning Home, going through security at McCarran Airport (Las Vegas): wiser now, I took both rifle scope and front bench rest out of their containers and placed them in trays as I would my computer. No problem, no questions. Well I was asked by a TSA agent what the bench rest was…told him it was used in target shooting, he replied "You must have a rifle scope then".
At no time was there any indication of the scope being considered part of a firearm. Once again, thanks for all the input and help.
Best of the Season to all!
Rules are there, I had a idiot lady TSA boss said I could not fly with a barrel and rifle stock, they were separate parts. She called the stock a frame and it needed a gun case she said........Had to call and wake my friend at 5:30AM to take the parts from me before i could go thru TSA line and board plane... ME.pissed ..just a little. Now I travel with a TSA rules copy taped to scope box and everything else gun related. I've since ship most of my stuff to myself in FL and only carry my scope in double box in suit case. Theft is now my concern.
Should there be a problem? No.
Could there be a problem? Yes.
High level management may say it is ok, but it is up to the mope with the wand in his hand to let you through without missing your flight, or not bring it on at all.
Possible solution- Fed Ex it to your hotel a few days in advance with instructions to hold it for you.
Remember, you might be dealing with a cop wannabe or someone who was told he has no discretion whatsoever in his work and will want to be safer in his job security rather than "take a chance" on you and the "law". I would bet nobody at TSA is going to get a demerit from the government for being overly cautious.
Could there be a problem? Yes.
High level management may say it is ok, but it is up to the mope with the wand in his hand to let you through without missing your flight, or not bring it on at all.
Possible solution- Fed Ex it to your hotel a few days in advance with instructions to hold it for you.
Remember, you might be dealing with a cop wannabe or someone who was told he has no discretion whatsoever in his work and will want to be safer in his job security rather than "take a chance" on you and the "law". I would bet nobody at TSA is going to get a demerit from the government for being overly cautious.
effendude
Gold $$ Contributor
I can tell you horror stories of friends who put rifle scopes in their carry-on luggage. One friend was delayed with a small spotting scope as it looked "threatening". Missed flights, delays, airport police called, etc. I don't care what their website states. These people were unemployable before 9/11. Take your chances. I'll pack my rifle scopes with my rifles, ammo and other related gear in my checked luggage.
Scott
Scott
Thanks! That was some good research and very helpful. Eventually everyone flys with guns to compete and it is only smart to know the rules up front. Good job brother
This is it in a nutshell.^^^^^^^
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