[Steve Smith]

Ok, taking a trip for work. I'll have plenty of time on my hands there. Think I could put my RCBS case prep center and a bunch of brass in my checked luggage? I don't see why I should have to ship it to the hotel.

[PaulS]

Steve,
As long as there is no powder, powder residue, or primers I don't see it as a problem. As in all situations like this it is common courtesy to check with the airlines first.

PaulS

[Steve Smith]

Powder residue on reloading stuff? I can't see how I can't help that.

[braindead0]

Hmm, I'd worry about powder residue. I was sending off a friend, and his carry-on was an old military pack (about 8x11x5 inches). Well, apparantly...sometime ago..it contained something explosive. I guess they just checked everything that was olive drab, ran a wipey thing over it and had to call security. They eventually let him go.

The moral is, you may think it's clean...but yikes! He's had that bag for 10 years or more..it's been washed..in the rain...etc... and still residue.

[Bacchus]

Great question...Frankly, I wouldn't worry too much about the equipment itself, as I doubt most people will know what it is. However, I'm not sure about carrying brass.

Are you planning on shooting the reloads at your destination? I assume you're not taking powder and primers?

[redneck2]

that it'll be opened and "inspected"

For $10, I'd go UPS or FedEx

[Quantrill]

I know a nurse who travels on the airlines quite a bit who has a carry bag that she uses . It seems as though this carrybag was once exposed to some chemical (in a hospital) that makes it show up as nitro and she gets "the treatment" every time she carries this bag. Needless to say, it took some detective work on her part to find out what the problem was and now she leaves the damn bag home. But it is something to think about with powder residue. I have often wondered about the "spent" primers that are ejected on the floor when I reload and subsequently lodge in the tread of my shoes. What happens when I go through the "hocus-pocus" machine?? Quantrill

[larryw]

As a frequent business traveler, I very rarely check bags any more, anything that doesn't fit in my carry-on gets shipped; the savings in time and energy more than justify the minor expense.

Generally, I'll carry enough to make it through one day of the trip, rest gets boxed and shipped so it arrives a day or two before I do (so I can confirm arrival and bring a printout of the FedEx proof of delivery). Hotels I've asked prefer to have something shipped to the hotel with a "Hold for guest: <name> checking in <date>" clearly printed on every face of the box, but call yours and ask. If you ship in a cardboard box, remember to pack shipping tape and return labels. ;)

For most trips, I prefer FedEx three day service because I can track it easier and the cost is significantly less than the other non-ground methods. UPS ground is usually one or two day service within a 500-750 mile radius.

I had a checked bag on an international flight "inspected" because it included some shoes I often wear to the range (airline said explosive residue was detected). The bill to get my shirts and suits pressed after they were stuffed back into the suitcase was a heckuva lot more than the shipping would have been. :banghead:

[Johnny Guest]

After reading above, sounds more and more as if shipping would be the best way.

If you choose to go with the gear as checked baggage, strongly suggest you take all your metal and plastic gear, put it into a big plastic tum, and carry it to a self service car wash. Use their de-greaser first, soap, rinse, soap, rinse. Dry well, and package in an easily re-sealed container. Oh, yeah - -- Clean your brass in NEW cleaning media. Submit it for inspection at check-in. (Arrive EARLY.;))

You know, though--Not too sure that ALL the primer residue would come out with routine tumbling/vibro cleaning.

Steve you pose an interesting question. Please let us know what you end up doing, and, if it doesn't work, where you're being held pending hearing. :D

Good luck,
Johnny

[Steve Smith]

well, an explanation is in order, I guess. Shooting competitions as much as I do, you gotta do waht you can when you can with your brass. I figured I could use the time here.

As it turns out I just gave up and left it at home. I could just imagine what the TSA folks would do when they saw it. ALARM ALARM ALARM!!!! :rolleyes: This is a very stupid time we live in. I suppose my roommate could still ship it, but no biggie.

[labgrade]

After the fact, I'd guess, but there is tomorrow. ;)

Actually, Steve, I'd try it. But do plan ahead & get there for any extra time needed to educate the sheeple-types. As you know, you'd likely get tagged for "explosive residue," yada & don't want to miss your flight. Even new tumbling media won't reduce the risk when they detect at 1/1,000,000,000 (that's billionths) level.

I'd think it a good enough exercize though to go through - even with all the expected known hassles.

There is absolutely no reason you shouldn't be able to check baggage containing fired-brass & a trimming machine (if I understand your initial premise correctly). No primers, powders right? You just want to check some baggage of fired brass & a case prep appartus, no? Totally innocuous materials.

I "tagged" once circa '98 or so - "explosive something or 'nuther" on my carry-on. Told 'em I reloaded, etc. & off on our merry way. Likely different these daze.

If I'd ever fly commercial again, I'd take the time & opprtunity to educate 'em.

But that's just me. ;)

[Quantrill]

Even when one has the means to travel by air with all the guns and paraphanalia, one pauses to wonder what could happen. I wanted to go to an informal shoot about 100 miles away and finally elected to drive because I was worried about what people would think at the small airport nearby when I unloaded a gun box and 5 or 6 seperate gun cases. People could call the local LEs and really cause a problem for one. Weird times we live in. Quantrill