[yorick]

Anyone ever go anywhere with panitball guns in checked luggage?

It's not really a firearm, but I'd hate to have the stuff confiscated or get hassled because I didn't 'declare' - nor do I want to go through the 'firearm' rigamarole if I don't have to...

Anyone done it one way or t'other?

[CAS700850]

Declare it, try explaining it isn't a firearm, then go through the same hassels as everyone else traveling with a firearm. At least that's my guess as to what will happen. If it's got the term "gun" in it, be prepared to do it the hard way.

[odysseus]

If you can, try to federal express it to your destination to save you the hassle. In some way, you are even more likely to get it there safely...

[Harry Tuttle]

The TSA wants the regulators removed from the air bottles so they can inspect the interior of the flask

Most folks rather than compromise the air tanks integrity,
ship the hardware insured to the destination

[lysander]

With the TSA goons running things it isn't fun to fly with anything other than your clothes. :banghead: The FAA (or DOT) does require that all pressure vessels (i.e. bottles) being checked have the valves/regulators removed so that they can verify the tanks are empty. So...players that travel frequently to tourneys either take their tanks apart before each flight or they ship the equipment to their hotels. Most players who travel on a regular basis by plane have the hurdles down pat.

I was a "pro" tournament player from 1993-1997 and it was easier in many ways...all we had to do was have our CO2 tanks empty and check the guns. Even most pro level competitors weren't using High Pressure Air systems until late 1996 or so...and it wasn't until 9/11 that the folks working the counters in the airport really tightened up on the air tanks.

We did once get held up at Logan Airport trying to carry on some cases of leftover paint from an event in Boston. The folks at security weren't quite sure what to make of 13 guys with boxes of what appeared to be thousands of big pink vitamin E capsules. :) That was a really long and repetitive conversation. :rolleyes:

[Risasi]

This is why you refer to them as paintball markers...

:P

[chris in va]

Yup, much better off just mailing it to yourself. Don't try to take it with you.

Ditto on the MARKER term...

[Vitamin G]

Agreed... Continue to call it a paintball MARKER, but most airlines will have you fill out a firearms tag anyways.
I know when I flew TSA back from Denver NPPL in 2004, i think it was, the lady was a total dunce. She kept telling me that I would not be permitted to take my co2 tank. I kept telling her "Its empty, and its a compressed air tank" She said "Well we dont allow anything that has ever held co2 in it". Met with "It's a compressed air tank, it has never held co2".
On and on and on, and she said its against policy, and i asked to see the policy, because i looked at it before i left. She said she was not permitted to show me the policy!
Eventually she called for a TSA agent, waited 30 minutes, they never came, she caved, i would have missed my plane if i hadn't lied to the security screener about "The lady at the check in said I could go through the 1st class metal detector because she was in the wrong and held me up for 30 minutes". Adding insult to injury, I was "randomly" selected for a search, take off the shoes, lift up the feet, etc. Bystanders thought it funny when I put my hands on top my head and proclaimed "Its okay! I'm a Protestant!"

Ran to the terminal in the fine, thin denver air, and made it to my plane with about 15 seconds to spare.

I'd ship it...

[Zedicus]

Considered Taking my Airsoft G18c with me to the US (Moving btw) but as it was a UK one without the Orange Muzzle & with Trademarks I couldn't have removed without totally ruining the gun, I decided just to sell it & use the cash to buy a real gun as soon as I can after we get moved.

Taking it in Checked Luggage from here would have probably resulted in my ending up with a similar fate as that Brazilian guy in London.

Shipping it in the Mail could have ended up with it being destroyed or me or the person I sent it to getting a Felony Charge (Friggin Stupid Laws :barf: ).

[Harry Tuttle]

Sewell, NJ - Historically the transportation of compressed air cylinders via commercial aircraft required you to empty the cylinder before checking it. This was true for paintball and SCUBA cylinders. Over the past couple of months the rules have changed. One interpretation of these rules required paintball markers to be treated as firearms and another would have allowed SCUBA tanks in overhead! In an exclusive interview with Ron Sokolov, TSA's Executive Director of Customer Service and Education, Paintball2Xtremes has learned that effective immediately, the rules are as follows:

Transporting Paintball Equipment

Some paintball gear can be transported on-board the aircraft. Please refer to the guidelines below:

Eye Protective Devices used in the sport of paintball are acceptable as checked or carry-on baggage.

Compressed gas cylinders are allowed in checked baggage ONLY if the regulator valve is completely disconnected from the cylinder and the cylinder is no longer sealed (i.e. the cylinder has an open end). The cylinder must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection inside. TSA Security Screeners will NOT remove the seal/regulator valve from the cylinder at the checkpoint. If the cylinder is sealed (i.e. the regulator valve is still attached), the cylinder is prohibited and not permitted through the security checkpoint, regardless of the reading on the pressure gauge indicator. TSA Security Screeners must visibly ensure that the cylinder is completely empty and that there are no prohibited items inside.

Markers (aka Paintball Guns) are prohibited from carry-on luggage. These items should be packed in checked luggage. These are not considered a firearm and may be transported in unlocked, soft or hard sided luggage.

If you plan to fly with your cylinder you must do the following:


Have a properly trained and qualified person remove the regulator/valve from your cylinder.

Go to
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1745.xml
and print four copies of the page.

Using a rubber band place one copy around your cylinder.

Place your cylinder without the regulator/valve in your checked baggage.

Give one copy of the page to the person where you check in at the airport.

Keep the other two copies for the flight home.

Please note that this is a brand new change for TSA and the airlines. There may still be some risk that your cylinder will be confiscated, so make every effort to inform the screeners and airline personnel. If it looks like they will not allow your cylinder to be transported, you should ship it to your hotel. Please forward this to as many paintball players as possible and feel free to copy and paste it in it's entirety on paintball newsgroups and forums.