Advice needed re: air travel with a "contaminated" range bag

[rpenmanparker]

Even easier than that. No TSA involvement whatsoever. United attendant took care of everything.

 

[sparkyv]

Don't do it. If they detect the powder your day will get much longer and more inconvenient. If you try to carry on a bag that has powder residue on it you are in for a real pita.

I agree!

 

[FL-NC]

I have travelled on civilian aircraft with high levels of explosive residues such as PETN, comp b, gun powder, and others. Yes, they can tell what specific explosives are present. Yes, they did very detailed searches of my stuff, and asked questions. In my case, I informed them that I was an active duty service member and had been training recently. I also showed them my military ID. Since I didn't have any explosive items in my possession, I was allowed to fly. I wouldn't sweat it too much, as gunpowder residue isn't that big a deal- especially since you will be travelling with a declared firearm (which will also be contaminated) but I would give myself plenty of time for any delays.

 

[dh1633pm]

As in my earlier post, the stuff can get anywhere even without your bag. I got stopped at the airport today and asked to present my cell phone. It was swabbed. No problems noted and I continued my trip.

 

[joed]

I used to use my range bag for travel. Never a problem with residue even once. The only problem I did have was there was a tear inside the bag and 2 cartridges slipped through. That came up on the xray and slowed me down because I had to fill out a form. They assured me I wasn't in trouble because I didn't have a gun.

 

[denton]

Of course, there was the incident a few years back where a package arrived at a company's Denver office, addressed to a person who worked in the Salt Lake City office. One of the salesmen from Denver said, no problem, I'm flying over there this afternoon. I'll take it.

Little did he know that it contained a deactivated hand grenade that had been polished and mounted on a walnut base.

Now that will get you stopped at security.... for about 8 hours in that case.

 

[medalguy]

I've traveled with my range bag and never (yet) had an issue. One time I asked a TSA agent if gunpowder would be an issue, and he said that smokeless propellant is flammable, not explosive, and doesn't contain any of the specific chemicals they are looking for. Makes sense to me.

 

[Pete D.]

Some years ago, post 9-11, my wife and I were travelling out of JFK. I opted to use an old range bag/daypack as my carry-on. Our bags went through the scanner...my wife’s and mine behind it. Hers came out. Mine was stopped. I saw them run a swab. “Is this your bag, sir?” “Yes, it is.” “We found traces of RDX in your bag.”
Well, I know what RDX is. I explained that I was a competitive shooter and that I had used the bag to carry loaded ammo to matches and the spent cartridge cases home and that it was not RDX but a related nitrogen based propellant residue. “Mr. Doyle,” the agent said “use another bag from now on.” He was smiling. I turned around to leave and right behind me were three National Guardsmen rifles at the ready. My wife tells me that they arrived while I was waiting for my bag.

 

[ChanceMcCall]

I frequently fly with my range bag.
I would be interested to hear from anyone on THR who has had a problem with clothing or kit contaminated with gunshot residues, being detected at the airport.

Yes. I missed a flight out of Philly because my briefcase was "contaminated" with gunpowder residue or something. I have had to submit to closed room searches because of GSR or something on my hands. I just allow more time to clear TSA and I have both Pre and Global Entry and retired federal credentials. Most of the time I have gunpowder or something on me, or my clothes, or my carry on bag, but I am rarely stopped. When I am it takes 10-30 minutes to move on.

My wife's perfume once triggered a search of her. Whatever it was, she never wore it again when traveling.

 

[Odd Job]

What was the "something?"

 

[fjblair]

I have travelled on civilian aircraft with high levels of explosive residues such as PETN, comp b, gun powder, and others. Yes, they can tell what specific explosives are present. Yes, they did very detailed searches of my stuff, and asked questions. In my case, I informed them that I was an active duty service member and had been training recently. I also showed them my military ID. Since I didn't have any explosive items in my possession, I was allowed to fly. I wouldn't sweat it too much, as gunpowder residue isn't that big a deal- especially since you will be travelling with a declared firearm (which will also be contaminated) but I would give myself plenty of time for any delays.

Right on. No need to look for solutions to problems that don't exist.

 

[luzyfuerza]

Remember, black powder IS regulated as an explosive, and the scanners will detect it.

Just in case we have any old timey shooters reading this thread.

 

[rpenmanparker]

Home again, home again, jiggity, jog. No problems either way.

 

[Bill50]

Unburnt gunpowder gets on you not just Burt residue.

My experience was my mom traveling in the same clothes the day before she was at the range with me. They don't swab you. They might have swabbed her bags, but the clothes wasn't in there. I've also only had a bag opened when multiple laptops were inside.

I've been through the airport the say day after shooting. I opted for the patdown and then swabbing. They swab your hands which im sure there was still enough gun pwder to detect.

I believe I also checked a place at the tsa website before hand that said they don't check for gunpowder.

 

[Kaybee]

Just a recommendation in case you decide to save yourself wait or explaining: If you search amazon for "packable backpack" they have a wide selection of ultralight ripstop backpacks that fold into a pocket size packet. I got a 20L one for under 15 bucks and it comes with me traveling and has really held up and has come in handy quite a few times.