This. I used to fly virtually every day. Sometimes I flew right after shooting or reloading. They aren't checking for gunpowder, it's explosives they are after.They don't look for gunpowder residue. Its already burned. They are looking for verify specific chemicals. I have traveled with residue on my hands ie, right from the range. Nary a problem ever. Ive also loaded ammo which was loaded up and off to the airport for a trip, no problem.
+1 --- if you are a big user of Tannerite (or similar) you will set off alarms if nitrate residue is present for the same reason.Ten years ago I got "selected" for additional screening for a red eye flight that was almost empty. Since I was the only one selected I got to talk to the TSA agent while she was swabbing my shoes. I told her the shoes were contaminated with GSR and she said that was not a problem What did drive TSA crazy were gardeners that had shoes contaminated with fertilizer! The tests would pick up the nitrates and ring the alarm bells. Burnt powder no problem, spilt powder from handloading might be a problem, but walking through your freshly fertilized lawn will get you some one on many discussion time with TSA.
My wife has been swabbed more than once (in the US, possibly also at AMS or LHR) simply because she wears a small insulin pump. Even an innocent, well-understood insulin pump is just one more reason to justify the 'smoke and mirrors' from our bureaucracies to make "the sheep" feel like all of this is done for their safety.
During my 'transportation' career we sometimes watched a small presentation during Annual Recurrent Tng. about chemical residue, and the suspicions about any airport passenger with residue.
After 9/11, you would not want to take the risk, especially not knowing how a random TSA Supervisor might interpret their so-called "regulations".
Is he/she a 'big picture' person using common sense, or more of a Martinet with a little personal power on display?
I agree. If I decide to take the range bag as a carry on, I will do a very careful search of it before packing it. I do often have stray bullets in it.My concern for using the range bag as a carry-on bag wouldn't be so much the concern for the sniffers as it would be for the random case or bullet than manages to wedge itself into an odd corner, never to be seen again except for bu the guy running the scanner. I travel a lot with my firearms and gear and have never set off the sniffer. A lot of times I go straight from the range to the airport. Same boots, pants, etc. etc.
That said, I have had the wipes trigger before. Always when the start swabbing gear in my checked luggage with the declared items in it. Meh. If you are already hand searching the bag, have fun.
You have obviously never spoken to an airline employee about anything substantive.That would be a good question to ask the carrier(air line) Get the facts.
You may have a point there. I worked for one for about 12 years.You have obviously never spoken to an airline employee about anything substantive.
I just flew 4 weeks ago. Carried my Army issue pack. It has been to a war zone, many field trips while in the Army, who knows how many range trips post Army carrying ammo, picked up cases, and what not. Never been washed, dirty as all get out. Never been a problem. Not even a second sniff from the dogs. Heck, TSA swabbed my check baggage due to my checked guns and that bag has been through hell and back as well. Their swab sniffer didn't even give a blip of what they are looking for. Far as I am concerned, it isn't even an issue to use your range bag as carry-on. I have been through Boise, Las Vegas, Nashville, and Denver in the last month with all mine. You should be fine.
In a major airport I don’t see TSA agents near the luggage check in desks. How do you get one to come over?