Cleaned brass in a carry-on bag?

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paradox998

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Has anyone carried cleaned, deprimed brass in a carry on? Is there any reason that this would be illegal? I need to travel this weekend and wanted to take some brass up north to use. Will TSA have kittens over this?
 
I think I would just mail it to myself. It's probably not illegal but I would bet that it would cause the TSA to give you some "special" treatment.:uhoh:
Why wave a red flag at the bull? (Unless you enjoy being hassled.:evil:)
 
It's not illegal, but knowing TSA, you might end up with more trouble than you'd bargained for.

That said, if you really want to bring it with you, go for it. If you do get harassed by TSA, you can pretty much bank on a nice fat settlement check when they let you go for not having done anything wrong.
 
I accidentally brought some range brass in my carry-on last thanksgiving when boarding Amtrak. It was a small station and they didn't check the luggage. I wouldn't attempt it on an airline though. You just never know what will happen when ignorance meets ambiguity.
 
You just know the morons at the check point will consider it "ammunition" and basically ruin your day.
 
If you do get harassed by TSA, you can pretty much bank on a nice fat settlement check when they let you go for not having done anything wrong.
Click to expand...

I would like to see some cites for this. When it comes to "possible" security breaches, I don't think the TSA can be found in the wrong.:barf:
 
I've not had occasion to fly, so I have no first-hand experience with TSA.

I have read that the TSA has sequestered dummy cartridges which were pierced and on a key chain. Now, it may be a leap to go from that to empty brass, but you may consider me among, "Oh, ye of little faith," as regarding the rational thought capability of TSA employees.

My vote, then, would be for USPS or UPS.
 
My 5 year old son put some pebbles in my pocket once and I forgot to take them out before I went through airline security. I was stopped and questioned as to why I had pebbles in my pocket.

If they stop you for pebbles I would think brass is quite likely, legal or not.
 
These TSA guys aren't the brightest lightbulbs. I haven't had problems declaring a handgun, but I can see how they would not know the difference between a spent casing and a live round. Just another reason why I avoid flying, unless I really have to get somewhere far away fast.
 
During the height of the paranoia I remember they shut down an entire airport for a .22 round found near the outside entrance. I wouldn't trust TSA having any common sense at all.
 
Actually, as a fine point, Cartridge Shell Cases are functionally if transiently, part of a Metallic Cartridge Firearm...obturating the Breech rear, containing the propellent and projectile when 'Live', and, allowing the Arm to function.


TSA is so nutty, and worried-anxious about making an oversight a boss or superior would frown about, and seeing as they can easily cause one to miss a flight, I would think it a good idea to be very careful not to provide them with any fodder of any kind.
 
I'd suspect trouble trying to carry it on the plane. Too much risk in my opinion.

You could put it in checked luggage no problem. Back home (Alaska) I picked a local public range clean of left brass (50ish pounds) and brought it to college to reload and shoot.
 
I asked TSA Vegas about this several years ago (.357 brass from a Pen & Teller Show I performed in involving guns :D ) when I flew back.

Checked baggage OK

Carry on No Way.

On a side note I no longer worry about TSA wiping my stuff after shooting, they wiped me and passed me after shooting an hour earlier so I did some checking. While this is not verified upon digging it appears that for whatever reason the "snifer" machines TSA uses do not detect modern gun powder or black powder:confused: Don't know if it is delibirate(a BP/Gunpowder bomb would have to be so large to knock out the airplace that it is not practical is one thought pattern I've heard bandieded about), accidental, machine settings or black magic :eek: Got no clue. But I've read too many accounts like mine, talked to too many people who work in security (none would come right out and state one way or the other of course, can't blame them it is their job) talked to too many people who had false positive from wipes to have any faith in their effectiveness out side of the psychological effect.

The above is just my opinion and yes, I know that modern gunpowder ihas nitroglycerin as a major component ;)

NukemJim
 
I once bought some hard to find brass (unprimed) while traveling. The airline errored on the side of caution and tagged my checked bag as if it had a firearm. Other than that it was not an issue. I also took some brass and laoded ammo to my father-in-law, same thing. I'd call ahead because each airline may have their own way of handling it but in both cases I just declaired it, they checked it and tagged it. TSA is obviously invloved so there imput is worth getting too. I would not carry it on.
 
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