PSA: Pellets can't go through USA airport security

[kwaping]

This will probably not happen to anyone else, but just in case...

Do not buy pellets while traveling by air without a checked bag. TSA views them the same as firearm ammo and won't let them in as carry-on. We know how stupid this is, but that's the rule and they can't be talked out of it.

If you do end up in this position, you may very well become the owner of one of the smallest checked bags in existence. (It's actually a nice bag that came with dense foam inside, worked out perfectly for me. It just cost too much because airport pricing.)

 

[Scotty1]

This will probably not happen to anyone else, but just in case...

Do not buy pellets while traveling by air without a checked bag. TSA views them the same as firearm ammo and won't let them in as carry-on. We know how stupid this is, but that's the rule and they can't be talked out of it.

If you do end up in this position, you may very well become the owner of one of the smallest checked bags in existence. (It's actually a nice bag that came with dense foam inside, worked out perfectly for me. It just cost too much because airport pricing.)

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I had five tins of pellets confiscated by TSA on the way home from RMAC a couple years ago, freebies from JTS when they were new to the market. I was told they were projectiles… wasn’t worth arguing about.

 

[BradAir]

Vitamin bottles in a ziplock of tampons.

 

[1900colt]

Mail them back home to yourself before you go to the airport

 

[JimD]

It seems like somebody does not want us to travel. I plan to fly two weeks from today for a Builders for Christ volunteer trip and I am not looking forward to it. The time in the air is not an issue for me but I cannot even take a pocket knife because it scares the stewardesses. A little less than 2 inch knife. And they are "there for my protection". Lots of nonsense goes with flying. Getting through TSA will probably take over an hour at Charlotte, it did last time I flew. If our politicians flew commercial instead of on private planes maybe things would get better. But it is really nice to save hours of time.

 

[kwaping]

Mail them back home to yourself before you go to the airport

If I had been smart enough for that, I would have just had AoA ship them for me.

 

[SilentSquirrel]

This will probably not happen to anyone else, but just in case...

Do not buy pellets while traveling by air without a checked bag. TSA views them the same as firearm ammo and won't let them in as carry-on. We know how stupid this is, but that's the rule and they can't be talked out of it.

If you do end up in this position, you may very well become the owner of one of the smallest checked bags in existence. (It's actually a nice bag that came with dense foam inside, worked out perfectly for me. It just cost too much because airport pricing.)

View attachment 571985
View attachment 571986

You are pretty fortunate that they let you check them as luggage.
TTSA does have the law on its side and could have confiscated them.
Glad it worked out.
Edward

 

[SilentSquirrel]

It seems like somebody does not want us to travel. I plan to fly two weeks from today for a Builders for Christ volunteer trip and I am not looking forward to it. The time in the air is not an issue for me but I cannot even take a pocket knife because it scares the stewardesses. A little less than 2 inch knife. And they are "there for my protection". Lots of nonsense goes with flying. Getting through TSA will probably take over an hour at Charlotte, it did last time I flew. If our politicians flew commercial instead of on private planes maybe things would get better. But it is really nice to save hours of time.

Greyhound!

 

[JungleShooter]

I did a trial a couple of years ago, as I was planning to load up my hand luggage with JSB pellets at European prices to bring back to Peru (where the prices are SHOCKing).


Well, the TSA in Spain got pretty angry with me!
Of course the half empty tin of pellets was confiscated.
And that was the price of my education.
All thanks to the terrorists who messed up airline travel for the rest of the world.

Matthias

 

[.SevenSeven]

What does this mean for the folks traveling to Ireland for the 2025 WFTF comp? Some of them have a very time-consuming regimens with their pellets, with the pellet being just as sorted as the rest of the kit

 

[Florida_Man]

If you’re into fishing, just fill a few of these up

 

[JimD]

I wouldn't hide or disguise pellets by putting them in a sinker case but Florida Man makes a good point. Pellets can be projectiles but also are a lot like sinkers. Heavy sinkers might be considered a weapon but little ones similar in size to pellets can apparently be carried in carry on luggage.

TSA makes regulations, not laws. Congress makes laws. I don't think there are any laws regarding the transportation of airgun pellets but there are TSA regulations. We have to obey both, however.

 

[kwaping]

You are pretty fortunate that they let you check them as luggage.
TTSA does have the law on its side and could have confiscated them.
Glad it worked out.
Edward

Good point! I did try to convince them, but I wasn't a jerk about it so maybe that helped.