Author Topic: How Frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Read 948 times)

TomD · « **on:** October 20, 2004, 02:29:29 PM »

I live in CT but have family in TX. We have a good deal of land there where I hunt mostly hogs. Why not deer too? An out of state hunting license fetches $250 and hog hunting on private land does not require a hunting license at all. I hunt for my venison in CT . :-D

I keep a sporterized Arisaka Model 38 Mauser action rifle there (reamed to accept 6.5x55 Swede ammo instead of the stock 6.5x50 Jap). It's my local hunting tool to avoid the hastle of transporting a rifle every time we go. I reload for the rifle as factory ammo does not do this old sporter justice.

This afternoon I finished reloading a bunch of rounds for my 6.5x55 (Sierra 160 gr SP with 40grs of RE22). I went to my local Pak Mail armed with the printed web pages from the ATF web site to prove it was a legal transaction to have the ammo shipped to TX in plenty of time before we leave on 11/20 (USPS will not ship ammo at all). I've shipped from Pak Mail before, so I wasn't expecting a hastle. Holy crap, what a hastle I got. Homeland security has made it an expensive and cumbersome task to get hunting ammo shipped anywhere :evil:

Tomorrow, I have to travel a considerable distance to go to a Fedex facility with the proper Hazardous Material clearance to ship my miserable 20 rounds of ammo. To make it worse, the cost will be 3 times a normal shipment fee and take forever to get there.

Come to find out that the reason I hadn't been hastled before, was that the other clerk did not follow the proper procedures to ship my ammo. I did my part by being honest and identifying the parcel as ammo, but he called it 'brass parts'. A federal offence, I believe :eek: The new clerk is investigating.

I appreciate the homeland security safety aspects since 911, but my gosh, why is it that we law abiding, patriotic, Republican Americans have to pay with our hard earned freedoms for others inadequecies (namely the pre 911 screeners, Clinton, etc? Not only do I wait hours in line to be checked into my flights, and I always get singled out for a more thorough search, but I can't even get my legally shipable goods to the hunt :x

Ok. I'm done. I'll go to the Hazardous Materials facility, pay out the nose, Vote for Bush and hopefully have my ammo for the hunt. I want us all to be safe, but lets focus on the real culprits and give the good folks a break

huntsman · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2004, 03:36:36 PM »

I'd ship more than twenty rounds if I were going through all of that. I'd want a stockpile to leave down in TX so I'd never have to worry about shipping ammo again.

BTW, if you give up on shipping and want a good factory load in 6.5x55 for hogs, you can't beat PMC 140 gr Sierra gameking. I've flattened two good sized boars @ 200 lbs. with shoulder shots with this round. It penetrates the thick shoulder and almost literally explodes inside. No blood trail needed.

I would be willing to load you something with the Hornady 160 RN interlock (only thing I have in 160 gr right now) if you are coming down San Antonio way. Let me know on a PM if so.

TomD · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2004, 04:32:41 PM »

Huntsman,

I sure appreciate your generous offer. I may take you up on it if this all goes to Hell.

Before I started reloading for the 6.5, I took a 225# boar last year (April '03) with the PMC 140gr. They hit hard, but don't group that well in this rifle. I get 2 - 3" groups with them. I think that their C.O.L is too short for the reamed bore in this rifle. I started to reload for the 6.5 when I hit that 225 pounder at 100yds with the PMC and missed my mark. Instead of putting him down with one shot, I broke both his front legs and had to enter the brush to finish him off. It was an exhilirating experience but I would have prefered to have my Marlin 1895 in 45-70 instead of the Arisaka when tracking him...he was one pissed off hog :eek: . I put him away within 15 minutes of the first shot.

My ultimate solution was to pack a spare Lee press and my 6.5 dies with the ammo to ship to TX tomorrow. I also have a Lee Loader set out there to supplement the process. I'll reload for the Arisaka there from now on. I've also reloaded with the Speer 140grs and used the same 40grs of RE22. The POI is 1" higher and 1" left compared to the 160gr'ers. Good groups as well.

What rifle do you have chambered in 6.5x55? Its a great round isn't it!!

TomD · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2004, 04:36:30 PM »

Huntsman,

Forgot to ask...I hunt around Rio Medina when I'm out there. Where are you located?

victorcharlie · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2004, 12:37:21 AM »

I have a business associate that regularly fly's here with a variety of guns and ammo. He claims them at the baggage check in, fills out a form, and gets on the plane. He says's it's no big deal. We usually go the the lease and plink, and he's brought everything from a .22 rifle to a 416 rigby as well as several different pistols. Have you flown with guns and ammo before, and why is it a hassle?

TomD · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2004, 01:33:39 AM »

My 'hastle' reference was to current terminal conditions and security delays as oppopssed to pre 911. There is a HUGE difference now.

I haven't flown with my gear as when we go to TX we travel with the kids in tow. These are 'family trips' to visit her side of the family in TX. Its tough enough to keep the troups & their gear together without adding another step and more gear to the process. My wife has asked that I don't bring guns & ammo on these trips until the kids get older. And, seeing that when we get to TX, I cut loose & spend 80% of the 10 day trip hunting and doing hunting and land managemnent stuff on the family properties, no questions asked, I honor her request :grin:

That is why I originally sent the Arisaka out there to stay. If I could find a factory round that would group in this rifle, there would be no hastle at all.

If I was going alone, I wouldn't hestitate to transaport my rifles & ammo on the plane. :-D

jgalar · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2004, 01:57:19 AM »

I would have to check the regulations, but I believe you are allowed 11 lbs of ammo in checked baggage. The rounds must be contained in original containers or containers approved for ammo. Not 30/50 caliber ammo boxes. The plastic storage boxes are fine. Check with your air carrier as their policies can be different then Federal as long as they meet the minimum Federal policy.
Firearms are also no big deal in checked baggage. You must declare that you have a firearm with the carrier and they will issue a declaration to put in with the gun. The gun must be unloaded, preferably with the action open and it must be in a locked hardsided case. A handgun can be put into an unlocked softsided case as long as the gun itself is in a locked hardsided case inside. Ammo and firearm must be in seperate baggage. Again check with the carrier as their policy may be different from Federal regulations.
You may as well assume that your bags will be opened for search. Your best bet for taking ammo is to place the ammo in your clothes bag. No shoes, toiletries or objects should be in the bag. Make it easy to see the ammo in x-ray and also for the screener to see when he/she opens the bag that there isn't anything in the bag that will bring down a plane. This should speed up your bags getting screened.

DesertRam · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2004, 03:27:52 AM »

That'a s little strange. Just a couple months ago I used UPS to ship ammo to my dad. I followed the rules on their webpage pertaining to box strength and labeled the box "ORM-D Small Arms Ammunition". The lady at the counter asked "Ammo huh?" I responded in the affirmative and she shipped it off. Three days later it was on my dad's doorstep.

If that doesn't work, you can in fact fly with 11 pounds of ammo in your checked baggage. As far as I can determine, you don't even have to claim it. Just package it correctly and you're good to go. You do have to claim firearms, but you sound familiar with that.

JJHACK · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2004, 04:05:41 AM »

There is absolutely no hassle or difference in air travel with a gun or ammo since 9/11

I fly every few days all year round, and about 1/2 the time I fly with a firearm. Across the entire USA and international.

I have flown on just about ever major carrier and many little "puddle jumpers"

The process is as follows. You check in you luggage at the ticket counter. claim a firearm or ammo or both. They will give you a blaze orange tag that you must sign and date. That tag must be placed into the case with the ammo. That ammo/gun case must be hard sided and locakable. At that point they will do one of several things depending upon the aiport your in.

They will call a skycap to carry your suitcase to the central xray (TSA) check station

They will tell you to lock it and then they will slid it down the chute with the other luggage

They will tell you to wait until a TSA agent comes to inspect it right there

Varations of this exist but the process is the same. Some authority must look at the case and ammo/gun before you can check the bag. It must be locked too. That is absolutely the same as Pre 9/11 in most airports. In some of the more rural airports the check in clerk would actually verify this, not a policeman or security agent.

The only hangup I have had is the additional time to get a TSA agent to the checkin gate. I would strongly suggest you include a handgun in the case so that the checkin clerk tags it with a firearm tag. I suppose without a firearm the suitcase only contains "explosives" and that might create some confusion. You do not have to claim ammo seperate if you have a gun. It's assumed by the blaze orange permit you sign and date that if its a gun there is ammo too.

The whole process is rather simple and so easy that I do it just about every week. I also travel with my archery equipment several times on month by air. Because I insist on locking my bow case I include a small handgun inside. That forces them to let me lock my bow case becasue all luggae with a firearm must be locked.

I don't even want to use the gun but I want to lock the case. The TSA folks at the Seattle airport all know who I am by now becasue I fly so often and always have that aluminum bow case or my rifle case with me. Other airports work nearly identical depending upon the type of equipment and how experienced the TSA folks are with guns.

I also have a big "pelican" brand suitcase which accepts two padlocks. I frequently travel with photo equipment too. Again I want the case to be locked in the cargo hold. ALl I need to do is put a small handgun inside and by law it must be locked. No need for the handgun in most cases but I get to lock the case.

Its absolutely a non-issue to fly with a gun and ammo. Don't sweat it. Just give yourself an extra 1/2 hour to get it taken care of. That amount of time was the same before 9/11 by the way. The TSA folks have got thier act together for the most part. I travel more then anyone I know and am in airports every few days. Since 9/11 my travel with guns is not different. Right after 9/11 it was a bit more struggle but they have the details worked out and it's a pretty smooth system now.

TomD · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2004, 08:11:13 AM »

DesertRam,

Strange, I just called UPS and was told that they do not ship ammunition.

I also just spoke to American Airlines and was told that you can now pack your ammo in the same locked case as your weapon.

Mohawk · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2004, 05:01:20 PM »

TomD, a hunting license is required to hunt any species on private or public land, including unprotected non-game such as rabbits and hogs. You might want to notify whoever told you that. Texas is 97% private. Everyone has to buy a license except when hunting furbearers unless you already possess a trappers license. See link below.

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/hunt/licenses/

TomD · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2004, 02:36:32 AM »

Thanks for the clarification. I was misinformed.

As I usually do, I would have bought a $45 5 consecutive day Non-resident special license because we usually go Coyote hunting while we're there, or shoot the unlucky coyote that passes our stand.

Chalk up another benefit to this site & its participants!!!!!!!!

Mohawk · « **Reply #12 on:** October 22, 2004, 04:57:16 AM »

Yeah, the $45 license is the way to go if your just hunting hogs. I'm glad they added that provision recently. You used to have to buy the original $250 license. Good luck and let us know how you do.