Just so you know, schmutz from shooting might set off the sensors at the airport.
The other day I went on a trip that started at Manchester Airport. My carry on bag was a backpack that was my former range bag. I'd stuff handguns and ammo and other stuff that got dirty in there, so it probably had its fair share of combustion trace elements.
When my backpack went through the X-ray, they wanted to run it through again because something wasn't obvious to them (I never did find out what, maybe my camera in its protective box with extra batteries?) When whatever the problem was didn't clear itself up with the second pass they did a manual inspection, which included running the swab-wand through the pack.
I jokingly asked, "So, how often does that actually catch anything?"
The TSA guy smiled and said something like, "Not very often, but occasionally."
We chatted about nothing while he put the swap in the testing machine, and then he said, "Huh.. I guess it's your lucky day!"
That, of course, led to a somewhat more detailed inspection (nothing uncomfortable) where they found nothing.
I told him it was my former range bag, and asked if powder residue could create a positive. He was non-committal, but basically said, "yea, that could do it."
The whole episode was kind of a hassle, but both agents I dealt with were friendly and respectful and professional, and I made my flight. One of them talked with me about what kind of shooting I do. He was pretty laid back. Used to work at Logan. "No sense of humor" he said about that airport.
I don't know if it was actually powder residue (Their machine only says "yes" or "no", not "which") but if you plan on traveling with your range bag, it might save you some hassle to clean it well beforehand.
The other day I went on a trip that started at Manchester Airport. My carry on bag was a backpack that was my former range bag. I'd stuff handguns and ammo and other stuff that got dirty in there, so it probably had its fair share of combustion trace elements.
When my backpack went through the X-ray, they wanted to run it through again because something wasn't obvious to them (I never did find out what, maybe my camera in its protective box with extra batteries?) When whatever the problem was didn't clear itself up with the second pass they did a manual inspection, which included running the swab-wand through the pack.
I jokingly asked, "So, how often does that actually catch anything?"
The TSA guy smiled and said something like, "Not very often, but occasionally."
We chatted about nothing while he put the swap in the testing machine, and then he said, "Huh.. I guess it's your lucky day!"
That, of course, led to a somewhat more detailed inspection (nothing uncomfortable) where they found nothing.
I told him it was my former range bag, and asked if powder residue could create a positive. He was non-committal, but basically said, "yea, that could do it."
The whole episode was kind of a hassle, but both agents I dealt with were friendly and respectful and professional, and I made my flight. One of them talked with me about what kind of shooting I do. He was pretty laid back. Used to work at Logan. "No sense of humor" he said about that airport.
I don't know if it was actually powder residue (Their machine only says "yes" or "no", not "which") but if you plan on traveling with your range bag, it might save you some hassle to clean it well beforehand.
![[smile]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/001.gif "Smile [smile]")
