Can I bring empty bullet shell casings (spent ammo) in checked luggage on an international flight?
I am on vacation in Russia and was given several spent .38 bullet shell casings as a souvenir. They were fired recently and presumably still have residue on them.
I'll be flying domestic within Russia and the United States, and international from Moscow to San Francisco with a layover in Frankfurt. I would like to bring the shell casings home with me, but only if they are unlikely to cause any problems.
My plan is to put them in a ziplock bag, all alone in an outside pocket of my checked suitcase.
Is this likely to cause any problems either within Russia or the US or on the international flights? If so, is there anything I can do do mitigate the issues?
Best Answer
You can put almost anything in a checked luggage that you can normally carry with you outside the airport. You're even allowed to carry a gun on planes, in fact, it gets you past the lines since they have to check you in separate...
I've done Cabin check before where you clean the planes and get them ready for the next passengers and I would find live ammunition in the seats all the time, casings shouldn't be an issue at all especially if it's in checked in luggage.
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Answer 2
Flew Air France from Johannesburg South Africa to London U.K. on 27/9/2016, was not allowed to take spent or new empty cartridge cases in my checke-in hold baggage. I think the security at Johannesburg haven't a clue what to do with empty cases so they say 'it is ammunition and has to be in its own secure lockable box' if you want to take it with you.
I had 100 7mm bullets and 200 243 Win bullets and these went through no problem. Note - BULLETS not ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION.
Answer 3
I dont know about other countries. but bringing bullet shells (even in a medallion form) is totally illegal in United Arab Emirates and apart from its confiscation for sure, the person responsible will be facing strict scrutiny by Police. Ammunition, Weapons, accessories which are not only dangerous but that can cause security alert also is illegal. Not worth any chance...
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