flying with a spent bullet?
May 20, 2010 | 3:12 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Posts: 2,210
flying with a spent bullet?
So I'm in LAS, went to Penn and Teller. Got invited up on stage to help with their double bullet catch. Short version, they fire at each other and catch the bullets in their mouths. As part of the setup, two people come on stage, mark both the bullet and the casing, then after the firing, come back up and verify it. I got to keep the fired bullet and spent casing as a souvenir.
So, since it's been fired, is it still ammunition? If not, what is it? I only brought a carry-on, but I have to guess I need to check a bag with it, except that ammo has to be in boxes, etc.
Any thoughts?
So, since it's been fired, is it still ammunition? If not, what is it? I only brought a carry-on, but I have to guess I need to check a bag with it, except that ammo has to be in boxes, etc.
Any thoughts?
May 20, 2010 | 3:16 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SLC or DUB
Programs: The program formerly know as WorldPerks
Posts: 330
So I'm in LAS, went to Penn and Teller. Got invited up on stage to help with their double bullet catch. Short version, they fire at each other and catch the bullets in their mouths. As part of the setup, two people come on stage, mark both the bullet and the casing, then after the firing, come back up and verify it. I got to keep the fired bullet and spent casing as a souvenir.
So, since it's been fired, is it still ammunition? If not, what is it? I only brought a carry-on, but I have to guess I need to check a bag with it, except that ammo has to be in boxes, etc.
Any thoughts?
So, since it's been fired, is it still ammunition? If not, what is it? I only brought a carry-on, but I have to guess I need to check a bag with it, except that ammo has to be in boxes, etc.
Any thoughts?
Since it's a spent round with no powder, then you should be fine.
May 20, 2010 | 4:07 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 966
I suspect if you don't mail it home, or something like that (or check it in a bag, I suppose), TSA will steal - er, confiscate - er, "force you to voluntarily surrender" it.
Agree with the shadow box/framing idea - VERY cool that you got to keep a prop from their stage act!
May 20, 2010 | 7:28 am
#5
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There have been instances of TSOs going nuts even over empty brass, so please ship it home. There's a FedEx Kinkos near the intersection of Paradise and Flamingo (also some great Mexican food at Cozymel's nearby 
).
).
May 20, 2010 | 8:06 am
#8
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Join Date: Feb 2000
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No matter how small the chance is of them taking it, there's still a chance of it. If you drop it in an envelope and mail it, it's virtually 100% you will get it back.
I've always liked those guys, glad you got to bring some of the show home.
I've always liked those guys, glad you got to bring some of the show home.
May 20, 2010 | 8:30 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2008
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HKG no-go
I was passing HKG a few weeks ago with some spent AK-47 bullets... It was a souvenir from the Cu Chi tunnels. I accidently left them in my carryon backpack... It was confiscated by HKG authorities.... Not sure if it would have been ok in my checked in luggage...
May 20, 2010 | 8:31 am
#10
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May 20, 2010 | 11:12 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Posts: 2,210
Thanks for the thoughts, all. I'll definitely mail it.
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; May 21, 2010 at 4:25 pm Reason: merge consecutive posts
May 20, 2010 | 12:49 pm
#12
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May 20, 2010 | 5:42 pm
#13
Original Poster
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May 20, 2010 | 5:47 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: New to Texas
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Posts: 894
My nephew carried a keyring with a drilled out bullet on it for years- all through Europe and US.
Then 4 years ago went through China and they went nuts- the bullet was obviously drilled out, no residue on it, and they had this 15 year old kid in handcuffs and threatened to imprison him.
Mail it.
Then 4 years ago went through China and they went nuts- the bullet was obviously drilled out, no residue on it, and they had this 15 year old kid in handcuffs and threatened to imprison him.
Mail it.
May 20, 2010 | 6:48 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Not a spent bullet, but recently the security at AMS Schipol got excited and made my wife remove her keychain from her purse, and then removed one of these: 
from her keychain, had a supervisor come over, discussed it between them, returned it and advised her not to carry that through the airport again ! You can't always tell what will set them off.
from her keychain, had a supervisor come over, discussed it between them, returned it and advised her not to carry that through the airport again ! You can't always tell what will set them off.