Coming back to the USA thru Newark Airport

[Vanguard2279]

I'm taking Delta to JNB through Newark in April. I'm a little apprehensive of their inefficiency but not afraid of anything. Everything I have or do will be in accordance with the law. I've had zero issues flying through JFK with a firearm other than TSA arbitrarily cutting the locks on my ammo case. I found Customs officers rude at Dulles though and will try to avoid that route when I can.

 

[slam8031]

I went through Newark this summer on return from Namibia and RSA. As stated above, the rifles arrived with workers We then went through rifle check and bag examination and x ray. I had ostrich eggs with paperwork. You would have thought I was carrying plutonium. Multiple supervisors to confirm everything was in order. Rifle check was slow. We then waited for everyone with a rifle and trwvelled roughly 800 meters down a flight of stairs where we had to unlock our rifle cases and they took all the rifles (with boxes unlocked and none of us to watch the inspection) this took another 30 min for 9 rifles. Then we travelled back up a flight of stairs to re check bags. It was way more complicated than the process needed to be and way more complicated than the previous three trips through ATL. However, I’m still happier with United and flying 787 Dreamliners than I was on 777. But I didn’t take a suppressor this trip because of potential problems in Newark!!

 

[Tam Dl]

The other thing to consider is that one doesn't always end up landing where you expect to land. You could think you were good to go, but end up in a situation where your endpoint was not what you had expected, and you have a different city to deal with. I speak with unrelated experience: people also say commercial airline crashes after a failed go around, and a maximum landing speed crash into the tree line are rare. Been there and done that.

I don't know what the African prime destination rules are but maybe they could invest in a suppressor.

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This is also part of the reason that one might want to consider a longer barreled gun. No overbore loads, and certainly no brakes. Classic rifles.

All the modern gear has rational reasoning behind it that is used by sensible people. However, fashion still plays a part. Up here in Canada, you can sell 12" barrels all day long. If we were allowed them, you could sell silencers all day long, but just try and sell a barrel length that is the same as the short barrel (in practical spheres more likely an 18") and the silencer, and images of grandad's smoke pole lead to zero sales.

The long barrel is not enough, but it does significantly attenuate sound. First because of more complete powder burn, but also because of greater distance from the ear. A 25" barrel vs an 18" inch barrel, is 66% quieter for the distance alone. Now that is huge, as the energy hitting you ear, but there is a reason why the decibel scale is logarithmic, and it is because we do not perceive the reduction in linear terms. But energy doing work on your ears, does. It should also be considered that while ear defenders are effective, it is often only to the degree of reducing the impact on the ears by 30 or so decibels. Which in the case of magnums is orders of magnitude too little, so one should take whatever precautions that one can. The best being bowhunting.

A rebated muzzle crown also helps.

I am not a doctor or an acoustical engineer, but that is as close as I have been able to figure it.

 

[Edster]

One other thing to consider, what you are really doing in this whole process is Temporarily exporting then importing your firearms. This is what had me concerned and the reason I started talking to a NFA guru. We never went further than traveling into MA with a suppressor so the conversation stopped there. I would want clarification of this prior to taking a suppressor out of the US Non licensee is referring to a non licensed importer.

 

[Areaonereal]

When I exited the plane in Newark the guns came in via luggage crew at the end of the hallway past the custom agents. Helpful hint, ammo case will be brought out on a cart and set at the end of the luggage belt. You follow your gun which is loaded on a cart to the custom agents. After your guns are cleared you follow the agents again to checkin.

If your ammo case is in your checked luggage on returning to the US, do they remove it and separate from your luggage? Never have had ammo separated from checked baggage in 9 trips from SA.

 

[Mountaineer]

I was made to separate my ammo from luggage when I left Namibia on airlink. They sent all luggage and guns onto United in Johannesburg.

 

[Areaonereal]

I understand now. you were booked thru. I flew Airlink last August but overnite in Joberg was not booked thru on return but was on entry.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

Ok here are my thoughts and they are based on a conversation with my local NFA guru. If you are going to a State that does not allow ownership of suppressors, don’t chance it. I fly out of Boston, and MA is a no go for suppressors. Yes you should be covered by law for the transport thru their State, but you will be looking at delays in travel, confiscation, lawyer’s fees , and Cort date if you get a “Prudent” Leo. My take on Newark. Leaving you would be ok, baggage would be pass thru. Return is a different story. Newark would be Port of entry. You will have take possession of your bags, go thru customs and then recheck bag at airline counter, where you will have to declare firearms , then let the TSA sloths that know nothing about firearms handle your guns/suppressor. That’s where you may run into problems.
For me the risk is not worth taking.

Edster, I will be continuing the flight not checking in with another airline United all the way

 

[Safari Dave]

I flew United through Newark in August and everything went very smoothly.

I do think, however, that adding a silencer to the mix might complicate things. I would not recommend adding a Class III item. I'd see if I could borrow one from your safari company, or just do without.

I would also run it by your agent with Gracy, and do what ever they recommend.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I flew United through Newark in August and everything went very smoothly.

I do think, however, that adding a silencer to the mix might complicate things. I would not recommend adding a Class III item. I'd see if I could borrow one from your safari company, or just do without.

I would also run it by your agent with Gracy, and do what ever they recommend.

Safari Dave, I did call my agent Travel Express and Gracy and neither of them had any idea, I would think as popular as suppressors are for hunting now that they would check into finding this out, because it seems if you fly United you have no choice but to land in Newark if you are in the Midwest, Delta, Atlanta, but that was not an option on this trip. I finally got ahold of a supervisor at the Newark airport police dept. and he said it should not be a problem because I am just passing thru and not taking possession of my rifle case and did talk to a Customs agent there and was told he had no problem with it as some one from the airline or TSA would be carrying it and I would only unlock it as needed.

 

[JimP]

The problem arises if you miss your connection or for some reason you have to take possession of your luggage.

 

[Fred Gunner]

Just returned through Newark from SA in June easy when compared to JFK, I've done both. The Port-authority PD want nothing to do with your Firearms unlike JFK. You will have to clear customs with your CPD form 4457 but you'll have to go through that at every airport. Then simply recheck with TSA with a new firearms declaration from your airline. When you go through Immigration Customs Passport control have your CPD 4457 inside your passport. When the ICE Officer see that you get an Ice Escort all the way through. Ice Officer get your weapons case and escorts you to the office for inspection. SA mandates Ammo in a separate locked case. Ammo can be inside your other baggage but can't be inside your weapons case. SA rules disregard what your Airlines tell you.

 

[Fred Gunner]

Oh after you've cleared Customs an airline representative takes control of the gun case and escorts you to your airline baggage Re-check-in. which is great since Newark is huge and they know all the short cuts. Don't tip the ICE Agent I tipped the Air line girl because I was very happy after going through JFK Hell! Funny The Port-authority PD are the same outfit NYC and NJ totally different process.

 

[Fred Gunner]

Oh and at the Baggage Re-check-in they wheeled us right past this huge line past the first class check in (we were fist class) and straight to the TSA...Got some NJ side ways looks total worth it.

 

[Fred Gunner]

Dam sorry put your silencer on your CPD form 4457 if it's on the form and all serial number match no worries.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

Dam sorry put your silencer on your CPD form 4457 if it's on the form and all serial number match no worries.

customs here has checked off the rifle and suppressor serial numbers and signed the form

 

[Hogpatrol]

Just back today from RSA via United, final destination Newark, NJ. Blew through immigration control using the Global Entry kiosk. That took all of two minutes. On to baggage pickup, maybe five minutes there. Rifle pickup took about an hour, attributed to multiple hunters on the same flight and ten gun cases that needed cleared. I was the last one in that process. All said, Newark is now my favorite airport for going to Africa, Delta can kiss my ass and until Qatar gets their act together on firearms, the same goes for them. YMMV.

Edit: I wish the newbies would get their shit together at this station. Have your 4457s and passports ready. If TSA has to ask for this from ten people and there are connections to be made good luck.
Having said that, I would advise two hours between connecting flights. Two fellows in our cue didn't make it and then had a six hour layover. With the current cancellation situation, that could turn in to an overnight at the airport or hotel.

 

[R.M.C.]

Just back today from RSA via United, final destination Newark, NJ. Blew through immigration control using the Global Entry kiosk. That took all of two minutes. On to baggage pickup, maybe five minutes there. Rifle pickup took about an hour, attributed to multiple hunters on the same flight and ten gun cases that needed cleared. I was the last one in that process. All said, Newark is now my favorite airport for going to Africa, Delta can kiss my ass and until Qatar gets their act together on firearms, the same goes for them. YMMV.

Edit: I wish the newbies would get their shit together at this station. Have your 4457s and passports ready. If TSA has to ask for this from ten people and there are connections to be made good luck.
Having said that, I would advise two hours between connecting flights. Two fellows in our cue didn't make it and then had a six hour layover. With the current cancellation situation, that could turn in to an overnight at the airport or hotel.

Cool! Thanks for the update!

 

[Hogpatrol]

Kudos to the TSA firearm checking crew at Newark, definitely had their act together. No working out of an Atlanta style cubby hole, shoe spraying, ten thousand questions or other nonsense.

 

[C.W. Richter]

As an adjunct to the supressor, if you can fake a slight nervous tick and broken english accent, the airport folks are even more welcoming...Why the supressor? You should see more animals after the shot in the wilds of Africa, no? Leave the muffler at home. I see 'em used on these tiny, fenced RSA properties (seeing power lines and hearing cars drive by. Ahhhh, the wilds of Africa.) No thank you. Safe travels. Several friends lost their vehicles at EWR while on vaca. It was a nice welcome home!