# Mr. Larry J. Talley — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 01-0216  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2001-10-15

01-0216 concerning 173.22.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

Washington, D.C.
100 Seventh Street, S.W
20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
Ост 15 2001
MI. Larry J. Talley
Ref. No. 01-0216
2499 Countrywood Parkway
Cordova, IN 38018
Dear Mr. Talley:
This responds to your letter dated August 7, 2001, regarding the
transportation of black powder under the U.S. Hazardous Materials
Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) and the International
that would allow for the domestic or international transportation
Instructions).
Specifically, you ask if there are any exceptions
of black powder by aircraft.
The answer is no.
The air transportation of black powder is
forbidden both domestically under the HMR and internationally
under the ICAO Technical Instructions.
Putting the black powder
in your letter, and carrying it onto an aircraft, would be a
into either a shotgun case or brass rifle case, as you describe
willful violation of the regulations.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can
be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
See l7 Magall
Edward I.
Director
Office of Hazardous Materials
Standards
010216

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Stevens
$173.22
Larry J. Talley
2499 Countrywood Parkway
Applicability
Cordova, TN 38018
01-0216
Edward T. Mazzullo
Directors Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
US DOT / RSPA (DHM 10)
400 7* Street SW
Washington DC 20590-0001
Sir;
A few months ago, I went to South Africa as a team member of the USA International
Muzzle Loading Team.
During the preparation for this trip, a long and heated discussion came up between the
members about the transportation of black powder that this type of rifle use and whether
we could transport black powder on a commercial airliner in some manner or way.
I was and still am of the opinion that this can not be done in any legal manner or way.
Many shooters, are of the opinion, that by putting the black powder in either a shotgun
empty case and crimping it over so as to appear as normal smokeless loaded shotgun
placing a bullet in the end to be removed upon arrival, circumvents the prohibition of
ammunition or by putting the black powder in a normal empty brass rifle case and
carriage of black powder on a commercial airliner.
After an extensive Internet search, I do not believe that this is in anyway a legal thing to
correct answer to this question of transportation of black powder on commercial aircraft
do. After calling the DOT, I was given your name as the one who would know the
and if it could be done, what someone would have to do to comply with all DOT and
FAA regulations to do so.
Many heated discussions on various Internet sites have been done saying that this is legal
and how to go about it when going hunting or to a rifle match.
publications and various web sites, by me, in an attempt to educate the shooting public.
Your clarification of this matter will receive a very wide distribution in many shooting
As to what the legalities of transporting black powder by air travel, in both the USA and
Internationally by scheduled commercial airline companies.
Thank you for your time and response to my questions.
Respectfully yours,

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010216.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `bd93370dc1f21760a44dbabb77b134ffcbf8f82c5c87d2b90e865416a0591ba5`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T11:51:43.703Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-01-0216`

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