Alaska Trip

[SKILCZ]

So a friend is going to Alaska for a month long hiking/camping/fishing trip. As far as firearms, he's bringing a 10 mm sidearm and a 12 gauge pump. He asked me how to get his firearms there and back.

Suggestions? Ship to FFL in advance? Check on the airline (but then what happens if it stops in Canada)? Thoughts?

He's flying there.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

I don't think he will have any problems just taking the items with him. As long as his weapons are "checked" then even if they do stop off in Canada it will not matter as they will not be going through customs. If changing planes, the luggage is simply transfered from one plane to the other.

 

[hirundo82]

If he were to ship to an FFL, he couldn't get the handgun because you can only receive a handgun from an FFL in your state on residence.

The best way to do it would be to check them on the plane. I don't think it should be a problem if he connects through Canada with claiming his bags, but hopefully someone will correct me if I am wrong.

Another way to do it would be for him to send the guns to his destination via UPS or FedEx. He should be the one to open the package once it arrives to stay legal. I've shipped firearms to myself before but it gets expensive as the carriers don't allow non-FFLs to ship by ground.

Checking the guns will be much less expensive and something that airlines that fly to Alaska are used to dealing with.

 

[gbran]

I spent 10 days in AK a couple summers ago. I had no problem taking my sidearm. Dad went too and took his. No permit needed to carry up there. While there, we took a float-plane trip to the boonies and could not take the guns on the plane. Other than that, your good to go.

 

[Cosmoline]

Checking with the airline is best. Unless he's coming on some pretty odd set of flights he won't be stopping in Canada. Canada comes into play when you drive the Al-Can, and would immediately preclude the 10mm and put limits on the shotgun. But in what must be at least 100 flights in and out of AK I've never had a route through Canada. Going to Canada makes it an international flight. The plane doesn't just make a milk wagon stop there.

Additional pointer: He should bring his own 10mm ammo. Supplies on this stuff have been running low for years now even in Anchorage. Esp. in spring when everyone is gearing up. Check with the airline for how to stow it. It isn't a bad idea to bring a few boxes of Brenneke magnum hardcasts, either. If you have your ammo when you get to Anchorage you're good to go and don't need to take a day running around town trying to find ammo.

 

[AKPastor]

Gotta echo Cosmoline. I'm not in Los Anchorage, but the stores in Fairbanks aren't heavy on 10mm. You could get lost in mazes of stacked .40 S&W though.

Shouldn't be any trouble flying and I have heard some like to check guns. Their reasoning is that the TSA has to visually check your bag in your presence. Any subsequent checks require your presence too.

One tip I read was to print the TSA guidelines from their site and pack one in your gun case and 1 in the bag. Ammo is fine to travel with and can be carried in the same case, but not loaded. This is my last reading - but I am sure the TSA changes their requirements just to keep us on our toes.

Consider daily carry since AK is a true right to carry state - but read up on the laws. You must notify a LEO when carrying concealed.

Also, I'm not sure why gbran wasn't able to carry on a float plane - sounds like the pilot's personal rules, not the norm.

Hope your buddy has a great time up here. Although he may not want to go back to the US

 

[sunnynice]

hope u have a nice trip.

 

[lloveless]

deleted

 

[Diggers]

1000's of people from all over go hunting in AK every year and they all bring guns. You just have to know how the airline your flying on wants them packed.

 

[Shadow 7D]

hint^^^^^^^^^^^
its on their web site

 

[Cryogaijin]

Hrrm, second post and it is one I am a bit of an expert on.

I work in hospitality up here in Anchorage, (and formerly Fairbanks) so I've seen a lot of hunters through. As for getting your guns up to Alaska, get a hard-sided gun case (The $34 walmart special works) and put TSA marked locks. (TSA locks are able to be opened by a TSA masterkey, which means they won't have to saw off your locks or hold your firearm if there is a problem.)

Remove the bolt from your firearms and merely place them aside in the padding. (Not required, but gun savvy TSA peeps will respect it, and unsavvy TSA peeps will feel good about it.) Take a picture of the case and contents before sealing it. Stick a copy of the picture in the case.

At the airport, skip the kiosks, and walk up to an actual person. Inform them that you are Flying to Alaska on a hunting trip, and have guns you need to ship up. After setting up your ticket, they'll inform you to head over to the TSA baggage area, where you'll do your inspection and handover of the firearms. This should be harmless and quick assuming you've followed the above. Fly as normal.

Generally firearms will be the last thing put onto a plane, and usually are also the last thing brought off. They don't put firearms on the belts, instead they bring them to the TSA baggage office where you present your claimcheck.

In Anchorage, the Hilton Downtown (Not the Garden Inn, Hampton, Homewood Suites, or Embassy Suites) requires you to check your firearm into their gunvault. They have a 24/7 security officer (Or they did when I worked there) who gives you access to your firearms at any hour. (The Marriott Downtown is run by the same company, and likely also has a gun vault.) Most other hotels in town will let you either store the gun in their storage areas, or bring it up to your room. Don't be like the secret service and shoot out a window while up here!

In town, I like Wild West Guns and The Ammo Can for 10mm ammo. (I own a Witness in 10mm) For other ammo there are lots of places, though I got my aught six hunting ammo from Gun Runners.

Any other questions I can answer for you?

What Not To Do: Do >NOT< spend too much money on your case, ESPECIALLY if you will be flying in. The charter flights have very tight weight limits, and a 20lb guncase is not only overkill, but simply too heavy. I really do recommend the cheap black plastic cases that you can bang around and don't care if they get destroyed. They'll protect your firearm just fine.

 

[Aaron Baker]

put TSA marked locks. (TSA locks are able to be opened by a TSA masterkey, which means they won't have to saw off your locks or hold your firearm if there is a problem.)

THIS IS WRONG.

You MAY NOT use TSA locks on your gun cases. You MUST be the only person with a key to your gun case. The TSA knows this and shouldn't give you crap about it. If they need to open the case, they'll do it in your presence (and page you in the airport to make that happen).

Aaron

 

[oneounceload]

He could always ship them to himself at the address he will going to - hotel, etc. Otherwise, take them on the plane

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

You MAY NOT use TSA locks on your gun cases. You MUST be the only person with a key to your gun case. The TSA knows this and shouldn't give you crap about it. If they need to open the case, they'll do it in your presence (and page you in the airport to make that happen).

Aaron

I will second this. Aaron's information is correct.

...Take a picture of the case and contents before sealing it. Stick a copy of the picture in the case...

Huh? Why put a picture of the gun/case/contents in the case?

...They don't put firearms on the belts, instead they bring them to the TSA baggage office where you present your claimcheck...

Not from my experience, but I'm not saying that is true for your flights. The half-dozen times I have flown with a firearm, they have me pick my bag up just as everyone picks up their bags - on the belt. Although, my last flight with a firearm was about 2 years ago. Things may have changed. One time, they did lose my bag with a firearm in it. Then, the extremely rude rep from Alaska Airlines lectured me on answering my phone when they call to return my bag, got angry when I asked questions, and promplty hung up on me

 

[BENBRU]

+1 on the NON TSA locks... Hard, big, key locks are what I use. Last I flew with a firearm was in January. From Boston to Denver. I declared it, they put it on the belt... Next thing I knew it was coming down the baggage carrousel in Denver. I have flown to AK with a rifle, same deal.

My advice is to do everything you can to make the weapon appear unloaded to an X-RAY. Rifles, I do this by removing the bolt and running a cable lock through the magazine well. Pistols I remove the slide, or run a cable lock through the cylinder.

I thought I might have an issue in Boston... Nope. Smooth over and over.

 

[AKPastor]

Another +1 on the non-TSA locks. However, I think it very prudent to check and fully read the info on the TSA site each and every time before taking a trip. Like most government agencies, I think they change regs almost on a whim.

I wouldn't want to be in hot water because they changed a rule.

 

[Cryogaijin]

Huh? Why put a picture of the gun/case/contents in the case?

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is a way to warn off thieves. Have no doubt: TSA will steal from you if they think they can get away with it. Remember, most crimes are a crime of opportunity.

Regarding the TSA locks, the last time I personally flew with a firearm was shortly after 9/11 when TSA locks were new. . . and the TSA didn't know its arse from their mouth. There was no standard procedure at that point in time.

Then again, I know many many people who have flown given exactly the advice I gave above, and they've had no problems. OTOH, I do know of several people who have had their big, expensive, hard locks cut off by the TSA, so. . .

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is a way to warn off thieves. Have no doubt: TSA will steal from you if they think they can get away with it. Remember, most crimes are a crime of opportunity.

Forgive me if I'm thick, but I still don't get it. If a criminal will steal the case with your gun in it, then they have the picture that you put in the case.

Or, if you were thinking that someone would break into the case before stealing the gun, are you thinking that a picture of the gun in the case would cause a thief to forgo their crime??

Maybe I should take a picture of my car, and keep it in my car, to ward off car thieves

 

[Albatross]

I regularly fly with firearms between Alaska, Hawaii and Oregon (multiple times a year for the last five years): Read and familiarize yourself with Alaska Airlines rules. Bring a printed copy of the rules with you to the airport. TSA and the airlines in the Northwest have the flying with checked firearms procedures completely down. It is not a big deal and can be done with zero hassle. It is super easy, the rules have been well established for quite a while now are well understood in the Northwest.

Lock the unloaded firearm in a case. Put the ammunition in the case too (keep it in the manufacture's box). Tell the baggage checking agent that you are declaring a firearm. The agent will not be concerned. She does this all the time, she'll hand you a card to sign. Follow her simple directions. Bring the baggage over to TSA, tell them there is a declared firearm in your luggage. Unless something is amiss or unusual they won't even have you open the locked case. You bag goes through their machine like every other bag and you are on your way to the radiation machines and strip search security lines.

As others have said, bring your own 10mm ammo (keep it in manufacture's box).

Do not use TSA locks. Whatever you already have on hand will work. I use combination master locks.

Finally, in my opinion there is no real concern of employee (TSA, airline or airport) stealing firearms locked in a hard sided case from your baggage. Too big/bulky, hard to conceal, greater punishments. I'd be more concerned about loosing consumer electronics, cash and other less identifiable goods.

 

[Cryogaijin]

One of the common complaints of people arriving up here to go hunting is that their various packages/luggage has been utterly ransacked by the TSA. They're less likely to do so if there is a chance they'll get caught/reprimanded.

Yes, it is a minor thing, but as a digital photo costs you all of about 28c worth of ink, and the time to print it, why quibble?

Finally, in my opinion there is no real concern of employee (TSA, airline or airport) stealing firearms locked in a hard sided case from your baggage. Too big/bulky, hard to conceal, greater punishments. I'd be more concerned about loosing consumer electronics, cash and other less identifiable goods.

Has happened twice to guests staying at hotels I've been working in. Now twice in 5 years with me seeing oh. . . 2 dozen hunters flying up a year. . .

Tangental note: FFS, take your guns to the range before you pack 'em up here. While I love chatting with the various hunters that come through my establishment, I can't help but inwardly roll my eyes a bit at the people who buy a new gun just for the trip, and don't even bother taking it to the range first. Happens most often with .338 RUM. These are also the people that bring up the superheavy all metal guncases that they won't be able to get into the charter plane. . .

 

[Silverado6x6]

If you cannot get to a range to check your scope then I suggest before you even leave for Alaska to get a laser bore sight or one of those caliber specific cartridge lasers, do a sight in with the laser upon a target, mark the spot where the laser hits.

I cannot say what range would work best but I would say 100 ft. minimum, the laser spot may not of course line up with your crosshairs but if you have it marked on a target then all you need to do is use that same target again after you arrive at the same distance and check it to see if its exactly the same.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Wait, Hotel employees might, possibly steal a gun, and you have seen it 2x time in 5 years, and them people wonder why you suggest it for a CONTROLLED ACCESS environment, that being said, there have been cases of gun being lost and or stolen. But a pic isn't going to do much except help with the insurance claim.

Apples and Oranges

 

[Cryogaijin]

Wait, Hotel employees might, possibly steal a gun, and you have seen it 2x time in 5 years, and them people wonder why you suggest it for a CONTROLLED ACCESS environment, that being said, there have been cases of gun being lost and or stolen.

Fairly incoherent sentence, that. I do hope you aren't suggesting I'm the one stealing the guns. . . while they're in TSA hands. That'd be quite the trick.

Let me be more plain: In the 5 years I've been working hospitality in Alaska, 2 of my guests have had their firearms "disappeared in transit" before even making it to my hotel. A couple others have had them lost through typical Airline baggage handling issues, but Alaska Airlines works REALLY hard to get peoples luggage to them.

 

[Shadow 7D]

I should say so, one of the Customer service drove mine out to me when it was mis-routed ( I was on his way home...)

Only time I flew with guns, I was delayed and offered the options of either having pulled off the plane or just letting it check through, which I did, and Alaska had it secured at a TSA or Airport police baggage room.

I'm not implying you stole anything, just that it being lost in transit or stolen once out of the baggage system is more likely than a handler or TSA stealing one out of a locked case.