first time traveling with a gun.. good experience

[paintballdude902]

i flew home for my sisters wedding this past weekend and purchased a hard sided rifle case to fly a few guns home.

i was kinda worried about it being a pain in the butt, but it turned out very simple. i did not travel with ammo.

i walked into RDU with 1 rifle and 1 shotgun in a plano "bone collector" 2 rifle case. walked up to the US air check in told her i had 2 firearms in a case, showed her they were unloaded then signed on piece of paper and closed it up. since im military and only had 1 other bag she didnt even make me pay for it. i then rolled it over to over sized luggage waited on tsa for 5 min, opened it up to show him they were unloaded then he did one of those explosive chemical tests on it (didnt see the point in that since there are guns in it...) then closed it and locked the case with the 2 built in locks plus 2 more tsa approved locks and handed it off.

when i landed the luggage guy just asked for my ID then handed it over.

heck checking my guns was the easiest part of my entire trip ........ but alas i still made it to second base with the TSA guy after the naked body scanner.....

 

[MedWheeler]

Yeah, I've flown commercial with handguns and ammunition, and it really is easier than most people who haven't done it think it might be.

 

[Babarsac]

I've flown in and out of Reagan National Airport multiple times with guns and ammo. As long as you have everything secured properly and declare them when you check in, flying with your toys is very easy.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I've had the weird and pleasant experience of being escorted and whisked through check-in and security faster for having had long gun cases.

 

[MutinousDoug]

If you don't want airline employees and TSA rifling through your luggage when you are not present, travel with a declared firearm in your locked, hard sided case. Jewelery, liquor, cash-any valuables are all beyond their reach once you have showed them your unloaded firearm and locked your case with YOUR key.
This Pelican case and a carry on are all I need for 5-7 days worth of travel.

 

[NavyLCDR]

ithen closed it and locked the case with the 2 built in locks plus 2 more tsa approved locks and handed it off.

Why the addition of the two TSA approved locks?

 

[chris in va]

Ditto, don't use TSA locks next time.

 

[MrCleanOK]

Firearms are supposed to be locked with regular locks so that they are within your control. TSA locks allow them into your luggage if you are not there. Granted, TSA has bolt cutters and will get in if they really want in, so I always leave two additional, open padlocks in my case so that they can lock it again if they cut it open.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

 

[TAKtical]

I always take my EDC and a 50rnd box of federal hst. Ive found it to be a non issue. They ask to see it, I show them, then it goes back in my checked bag and I pick it up when i get to my destination. Very quick, very easy, never had a problem.

 

[paintballdude902]

ah! was told i needed TSA locks on it.

 

[MutinousDoug]

On the contrary, TSA and airline employes are not permitted to open cases containing declared firearms without the owner/declarer (or HSA/FBI) present.

It is a good idea (in my opinion) to paste contact info: cell number on the exterior of your case so you can be contacted in the terminal if there should be some question as to the content or locks on the luggage.

 

[NavyLCDR]

ah! was told i needed TSA locks on it.

TSA locks violate Federal Regulations:

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/tex...v8&view=text&node=49:9.1.3.5.9.2.10.6&idno=49

49 CFR 1540.111

§ 1540.111 Carriage of weapons, explosives, and incendiaries by individuals.

(c) In checked baggage. A passenger may not transport or offer for transport in checked baggage or in baggage carried in an inaccessible cargo hold under §1562.23 of this chapter:

(1) Any loaded firearm(s).

(2) Any unloaded firearm(s) unless—

(i) The passenger declares to the aircraft operator, either orally or in writing, before checking the baggage, that the passenger has a firearm in his or her bag and that it is unloaded;

(ii) The firearm is unloaded;

(iii) The firearm is carried in a hard-sided container; and

(iv) The container in which it is carried is locked, and only the passenger retains the key or combination.

 

[MedWheeler]

It is a good idea (in my opinion) to paste contact info: cell number on the exterior of your case so you can be contacted in the terminal if there should be some question as to the content or locks on the luggage.

I was actually asked for this information the second time I traveled with a declared firearm (I actually had three, secured in two cases that were in one suitcase.) Of course, I would not have been required to give it, since there is no requirement that one carry a cellphone, but it is indeed a good idea.

 

[NavyLCDR]

since there is requirement that one carry a cellphone, but it is indeed a good idea.

What?!? Brain working faster than the fingers there, MedWheeler?

 

[dusty14u]

I too have found that traveling with firearms is stress free and easy to do. My wife generally has a harder time checking in and getting through security than I do. She travels often for her job and she always seems to get singled out for extra attention once we hit the security gate.

I am glad others have pointed out that you should not have a TSA approved lock on you hard sided case. I use a Cabelas locking gun brief case to put in luggage when carrying. It works well but the baggage gorillas put it to the test the first time I checked it. It now wears some ugly dings and scratches but it did protect the guns well.

 

[JohnBiltz]

Its generally pretty pain free. Last time I flew though there was a shooting team of some sort going through just ahead of me. There were about twenty people with multiple cases that all seemed to be with each other. That took awhile.