Flying Louisville to SanFransico with Firearms

[Bazoo]

I've been researching flying with a firearms from Kentucky to California, that is Louisville airport to SanFransico. I plan to take a trip to visit a friend. I know I cannot carry a gun in Ca for self defense. It's more for the fun of having my own gun when we go to the range, and for getting some experience flying with firearms. This will also be my first time flying.

I have checked Southwest's regulations and I think that is not any concern. Just put the gun in a sturdy locked hard case with 2 locks. I can also bring 11 pounds of ammo. I fill out a paper, and may or may not have to have the gun checked depending on the mood of the folks that day. No biggie. Guns will be California legal, probably a lever action and a pump shotgun, perhaps a single action revolver.

My concern is mostly how SanFransisco will handle me. Will they give me any issues upon arrival with retrieving my firearm? Will they give me any issues upon departing when I come back? Will my gun be on the baggage claim thing? Will it be at the office? What? Same questions for Louisville.

 

[Riomouse911]

It’s just luggage, one piece in a carousel room full of tired travelers trying to find their own bags. Unless you have it plastered with gun-centric stickers, I doubt anyone at SFO or OAK will even give it a second glance.

( You could put a Fender sticker on the case and it’s a guitar.)

Stay safe.

 

[Old Dog]

Will my gun be on the baggage claim thing? Will it be at the office?

I can't speak for any airlines other than Delta or Alaska, but they tag your bag stating, "Do not place on carousel." I pick my bag(s) up at the respective airline's baggage office. Although twice in the past year, my suitcase (with firearm inside) did make it on to the carousel...

 

[Bazoo]

Thanks, old Dog. I will remember to ask when I check the gun where I should expect it to be. Lord willing it'll not be an issue for me.

 

[Bazoo]

This is the case I'm going to use, I know it isn't as good as a Pelican, but considering I don't plan on flying often, I feel it'll be sufficient. Anyone offer opinions? I did a search for reviews and found people saying they used it on reddit and it was okay. Anyone offer thoughts on this case?

Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[westernrover]

You'll need to be sure to declare the gun when you check the bag even if they do not ask you about it. You'll also need locks on the gun case that can comply with the affadavit you will be required to sign -- "TSA approved" locks do not meet that criteria. You'll need to be sure to accompany the airline agent and the checked bag to TSA to open the locks for them to inspect the gun(s). Otherwise TSA will cut the locks off and you will need to go get more locks. Be mindful of the storage requirements and the ammo limits. Once you get through the TSA at the baggage check (not the TSA going into the terminal), then your gun bag will arrive at the destination and it will be kept in the baggage claim office, not the carousel. There's no further inspection upon arrival. You'll claim your bag and then it will be your responsibility to comply with CA laws.

 

[hso]

Better check if your gun is Ca compliant.

 

[hso]

Oh, and going will be easy, but you need to focus on checking/declaring it at SF coming back.

 

[Gordon]

In order to bring into California any guns bought or obtained out of state, California residents must have the weapons directly shipped to a licensed gun dealer. Then, before the dealer transfers the gun to the owner, it must follow the procedures for in-state gun transactions, including: a criminal background check. Also ammo purchases other than at a range and used there takes a background check . No magazines over 10 rounds allowed in state. This is the actual law on record but TSA does not enforce it if you have complied with their Federal rules.
Hey, just the messenger telling you the way law is written, Californiastan. Also, SF has "special rules where handguns or firearms" are not allowed.

 

[IlikeSA]

Be prepared for your bag to be on the carousel or the claims office/oversized baggage. I've flown with firearms multiple times on multiple airlines, and regardless of how they tag it, it could end up at either. Prepare to spend extra time walking back and forth trying to figure our where it is. Sometimes its the first thing off...and sometimes it is the last. Also, some airlines with put zip ties across the entire luggage.

Typically, you'll declare your firearms at the check in counter. You'll sign an orange card called "Firearms Declaration" with information on it, certifying that you have complied with the rules written on the card. This card I place inside the case.

Some agents will want to confirm that they are not loaded, and may ask you to open your case. If you want to streamline the process, get some action flags or zip tie the action. My semi-autos I place with the slide back and in a holster, and no one's ever asked me to open it up. I've never had anyone ask me to get it out, and if asked would ask for a supervisor rather than getting them out. They may also want to see that the ammo is boxed correctly. I've carried reloads in MTM boxes and never been questioned, but some may want the original boxes. If they give you grief, ask for a supervisor.

After all that, someone will take your bag and you'll escort it to the TSA office for them to check/x-ray your bag. The person that took your bag will walk to a drop off point and drop your bag off. You'll then do things normally.

One last thing, boxes of ammo add up in weight quick.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Southwest will sometimes have you pickup the bag containing you firearm from their baggage claim office near the baggage claim carousel.

Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

 

[Elkins45]

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you have quick access to both Southwest’s rules and the TSA rules, either by printing them out or having them bookmarked on your phone. It’s not unheard of encounter an employee who doesn’t know the rules and just decides to make them up on the spot.

 

[bearcreek]

Thanks, old Dog. I will remember to ask when I check the gun where I should expect it to be. Lord willing it'll not be an issue for me.

Doesn't hurt to ask, but just understand that the folks in Louisville won't be able to tell you conclusively what the folks in San Fransisco are going to do.

 

[Mark_Mark]

but, put two of these in your bag if you do

 

[bearcreek]

Some agents will want to confirm that they are not loaded, and may ask you to open your case.

It's always amusing when you get an agent who clearly doesn't know what they're looking at who has you take the gun out of the case, at the counter, and has you show them that it's unloaded. I had one do that and then ask if my Glock was a .38.

 

[Bazoo]

In order to bring into California any guns bought or obtained out of state, California residents must have the weapons directly shipped to a licensed gun dealer. Then, before the dealer transfers the gun to the owner, it must follow the procedures for in-state gun transactions, including: a criminal background check. Also ammo purchases other than at a range and used there takes a background check . No magazines over 10 rounds allowed in state. This is the actual law on record but TSA does not enforce it if you have complied with their Federal rules.
Hey, just the messenger telling you the way law is written, Californiastan. Also, SF has "special rules where handguns or firearms" are not allowed.

I am not a California resident. I am a resident of Kentucky.

So, is there any laws preventing me from flying to Ca with a rifle or shotgun?

 

[Bazoo]

Better check if your gun is Ca compliant.

I don't know how to check. How does one do that?

My buddy has a Winchester 94, and that's what I plan to take. Also considering a Remington 870, which he also has an example of, and a Ruger Single Six, which I am told, is legal there, but I haven't checked for sure yet. He does have some double action revolvers though, so I took it for granted that the lesser form of revolver would be automatically allowed.

It never occurred to me that SanFransisco might have a handgun ban or something. I'll probably just drop the handgun idea.

 

[reddog81]

I Like the idea of bringing my own gun to the range but that is a lot of additional expense in baggage fees, a new case, locks and a lot of headache for a little benefit. Flying is hassle enough for me that I try and avoid checked luggage at all. I don't want to worry about them losing my bag or spending an additional half an hour up front and an additional half an hour or more waiting to pickup my bag once I'm there. Are you positive the hassle will be worth it?

 

[Old Dog]

It never occurred to me that SanFransisco might have a handgun ban or something.

You can take any CA compliant handgun into the city.

 

[Bazoo]

I am not 100% set on taking a gun either, I'm basically trying to figure out how much extra trouble it will be vs the reward of having my own gun at the range.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I don't know how to check. How does one do that?

My buddy has a Winchester 94, and that's what I plan to take. Also considering a Remington 870, which he also has an example of, and a Ruger Single Six, which I am told, is legal there, but I haven't checked for sure yet. He does have some double action revolvers though, so I took it for granted that the lesser form of revolver would be automatically allowed.

It never occurred to me that SanFransisco might have a handgun ban or something. I'll probably just drop the handgun idea.

lived there once, if you have to bring a gun to SF

Gun has to be in a lock box when traveling.

I would also lock the case to the car, car breaking is near 100% on the streets. We use to leave our car door unlock with the window 1/2 open and glove compartments open. Why? they will smash your windows!

 

[Bazoo]

I am not going to be in SanFransico other than to drive through it and head north. My buddy lives in Northern California. I forgot to mention that detail.

 

[bearcreek]

I am not 100% set on taking a gun either, I'm basically trying to figure out how much extra trouble it will be vs the reward of having my own gun at the range.

I've not taken a firearm into California, so that part I can't speak to. Flying with a gun isn't a big deal at all. I've flown in and out of a dozen+ major airports many times and the only issue I ever had was one time when a TSA guy didn't like my loaded mags in the case.

 

[Charlie98]

Flying with a gun isn't a big deal at all.

I would tend to agree with that, except...

When I've flown with a handgun, including Southwest, it's never been to an anti-gun destination. CA, and SF in particular, is terrible. Flying with a firearm isn't a big deal... it's what you have to do with them at the final destination that may be. If you are getting into a car and leaving the city, you probably won't have any problems, nor should you on your return.

I've also found that sometimes the baggage on the carousel is long gone before the special baggage shows up... so don't freak out if you don't see it right away.

 

[Riomouse911]

As for “ San Francisco”, SFO isn’t in the City of San Francisco. It is about 12 miles South, in Millbrae/San Bruno (San Mateo County).

Any drive through SF, either North through the City itself on Hwy 101 to the Golden Gate and Marin, or West to Interstate 80 and the Bay Bridge/Oakland, is just like driving through any other City. There aren’t gun checkpoints to pass through, but there are a yo. Of auto burglaries. Myself, after living in Berkeley for many years I now avoid parking on a street in SF like the plague.

Follow the airline and TSA rules, when you arrive put the locked case in the trunk or rear of the SUV and drive safely to your friend’s place.

Hope you have a great time.

Stay safe.