Travel Guns

[pdsmith505]

I'm getting packed to go on a business trip, and, like I always do when I'm not headed to a restrictive state, I was packing up a travel gun to go with me on the plane.

This got me to thinking, what does everyone else take with them when traveling?

My concerns are primarily focused on size, especially in these summer months. Carry while at work is strictly verbotten, so it's gotta be something that can hide, locked away, in my hotel room fairly easily. Consequently, my LCP is usually the go-to choice. I can fit a Glock 19 in that box, but then I have to keep ammo and a holster out in the luggage.

So, what's the favorite flavor(s) of my fellow travelers on The High Road?

 

[khegglie]

similar set up; 2 magazines.

 

[Delford]

United Airlines has the requirements on their website under sporting goods. (Pretty sure they all do.) They require ammo outside in the manufacture's box. On the way the TSA allowed mags locked in the case (loaded). On the way back the TSA made me put the loaded mags outside the case but in a pocket of the suitcase. I smile a lot and do whatever they ask if it's reasonable and within written regulations of which I carry copies.

 

[Warp]

I
This got me to thinking, what does everyone else take with them when traveling?

One of my usual carry guns. Glock 26, Glock 19, or H&K VP9

United Airlines has the requirements on their website under sporting goods. (Pretty sure they all do.) They require ammo outside in the manufacture's box. On the way the TSA allowed mags locked in the case (loaded). On the way back the TSA made me put the loaded mags outside the case but in a pocket of the suitcase. I smile a lot and do whatever they ask if it's reasonable and within written regulations of which I carry copies.

I've checked a firearm with United many times, including 3 days ago. Loaded magazine in the case with the gun every time. United employee even asked me to open the case to "show" the gun was unloaded (nobody ever touches the gun) and saw the loaded magazine in the case.

But then most airline employees don't seem to know their own policies so

I fly a lot. The only time I wasn't allowed to have a loaded mag in the case with the gun, and more loaded mags in the suitcase, was years ago with AirTran who stupidly wouldn't even allow ammo in the same suitcase...literally they wouldn't allow my ten 12 gauge shotgun shells in the same case as a 9mm pistol...

 

[pdsmith505]

United Airlines has the requirements on their website under sporting goods. (Pretty sure they all do.) They require ammo outside in the manufacture's box. On the way the TSA allowed mags locked in the case (loaded). On the way back the TSA made me put the loaded mags outside the case but in a pocket of the suitcase. I smile a lot and do whatever they ask if it's reasonable and within written regulations of which I carry copies.

Making sure you follow the Airline's rules is definitely important. In this case, Southwest says:

The ammunition may be placed in the same container as the firearm and must be securely packed in cardboard (fiber), wood, or metal boxes, or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.

...

Magazines or clips containing ammunition must be securely packaged (placed in another small box or in a secure cutout in the carrying case, in order to protect the primer of the ammunition).

...

Loose ammunition or loose loaded magazines and/or clips are not allowed.

 

[Warp]

I have done this literally more times than I can count on all kinds of airlines.

I also put a magazine in a magazine pouch elsewhere in the suitcase.

It's interesting seeing the on paper requirements are for airlines though. To be safe I would follow what their official policy is. But I"ll tell you...you can put a magazine with the gun and a magazine loose in the suitcase and practically guarantee nobody will care, not the airline and certainly not TSA

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I formerly travelled with my Sig P232 but after I bought a Ruger LCR with a hammer I have switched to it as my travel gun for the accuracy and firepower. In my experience at shooting many different targets the .38 round is far, far superior to the .380.

 

[Red Wind]

Glock 36 .45ACP with 2 spare magazines. Same rig for 11 years now.

 

[rcmodel]

Mine is usually a Glock 23 .40.

Not because it's the best or most accurate gun I own.

But because it is simply a pistol that always works, and can be replaced easily the next day if it gets stolen or confiscated.

It has no collector value, and I have no emotional attachment to it at all like my old 1911's or S&W's I have owned since the Vietnam war.

rc

 

[Blue Thunder]

I quit flying with guns since the 1980's as it is too easy sometimes to step on issues when packing them. I very seldom fly to my destinations and CCW to all the rest. Last time I flew with a gun it was in 1984 where I could walk up to the check-in counter and place my checked bag on the counter and ask the Delta Rep for a Red Tag. They knew what that was and all was well. The wildest was in the early 1970's when I did the same thing without a red tag and the gun (loaded) was placed into a small checked sack with a baggage tag and was loaded on the plane. When I got off the plane the First Officer was on the flight deck handing out bags to those that had checked bag tickets while getting off the plane. So much for the TSA way back then in a more civilized time.

 

[rcmodel]

Why would you put a LOADED gun in a bag out of your direct control on a plane???

No wonder we have to have stricter controls in place now!!

rc

 

[Quiet]

When flying...
I take my Glock 39.

If it gets lost/stolen, I can laugh while imagining the TSA employees that stole it trying to find .45GAP ammo.

 

[Warp]

Last time I flew with a gun it was in 1984 where I could walk up to the check-in counter and place my checked bag on the counter and ask the Delta Rep for a Red Tag. They knew what that was and all was well.

That's pretty much what you do now. Walk up to the check-in counter, tell them you have a firearm to declare, sign a piece small paper card, maybe wait 5 extra minutes for TSA to check your bag on the spot instead of later and out of sight (oversize baggage location), and all is well. Well, some airports there's no 5 minutes extra.

 

[Tirod]

First, the TSA doesn't security screen ANY of it's employees and will hire felons. Along with that is the need for a vehicle at my destination so - I don't fly.

When they let me fly with an M16 the same as on deployment then I'll consider it.

Reading up on transportation of firearms I see where frequent flyers typically lock the firearm inside the case to slow down having it stolen by the inspectors. Goes to the TSA does NOT screen employees . . . and guns ARE stolen.

Since I will CCW all the way there then using the firearms I normally do and having them on me is what will happen. As far as travel thru non reciprocal states then it's the same as flying with an M16 - if I can't then I don't go thru that state.

This means at my stage of life I will likely never visit CA again. Too bad for them, they don't need my tourism supporting their anti gun stance. Same for NY, NJ, etc.

It does very much go to this: if you don't have an issue with visiting a non reciprocal state or one that bans you from carrying, and that's ok with you, then you accept that you don't need the firearm in the first place.

You either draw a line in the sand or you are willing to compromise. Compromise means not carrying. Not carrying means accepting the risk. Accepting the risk means giving up your 2A right and supporting the anti gun sentiment in that state.

If you can do that why bother owning a gun?

If you do think you need the gun, why give it up? It's supposed to be ON YOU, not locked up in the cargo hold.

So, I don't fly and I don't go where my guns aren't liked. So far I'm not missing out on much, it's their loss. They need to change their attitude, not me.

I see no reason why I need to compromise - if LEO's, Agents, and the TSA can carry onboard loaded cocked and locked, then a 22 year veteran former MP can too. Or I'm not flying.

There are 55 million adults who own firearms and as long as the current system denies us our rights then it will continue to be an imposition. But - if 55 million gun owners make a different decision, then I have NO doubt it would be a significant and noticeable statement. It's unfortunate that those who impose this don't have to fly with no guns and can ignore the issue.

Privilege and being special snowflakes causes that. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/law-enforcement

Only one in one hundred have served in the Armed Forces, I don't see where adding one more armed person on a flight of one hundred would make a serious situation in light of the others who already are.

For the most part it's security theatre and I'm not the only one who refuses to cooperate with it. I will travel armed carrying or I won't travel at all.

What gun is best for traveling? The gun you normally carry. If you think it might be lost, then it's not the best gun you should have on you. Using it will guarantee it will be taken away from you anyway. Don't carry guns with special emotional attachment because of that.

 

[Warp]

It does very much go to this: if you don't have an issue with visiting a non reciprocal state or one that bans you from carrying, and that's ok with you, then you accept that you don't need the firearm in the first place.

You either draw a line in the sand or you are willing to compromise. Compromise means not carrying. Not carrying means accepting the risk. Accepting the risk means giving up your 2A right and supporting the anti gun sentiment in that state.

You either draw a line in the sand or you are willing to compromise. Compromise means not carrying. Not carrying means accepting the risk. Accepting the risk means giving up your 2A right and supporting the anti gun sentiment in that state.

If you can do that why bother owning a gun?

So, let me get this straight...either I accept that I don't and won't need a gun in the first place, or I tell my dad I can't go to the hospital for his heart surgery, and tell my wife I can't go to her family's funerals, and my grandmother that no we cannot take the grandkids to see her. And if I choose to go those places for those reasons, I am supporting anti gun sentiment and shouldn't even bother owning a gun.

What a weird (I would say, sad) world you live in.

 

[danez71]

First, the TSA doesn't security screen ANY of it's employees and will hire felons. Along with that is the need for a vehicle at my destination so - I don't fly.

That is false.

https://www.tsa.gov/Disqualifying-Offenses-Factors

http://info.natacs.aero/id-and-badging/background-checks

Reading up on transportation of firearms I see where frequent flyers typically lock the firearm inside the case to slow down having it stolen by the inspectors.

Adding an additional lock than what required doesn't prove anything.

Goes to the TSA does NOT screen employees . . . and guns ARE stolen.

How so?

You're alluding that a back ground check would prevent TSA agents from stealing guns.

By that logic, UBC would prevent guns being stolen by anyone.


We all know, except apparently not you, Back Ground Checks don't prevent thieves from stealing.

 

[Jesse H]

I use a Pelican 1170 case and have flown with it numerous times. Fits a G19 spare mag and 50 round box of ammo.

A pair of Masterlock 140T padlocks is a perfect fit that when locked down, won't allow the case to be opened.

 

[psyopspec]

I use the same lockbox as pdsmith505. Gun is a Glock 19 or LCP depending on climate; 10 round mags for the 19 if a restricted state. I don't mind carrying ammo and holsters outside of the lockbox in the same suitcase; my current roll aboard has integrated TSA locks on the outside, which helps keep honest hotel staff honest while I'm out of the room for the day.

 

[herrwalther]

The only place I would ever fly is to NY. And since I can't carry there, I don't have a travel gun setup.

 

[benEzra]

Last time I flew with a firearm, it was my S&W 3913LS and a couple of spare magazines in a plastic lockable case, and all went smoothly.

 

[jeepnik]

Usually a 1911A1 of some flavor. I just follow the airlines regs. No problems yet. I will say that I don't fly with collectible or high dollar handguns. I'd be bummed if a firearm were stolen. But, the ones I take are easily replaced.

 

[Jimster]

First time flying with handgun. Here's my Pelican 1170. I'll be flying American Airlines next weekend to Phoenix. I'll store the mag empty and pack my box of self defense ammo (in its original box) elsewhere in my checked bag. Should I use two padlocks on the case?

 

[pdsmith505]

First time flying with handgun. Here's my Pelican 1170. I'll be flying American Airlines next weekend to Phoenix. I'll store the mag empty and pack my box of self defense ammo (in its original box) elsewhere in my checked bag. Should I use two padlocks on the case?

To be honest, I've flown with guns on all of the major airlines at one point or another. I follow the rules for each airline, but whether the ticket counter knows the airline's policy is a crap shoot...

For example, the trip I'm on now, that was the genesis of this thread, the Southwest ticket counter explicitly told me to not open the lock box at all.

In your case, american's policy says nothing about where the ammo/magazines are in your luggage.

As for a lock, if it were me, I'd run a padlock in one hole, and a cable lock through the other secured to the luggage frame. Keeps honest people honest.

 

[Jimster]

Good idea. Thanks.

 

[Tirod]

TSA employees do steal guns and it's been going on for a very long time: http://flyingwithfish.boardingarea....s-get-stolen-from-check-baggage-go-unnoticed/

Being in denial doesn't make it not happen.

As for how I travel, sure - it's extreme. The problem is all the people who willingly take their guns OFF and submit to screenings, pat downs, security, and expect it actually works. While you are disarmed in a plane flying to your destination - others are sitting in the seats next to you armed.

If that's ok with you, then you accept that some citizens have more rights than you and you also accept that you didn't need the gun in the first place.

Same kind of acceptance was the state of mind on 9/11. Now we enforce it even more? it wasn't successful then, and according to the TSA's own testing, getting a gun on board now is just as easy as ever.

The only reason we haven't had another major terrorist airline disaster is simply that they aren't trying.

BTW if you do visit hospitals did you notice armed police officers in it? Common enough - and goes to once again accepting that others can exercise their 2A rights but YOU cannot. Obviously the average US citizen is untrustworthy and/or a complete buffoon incapable of handling a firearm safely.

You are considered guilty until proven innocent, same as the entire CCW permit system. As long as people cooperate with it then it will remain an imposition. You don't have to protest or yell slogans or march around with the cameras focusing on your tiny group to make it appear as if thousands showed up -

Just don't fly.

BTW, the TSA's latest advice is to show up ANOTHER hour EARLIER to get thru the strip searching procedure because they fired too many employees and won't cross level manpower to put the idle workers at airports where they are needed. That means showing up about three hours early to stand in line and watch your spouse get groped.

So, you're ok with that, along with traveling disarmed? And I have a weird attitude about it? Hardly.

I'm just old enough to remember when it was a free country. CCW may have improved considerably but airline travel has gone to the dogs.

Do some more research on the TSA's hiring policies: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/tsa...-criminal-backgrounds-receive-security-badges

Then consider how easy it is for them to set up doing this: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/04/14/tsa-screeners-fired-groping/25775949/

The whole thing is security theatre with audience participation - they don't have to abide by the rules they can and do impose on you.

If you travel by air and transport guns then you're willing to put up with all this. Or not. Deliberately giving up your rights and then also being taken advantage of seems to be the antithesis of defending the 2A.

"Those who give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety." Which is exactly what is happening.