Flying (checked) with gun

[sigstroker]

Be sure to put mags in checked luggage, they are gun parts.

[LuckyGuy]

I fly Southwest

What I do when I fly, I carry a smith J-frame in a locked metal container with pistol and about 25 rounds in Speed loaders. What they are really looking is that Gun is un-loaded and ammo is not lose in container. Actually ammo is safer in mag or Speed loader. The Doc. that you sign says gun is safe and un-loaded. They will not ask you to open the locked container. Unless they see something that does not look right and they will call you to open the container with them present.

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Whenever I have flown with a firearm (which has been four times in the past two years) it's been on Southwest. I went on their website, searched flying with firearms and followed their requirements to the letter and have oner had any issues.

Instead of listening to what others say they have done in the past (some things stated above simply are not true). Every single time I have traveled with a firearm my baggage that contained my firearm(s) was claimed at the regular baggage claim with everyone else's luggage.

You also dont need to go nuts trying to reinvent the wheel by breaking down your firearm, running cable locks through it, etc., etc. Put the unloaded firearm in a hard-sided, locking case with non-TSA locks (the Apache brand cases from Harbor Freight are perfect for this and are very inexpensive), pack the ammo separately in the original box or a box specifically made for holding individual rounds of ammo and you'll be fine, keeping in mind most airlines retrict you to a max of 11lbs of ammo). Don't be smug, do anything that may raise questions or give anyone a hard time and be a douche when speaking with the people working the counter, and you'll be fine. When you arrive at the airport go to the full-service counter and simply tell them you have unloaded firearms in your check-in luggage that you would like to declare.

The reason for the non-TSA locks is nobody should be opening your case without you present. If TSA needs to inspect your firearm or open the case for any reason you need to be present. After the agent tapes the card that you will fill out onto the outside of your hard-sided, locking case that is inside your hard-sided suitcase you will most likely be asked to hang around for about 15 minutes in the event that TSA calls you back to open the case. After the 15 minute wait/or if they haven't called you back you can head through TSA and continue on to your gate.

The best advice given was from the poster who said check with the airline you are flying. If you follow their requirements you will not have any problems.

[ysr_racer]

From American Airlines:

Ammunition must be:

In the original packaging from the manufacturer or in packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition (made of fiber, wood or metal), with a maximum of 11 pounds (5 kgs) per container or customer. Ammunition is not accepted loose or in magazines or clips.

[middleofnowhere]

I used a locked Pelican case for my firearms. I put the cable lock through the action, but that extra effort was not required. All the ammo was inside the pelican case with the firearm. Loaded magazines were fine. TSA did make me open the case and they looked at everything. I was present when they did this. I was appalled when my gun case came down the baggage carousel, anyone could have grabbed it and walked out if I didn’t see it coming down.

The whole process was easy. TSA is the jurisdiction you need to check with, airline could not give a F***.

[pzbike]

[zinfull]

Alaska Airlines just ask if the gun was unloaded and nothing about the ammo. Sign the form, put everything into your bag. They also allow a case of wine to fly free.

[M1NM]

I use this - it IS the hard case and has the advantage that you use non TSA locks and protect all your stuff from the ramp monkies. Gun, mag (separate) and ammo in orig box.

https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/cases/air/1615

[k1dude]

I've found many airline agents and TSA agents are completely unfamiliar with their own rules and regs and will make ***** up on the spot. If you produce their own rules and regs in print to show them they're wrong, it will simply piss them off and they'll intentionally make you miss your flight.

All you can do is hope you run into people that know what they're doing. If they don't know what the hell they're doing, your only option is to do whatever they say and say "yes sir" and "yes ma'am" no matter how ridiculous.

It's gotten better the last few years, but there's still plenty of idiots around. I think a lot of them are simply anti-gun, so they know damn well they're making ***** up just to make your life harder.

Good luck.

[dobek]

One time (years ago --- about 1996) - I went to fly Southwest with a shotgun in a hard long case ---- gate agent asks if it is loaded - nope - You need to show me..... so I pulled out a 12ga over / under and cracked it open for him to see.....

People in line behind me were all pretty wide eyed....

Steve

[ysr_racer]

One time (years ago --- about 1996) - I went to fly Southwest with a shotgun in a hard long case ---- gate agent asks if it is loaded - nope - You need to show me..... so I pulled out a 12ga over / under and cracked it open for him to see.....

People in line behind me were all pretty wide eyed....

Steve

Yeah, that happened back then a lot. I always asked them if they knew anything about firearms, and how would they know it was empty.

They always said, you'll need to show me

[edgerly779]

Ammo in mag fine unless american airlines. They sometimes will not allow loaded mags. SWA and Alaska easiest to deal with. Ammo must be in container designed to hold ammo. No ziploc bags.

[mossy]

I use this - it IS the hard case and has the advantage that you use non TSA locks and protect all your stuff from the ramp monkies. Gun, mag (separate) and ammo in orig box.

https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/cases/air/1615

Most people that checked those things in went cheap on the locks. If you are using anything made by masterlock, it's not locked......