Guns on a Plane

[Moparformances]

If this is the wrong section to post mods feel free to move

I am planing a trip to help a childhood friend with a move across country..

my intention is to CCW the road portion of the trip.. but im Flying home..

the question is how do i get my Pistols home with OUT a body cavity from the TSA ..

can i put them in my checked bag or do i have to ship them and wait for them to arive??

has anyone traveled latley??

Does the plane service matter?? is southwest better them say jetblue?

[jubjubrsx]

i think you have to declare it and have it in a locked container that doesnt have a TSA lock on it, is it a C&R? cause you could mail it to yourself as well?

[jubjubrsx]

i think you have to declare it and have it in a locked container that doesnt have a TSA lock on it, is it a C&R? cause you could mail it to yourself as well?

[Moparformances]

i think you have to declare it and have it in a locked container that doesnt have a TSA lock on it, is it a C&R? cause you could mail it to yourself as well?

bag it with a triger lock is easy.. so i just tell them at Bag check i have a gun.. I can sense that cavity search coming

what is a C&R ??

[Cpl. Haas]

It has to be in a hard-sided case and ammo needs to be stored in a manner so the primers aren't exposed (Factory box or mags in closed holders). Some airports you get to bypass the security checkpoint and TSA just wands you while they check to make sure the gun is unloaded.

Southwest is very easy to deal with... not even my AR could scare 'em.

[SouthCoastTargets]

this video is your best friend if you plan on flying with guns. This guy knows his S#it, he's funny, and informative:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGjddG5Owsc

[rabagley]

It has to be in a lockable hardside case, the lock is supposed to be a non-TSA-accessible key lock (either built-in or padlock), and you are to be the only person who carries the key. When you get to the ticket counter, you will declare that you are carrying a firearm. They will ask you to show them, and may ask you to verify that it is unloaded. This is significantly easier if the gun is already disassembled into two or more pieces. You'll then sign a little slip that says it's unloaded and put it into the container with the gun. Lock the container, put it in your luggage if it fits (definitely a good idea to do this if you're bringing a single handgun back), and keep the key on you.

The TSA does not have good control over ammo policy. Factory boxes seem to make them happy, as does a second hard sided case (but you can't put a normal padlock on this box). I've had TSA supervisors insist that the ammo can't be put into the same piece of luggage with the declared firearm (not in the container, just in the bag outside of the container), and another insist that it had to be in the container with the firearm, and just about every other permutation. Might just be easiest to not bring ammo back.

From this point, next steps depend on the airport, but the ticket agent can tell you what's what. If you have to carry your luggage to a screening station, tell the screeners that there is a declared firearm in the bag and stay nearby with the key. If the screening happens out of sight, you should to head to your gate, and if they need your key for additional screening inside the box, they'll call for you at the gate and you should go with them to hand over the key while they look in the box.

The key is not supposed to leave your presence and you are supposed to be the only person with a key to the container, so politely ask about that if they tell you to hand over the key for them to take somewhere else to peek into your bag.

[tozan]

If this is the wrong section to post mods feel free to move

I am planing a trip to help a childhood friend with a move across country..

I think everything else has been covered except what state and waht airport are you flying out of? If New York you might get arrested for just having the gun?

[Purple K]

Each airline is a little different, check their website for details. I've never been hassled when flying with guns.

[huntercf]

Almost everytime I fly I check a gun through. Make sure to read the regulations, I once had a ticket agent tell me the ammo had to be in a separate case, I actually had the regs printed out and showed her that it was ok to be in the same case just not loaded. Make sure it is unloaded. Every airport is different, some ask for me to open it up to show it is unloaded, others have a separate area that you have to take your luggage to for screening. TSA hasn't asked me yet to open up my case.

[ErikTheRed]

I thought you were posting a trailer for the sequel to "Snakes".

[Moparformances]

It has to be in a lockable hardside case, the lock is supposed to be a non-TSA-accessible key lock (either built-in or padlock), and you are to be the only person who carries the key. When you get to the ticket counter, you will declare that you are carrying a firearm. They will ask you to show them, and may ask you to verify that it is unloaded. This is significantly easier if the gun is already disassembled into two or more pieces. You'll then sign a little slip that says it's unloaded and put it into the container with the gun. Lock the container, put it in your luggage if it fits (definitely a good idea to do this if you're bringing a single handgun back), and keep the key on you.

The TSA does not have good control over ammo policy. Factory boxes seem to make them happy, as does a second hard sided case (but you can't put a normal padlock on this box). I've had TSA supervisors insist that the ammo can't be put into the same piece of luggage with the declared firearm (not in the container, just in the bag outside of the container), and another insist that it had to be in the container with the firearm, and just about every other permutation. Might just be easiest to not bring ammo back.

From this point, next steps depend on the airport, but the ticket agent can tell you what's what. If you have to carry your luggage to a screening station, tell the screeners that there is a declared firearm in the bag and stay nearby with the key. If the screening happens out of sight, you should to head to your gate, and if they need your key for additional screening inside the box, they'll call for you at the gate and you should go with them to hand over the key while they look in the box.

The key is not supposed to leave your presence and you are supposed to be the only person with a key to the container, so politely ask about that if they tell you to hand over the key for them to take somewhere else to peek into your bag.

all excelant information..

two questions

I dont have factory hard cases for my perfered carries...

my prefered is a second had pistol that did not come with a case

my second, a ruger, sold new in a cardboard box..

im assuming that i shoulc buy a small aftermarked foam lind case they will both fit in.. that should work..

Ill leave the ammo in Montana..
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second question..

i thought having a carry on would be a huge no no.. every time i hear aobut a gun on the new some dumba@@ is trying take his weapon threw carry on..

so what your saying is the problem is not having it with me its they were taling an undeclaired weapon that was probably loaded..

[Kevin S]

OP; I don't think this has been stated clearly above; you MUST check the firearm case as luggage. No carry-on.

After-market case is fine; make sure it's quality enough to stand up to baggage handling.

[rabagley]

all excelant information..

two questions

I dont have factory hard cases for my perfered carries...

my prefered is a second had pistol that did not come with a case

my second, a ruger, sold new in a cardboard box..

im assuming that i shoulc buy a small aftermarked foam lind case they will both fit in.. that should work..

Pretty much. The box has to be strong enough that you can't flex it open around the lock, so many factory boxes won't do. I use a 1120 pelican case and put that inside another piece of luggage or for rifles/shotguns, a SKB case (2SKB-5009) all by itself. For pistols, most gun stores would be able to sell you a small lockable case that will pass muster.

thought having a carry on would be a huge no no.. every time i hear aobut a gun on the new some dumba@@ is trying take his weapon threw carry on..

Oops. Maybe we weren't 100% clear about what we're describing.

We're all describing the process of transporting a firearm in your checked luggage. Unless you're the pilot and you've got your permit to carry in the cockpit, or a duly sworn officer of a government agency who requires a firearm for official business while on the flight (US Marshall, FBI, etc.) or it's your job to carry on an airplane (Air Marshall), there is no legal way to get a firearm through the TSA passenger screen.

[RobinGoodfellow]

Gun Case

all excelant information..

two questions

I dont have factory hard cases for my perfered carries...

my prefered is a second had pistol that did not come with a case

my second, a ruger, sold new in a cardboard box..

im assuming that i shoulc buy a small aftermarked foam lind case they will both fit in.. that should work..

Ill leave the ammo in Montana..
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
second question..

i thought having a carry on would be a huge no no.. every time i hear aobut a gun on the new some dumba@@ is trying take his weapon threw carry on..

so what your saying is the problem is not having it with me its they were taling an undeclaired weapon that was probably loaded..

You don't need a factory case. Any hard-sided case (metal or plastic) should do, provided it is lockable. I bought a small plastic tool box for $5, and it works fine. Had it questioned at one counter (I guess all she had seen before were factory gun cases). She called the TSA supervisor over to take a look, and the supervisor told her it was fine.

Remember to declare you are checking a firearm. If you are distracted, and wait until the bag disappears on the conveyor to tell them about the firearm, they act a little funny.