Magazine transport on Airplane

[sothoth]

I am aware if you transport a firearm on an airplane it needs to be in a locked metal container and checked (not carried on).

I have a magazine that I left at my father's house last time I was here, which I would like to return with me to CA via airplane. Do the same restrictions apply when transporting just a magazine? It is not a firearm but would the airline give me a hassle if it's not in a locked container?

[Quiet]

I am aware if you transport a firearm on an airplane it needs to be in a locked metal container and checked (not carried on).

I have a magazine that I left at my father's house last time I was here, which I would like to return with me to CA via airplane. Do the same restrictions apply when transporting just a magazine? It is not a firearm but would the airline give me a hassle if it's not in a locked container?

Per TSA...
Firearm magazine that contains no ammunition needs to be checked in luggage and can not be in carry on luggage.
Mandatory use of a locked container is determine by the airline.

Therefore, you need to contact the airline you are using in order to comply with how they want it transported.




Items that need to be checked in:
*Small arms ammunition, including ammunition up to .75 caliber and shotgun shells of any gauge- Check with your airline or travel agent to see if ammunition is permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. Small arms ammunitions for personal use must be securely packaged in fiber, wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply.
*BB guns
*Compressed Air Guns, including rifles and pistols (to include paintball markers) - Carried in checked luggage without compressed air cylinder attached.
*Firearms - firearms carried as checked baggage MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in.
*Flare Guns - May be carried as checked baggage MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in.
*Gun Lighters - Permitted in checked baggage only if it does not contain lighter fluid.
*Parts of Guns and Firearms (e.g., frames, receivers, ammunition clips, magazines)
*Pellet Guns
*Realistic Replicas of Firearms
*Starter Pistols - can only be carried as checked baggage and MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container, and declared to the airline at check-in.

[9mmepiphany]

It would be easier to just put it in a USPS Small Flat Rate Box and mail it home

[barrage]

Interesting question. The airline never seems to care all that much when I check my firearms, so long as the actual gun is in a locked, hard sided container. I've packed loose bullets (read projectiles, not cartridges) and magazines in my checked bag outside of my gun cases before and never been bothered about it.

I've always had an actual firearm floating around in the same checked bag though, so who knows how much or even if the morons working TSA will over react to gun parts in your bag without being accompanied by an actual gun.

Never tried bringing magazines in my carry on though. Again, I doubt the airline would even care as they're surprisingly rational about those kinds of things, but the TSA would undoubtedly **** a brick over it.

Either check it in a bag when you fly or mail it to yourself, would be my advice. Of course, the guidelines Quiet posted kind of spell that one out anyway.

[C.Bronson]

It would be easier to just put it in a USPS Small Flat Rate Box and mail it home

This was what I was thinking too.

[Sojournertruth]

spend 10 bucks and mail it to yourself

[liberty47]

Spending zero dollars is a better option.

[BigPimping]

I will just mail it back to myself as well

[JackRydden224]

It would be easier to just put it in a USPS Small Flat Rate Box and mail it home

spend 10 bucks and mail it to yourself

I will just mail it back to myself as well

What they said...

Spend some money to save you the trouble. Don't tell anybody what you are shipping. It's best to print out a label online and just drop it off. TSA are idiots, you don't want idiots ask you questions.

[SDgarrick]

DO NOT bring a magazine onto an airplane unless it is with the checked firearm.

I mistakenly took a few unloaded magazines in a carry on and the TSA did indeed **** a brick. Everyone gleefuly gathered around the x-ray as if their entire purpose were emanating from it. "we got one!". They were literally smiling and jeering "hey buddy, you go to a range today?" smiles all around. "whoops, haha" I think "forgot about those".

anyway, cops were sent for, I was taken to a secure area and told I would be arrested shortly. I told them I checked a pistol and forgot I had placed the unloaded mags in the backpack weeks before (was returning from a long holiday trip visiting my folks). They didn't care. They then said some BS about loaded mags, which i realized was an ignorant TSA agent's interpretation of a glock mag spring on the x-ray, they thought those were bullets in the "hi-cap" mag, (was a 10rd mag) I told them they weren't loaded, which they refused to believe as they joyfully ripped my backpack apart.

anyway, after numerous phone calls, I was offered by the responding police to either go to jail or sign a form and forfeit my property. I asked if I could merely check them as luggage as I did initially with my own firearm. No. waive rights and forfeit property, or go to jail. I was with my wife and a friend and didn't want to make anyone miss a plane. so I signed and said goodby to 5 perfectly good Mags.

So I hope you all learn something from my mistake and it was my mistake; when dealing with the TSA, if it is possible for a situation to go stupid, it will.

[SoCalPI]

Don't bring it in if it is over 10 rounds.

[sothoth]

You know, this is what I was afraid of. TSA are fools.

I did put the one magazine I have in a checked bag (not a carry on). I was told by TSA if they're checked they are fine but any gun part can't be carried on.

We'll see if the police are waiting for me at SFO when I land.

I'm not sure sending by USPS would be any better than thru the airline. I've heard of the USPS scanning shipped items although I have always wondered if that was BS or not.

[SoCalPI]

Disassemble it, mail the spring back to you, put the rest of the mag in your checked.

[sothoth]

So it went fine checking it loose in my luggage. There was no FBI or TSA ready to arrest me when I landed. What a clusterf@@k traveling with a gun.

[Teeko]

I wouldn't risk it