Airline travel with rifles?

[BCmJUnKie]

So Im taking a trip to Ohio. Most likely moving there soon from Colo. Im worried about being able to check my rifles in. Has anyone flown recently? I have hard cases but im skeptical to using them. What are some of my options? I usually drive and its not a problem. Thank you

[Eric D.]

Check out the TSA website.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...ted-items.shtm

[JR TACTICAL]

I just did this in December and its not bad at all, at least not with southwest airline. I used a 20 dollar hard case I bought from cabelas, locked it with a padlock(which is required if your gonna fly) and used a heavy duct tape job around the closures of the case and marked them in a way I would know if someone tried to tamper or remove the tape. As far as the requirements,all you need to do is declare the firearm when you check your bag, remove the mag if applicable, and fill out the required paperwork they will give you when you show up. Its not bad at all, it was way more chill than I thought it was gonna be


Hope this helps,
JR

[BCmJUnKie]

Thank you for the link. That helps alot. I just dont want anyone snaggin Them when they come out of baggage claim. Thats scary.

[MrCleanOK]

Originally Posted by BCmJUnKie

I just dont want anyone snaggin Them when they come out of baggage claim. Thats scary.

Having flown with long gun cases a few times, my experience has been that the airline will hand carry your gun to their baggage claim office, where you will have to show ID to claim it.

I've used a cheap, flexy hard case before. But now my guns fly in a soft case packed into a Pelican case. The wheels on the pelican case come in handy if you have multiple guns plus ammo in the case.

[cj5_dude]

Originally Posted by MrCleanOK

Having flown with long gun cases a few times, my experience has been that the airline will hand carry your gun to their baggage claim office, where you will have to show ID to claim it.

I've used a cheap, flexy hard case before. But now my guns fly in a soft case packed into a Pelican case. The wheels on the pelican case come in handy if you have multiple guns plus ammo in the case.

And I've flown with firearms a few times, both long guns in their own cases and pistols locked in hard cases then put into soft luggage and always claimed as firearms.

EVERY time I've found them circling the baggage claim belt. Once was clearly a gun case with 4 padlocks on it. Thankfully I was there to catch it but the airlines didn't treat my bags any differently even knowing there were guns it them.

[Buckaroo]

Originally Posted by cj5_dude

And I've flown with firearms a few times, both long guns in their own cases and pistols locked in hard cases then put into soft luggage and always claimed as firearms.

EVERY time I've found them circling the baggage claim belt. Once was clearly a gun case with 4 padlocks on it. Thankfully I was there to catch it but the airlines didn't treat my bags any differently even knowing there were guns it them.

They cannot according to the rules as I understand. They don't want people to know they are guns for fear they might try to steal them.

Buckaroo

[Kchen986]

A lot of people suggest a quality hardcase like a Pelican or SKB or Hardigg when flying. Considering you likely have $1,500 worth of equipment in there, it's worth the $175 investment. Consider placing the gun in a soft case and then placing the gun+softcase in to the hardcase.

Generally, all that you require when flying with firearms (I fly with my G19 or HKP30 all the time) is:

(a) weapon unloaded in a LOCKED hardcase.
(b) Ammunition stored separately.

I generally store my loaded magazines in a separate hardcase within my luggage when flying (IIRC there's a weight limit to the ammunition you can carry).

Upon checking in at the airline counter, declare your firearm:

Agent: Where are you flying today?
Me: Boston, Massachusetts.
Agent: Okay, can I see your id?
Me: Sure. I'm also flying with a firearm.
Agent: Okay, I just need you to sign this.

The airline I usually fly with gives me an orange slip I have to sign, which declares that the weapon is unloaded.

Hope this helped.

*ETA* looks like Pelican & Storm Hardigg are one company these days.

[cj5_dude]

Also check with your individual airline's website about flying with firearms, they'll all have something listed and it is usually word for word what TSA says but not always.

You CANNOT leave the ammo in a magazine unless it has a cover over the open end to keep it from coming out (P-mag would work but no pistol mags I know of would).

Those cheap $20 hard cases are usually very flexy and one lock may not totally secure it. But it's easy.

[Kchen986]

Originally Posted by cj5_dude

Also check with your individual airline's website about flying with firearms, they'll all have something listed and it is usually word for word what TSA says but not always.

You CANNOT leave the ammo in a magazine unless it has a cover over the open end to keep it from coming out (P-mag would work but no pistol mags I know of would).

Those cheap $20 hard cases are usually very flexy and one lock may not totally secure it. But it's easy.

I suppose you're right.

From the TSA website:

You can't use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard).

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1666.shtm

I place my loaded my magazines in a separate hardcase along with my EDC knife. I suppose under a conservative definition, I should not do this, but there is room for argument.

[MistWolf]

Some seasoned travelers suggest breaking down the rifle and using a shorter case that doesn't look like a typical rifle case to reduce chances of it drawing attention to itself

[BCmJUnKie]

Originally Posted by MistWolf

Some seasoned travelers suggest breaking down the rifle and using a shorter case that doesn't look like a typical rifle case to reduce chances of it drawing attention to itself

Thats actually exactly what im planning.

[Irish]

Originally Posted by cj5_dude

You CANNOT leave the ammo in a magazine unless it has a cover over the open end to keep it from coming out (P-mag would work but no pistol mags I know of would).

Not true. Those may be the "rules" but they are not enforced in my experiences. I just flew roundtrip from LAS to PHX last week on Southwest and both ways had loaded magazines in the same locked container as my pistol. At LAS they didn't even want to see a cleared chamber, in PHX they did, there is no consistency.

Glock 19 with 5 mags in container and my EDC knife.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Originally Posted by JR TACTICAL

I just did this in December and its not bad at all, at least not with southwest airline. I used a 20 dollar hard case I bought from cabelas, locked it with a padlock(which is required if your gonna fly) and used a heavy duct tape job around the closures of the case and marked them in a way I would know if someone tried to tamper or remove the tape. As far as the requirements,all you need to do is declare the firearm when you check your bag, remove the mag if applicable, and fill out the required paperwork they will give you when you show up. Its not bad at all, it was way more chill than I thought it was gonna be


Hope this helps,
JR

Duct tape works till they want to see in the case. I find that the ammo anywhere near the gun will cause them to look into the gun case.

Denver (Frontier) is really good about flying with guns, never a problem.

[Buckaroo]

Originally Posted by Irish

At LAS they didn't even want to see a cleared chamber, in PHX they did, there is no consistency.

This chamber clearing thing has lessened in recent years in my experience.

I personally know of one incident where a LEO had an ND at a ticket counter in Rapid City, SD while unloading his weapon. I've seen the dents in the stainless steel where it ricocheted.

I understand their desire to confirm the gun is unloaded but most airline employees would not know the difference.

I have not been directed to show clear in recent memory, just asked if it was unloaded.

Buckaroo

[xbmxracerx]

Delta Airlines is cool to fly with.....I have flown back and forth to Michigan for work since last April and have had no issues. I requested that I have to sign for it at the destinations and that's been great....don't want that going around and around.

I actually converted one of my old keyboard cases to a gun case temporarily until I'm complete with the Children's Hospital out there.

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[BadgerMan]

As far as the ammo is concerned, I'd just stick with keeping it in a box as I've known some people who were let through with loaded mags and some who were not. I take unloaded mags and I recall that once or twice they checked to make sure if they were empty or not, it just depends on which TSA person you get. Make sure that your ammo is either in the original box or in a container that seperates each cartridge or they might not let you take that ammo at which point either you'll have to hand it over to them or give it to your airport ride if they are still there.

[Boss Hogg]

Originally Posted by BadgerMan

As far as the ammo is concerned, I'd just stick with keeping it in a box as I've known some people who were let through with loaded mags and some who were not. I take unloaded mags and I recall that once or twice they checked to make sure if they were empty or not, it just depends on which TSA person you get. Make sure that your ammo is either in the original box or in a container that seperates each cartridge or they might not let you take that ammo at which point either you'll have to hand it over to them or give it to your airport ride if they are still there.

Wrong.

Read the TSA regs, print them out, and keep them in your case.

[BadgerMan]

Originally Posted by Boss Hogg

Wrong.

Read the TSA regs, print them out, and keep them in your case.

You got me, this happened a while ago so it may have been that specific airline's rules rather than TSA, should have double-checked that before I posted.

[Boss Hogg]

No sweat. I think the loaded mags rule changed within the past year