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ever travel on plane with pistol?

2K views 16 replies 14 participants last post by  busyfixin 
#1 ·
anyone ever travel with a pistol as checked baggage? how was it?what case did you buy?

ive read tsa rules just wondering how your experiance was?
 
#4 ·
You should just need a good case like a Pelican case, or an all metal one that can be locked. Don't use the locks they come with though. Many places sell TSA approved locks, that apparently a universal key the TSA carries can get into it without have to cut them off or damage your case.

But I've never traveled, just what I've been told by some of the guys I work with that go on hunts outside the country.
 
#6 · (Edited)
No, no, no, no. NOBODY should have direct access to your firearms besides you, with out your direct permission and presence. Declare it, go through inspection, and secure. NOBODY should be able to access your firearm. If there is an issue with your declared firearm, they will get a hold of you to open the case.

From TSA's website. All that is required is that it is declared, unloaded and in a hard sided, locked case.
Failure to adhere to the following regulations will preclude passengers from traveling with firearms, ammunitions or firearm parts:

Travelers must declare all firearms to the airline during the ticket counter check-in process.
The firearm must be unloaded.
The firearm must be in a hard-sided container.
The container must be locked. A locked container is defined as one that completely secures the firearm from being accessed. Locked cases that can be pulled open with little effort cannot be brought aboard the aircraft.
If firearms are not properly declared or packaged, TSA will provide the bag to law enforcement for resolution with the airline. If the issue is resolved, law enforcement will release the bag to TSA so screening may be completed.
TSA must resolve all alarms of checked luggage. If a locked container containing a firearm alarms, TSA will contact the airline, who will make a reasonable attempt to contact the owner and advise the passenger to go to the screening location. If contact is not made, the container will not be placed on the aircraft.
If a locked container alarms during screening and is not marked as containing a declared firearm, TSA will cut the lock in order to resolve the alarm.
Travelers should remain in the area designated by the aircraft operator or TSA representative to take the key back after the container is cleared for transportation.
Travelers must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
Firearm magazines and ammunition clips must be securely boxed or included within a hard-sided case containing an unloaded firearm.
Small arms ammunition, including ammunition not exceeding .75 caliber for a rifle or pistol and shotgun shells of any gauge, may be carried in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as it follows the packing guidelines described above.
TSA prohibits black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder.
 
#7 ·
I have. You have to declare it, at check in they asked to see that it was locked up unloaded and separate from the ammo. If I remember correctly, they either tagged or taped the pistol case. Luggage had to be locked with a TSA approved lock (one that they can open) which is available everywhere (got mine at WalMart).

Departing from Metro was no problem, departing from Myrtle Beach warranted a pull-aside "random" pat down.

But there's really no issues as long as you follow all the guidelines.
 
#11 ·
My pistols always go in a metal lock box.
When flying i would go the extra step and have a trigger/breech style lock
attached also. Security always seemed to like that extra step and would comment on it.

Just declared it to the agent at check in, usually a quick visual check, and then a tag on the bag and that was it.
 
#12 ·
I carry on with my pistola crammed in my waistband. I can only hike my pants up to just below my bag-0-beans, and NO TSA agent would dare fondle around in there looking for anything. I carry bullets in my front pockets, because I can't reach my knees standing up, and can't pull my piece sitting down ( my gun anyways)
 
#14 ·
I had a bad experience when I shot SASS going to Mississippi. I was underage at the time so by law they were my father's guns. We didn't have tsa lockes and they pryed the case open. They were very expensive metal cases. They said they tried to contact my dad after we were on the plane. However, nobody said a word to us. They had "mismarked" a case which had 2 long guns and 4 pistols in it. When they scanned it they saw pistols and destroyed the case to fondle them. They then really tagged all 4 cases correctly and used huge zip ties to "fix" the case. After that we just shipped guns to the comps we flew too. This was about 9 years ago. I will never know who did what with my guns and therefore never fly with firearms again. Shipping is much safer.
 
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