This is a discussion on Transporting firearm on airline within the Concealed Carry Issues & Discussions forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; Does anyone have any experience transporting your gun(s) on a commercial airline? I know which airline I'll be using and I've read their rules. I ...
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Does anyone have any experience transporting your gun(s) on a commercial airline? I know which airline I'll be using and I've read their rules. I just want to find out if there is anything "special" I should know. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
I have never had an issue, I've done it with pistols. I just lock the pistol inside a hard-sided case with ammo seperate, and then put that in my checked luggage, and notify the attendant when I check in.
Fortes Fortuna Juvat
Former, USMC 0311, OIF/OEF vet
NRA Pistol/Rifle Instructor, RSO, Ohio CHL Instructor
My Firearms Blog: Little Miami Tactical Shooter's Corner
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Exactly, then just follow the directions of the ticket agent; take note that every airport has slightly different ways the TSA handles the inspection.Originally Posted by buckeye .45
"To believe that social reforms can eradicate evil altogether is to forget that evil is a protean creature, forever assuming a new shape when deprived of an old one." - SAT
Never argue with an idiot - they'll bring you down to their level then beat you with experience.
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You can also use a much larger hard case, like a Storm or Pelican, put both your gun(s) and travel items inside the hard case, and travel that way. TSA is not allowed to have keys for your gun case. Since your personal items are also inside the gun case, they are not supposed to access that unless you are there. You will need to have TSA inspect the whole case when you check in before you lock up the case at check-in.
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The Airline your flying should have a TSA link on their website to cover all the information. I have flown with mine most rules are the same. Locked hard case for gun and no more than X number rounds in a separate locked container. I usually passed the ammo section and just purchased ammo after arriving at my destination.
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Here is a good reference and they have links to the different airlines.
NRA-ILA ::
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Will the Smith and Wesson (blue) box, locked with the gun lock provided, suffice?
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I have used the box that my M&P 40 came in to transport it. Locked, of course.
I'll add:
- the case, when locked, must not be easily pryed open. I am not familiar with your S&W case, but my Sig or Glock factory cases would work.
- if you tell the gate agent "I have an item to declare" it somehow sounds better than fumbling around with the gun word. They will ask you "is it a firearm" then just say yes and you sound like a pro.
- bring ammo in a factory box, I've not locked it up seperately, just the original box with original packing intact. I put it in a ziplock bag. I've also traveled without the ammo, but sometimes finding self defense ammo in a strange place is challenging, time consuming, and expensive so I learned to just bring it. The downside is that it adds weight to your bag - I sort of struggle with the under 50 lb thing. Actually I count bullets to just fill the gun and mag and no more for xtra weight.
- remove ammo from your spare mag, ammo only in factory boxes or packed cases.
- TSA differs wildly between airports and shifts. Some agents seem inexperienced at the firearm process, so I usually print out the regs and have them to refer to.
- lastly, they sometimes remove the foam inserts from your gun case. Do a dry run of this to be sure there is nothing else in there, I don't know what exactly that would be but I do remember some reluctance when they started taking apart my gun case...what else had I stuck in there?
Happy travels.
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Thanks for the advice. I too have aways wondered about this. i've never actually checked a firearm because usually I try to fit all of my luggage into a carry on. Also many of my flights have been to European countries and I'm pretty sure I can't bring my gun with me to those. :-(
Not more than once, anyway...
Smitty
NRA Endowment Member
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Hahaha..now thats funny right there
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TSA: Traveling with Special Items
link to the TSA site. They advise to check with the airline as well.
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just follow the procedures set by both the TSA and your airline and there should be no issues, many people travel with their guns and the airport people have seen it often enough that it is no big deal.Does anyone have any experience transporting your gun(s) on a commercial airline? I know which airline I'll be using and I've read their rules. I just want to find out if there is anything "special" I should know. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
visit the TSA and your airlines website to see the regs and then follow them to a T
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Which is sad, actually. My two Walthers are made in Germany and my Glock is made in Austria and I can't take any of them to visit their "homeland."
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