Firearm parts, including frames, receivers, magazines, clips, bolts, and firing pins, are prohibited in carry-on baggage but may be transported in checked bags. Passengers can travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared at their airline ticket counter. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked container, and comply with the law.
Replica firearms, including replica firearms, can also be transported in checked luggage. However, passengers must declare their gun at the airport check-in counter and follow all TSA policies related to traveling with guns. Different airlines and airports may have slightly different rules regarding the safe packing of firearms and ammunition, as well as the legality of traveling there with a gun.
TSA’s website states that “firearm parts including frames, receivers, magazines, clips, bolts, and firing pins are prohibited on carry-ons but allowed checked”. It is essential to know these specific TSA rules before setting foot in an airport.
In the US, individuals can only travel with firearms and ammunition, including pellet and BB guns, in their checked bags if they are over 18 years old. It is crucial to research and follow the specific TSA rules related to traveling with guns before setting foot in an airport.
📹 The Truth About Flying With A Gun
Arrowhead Tactical Apparel’s premium athleticwear featured in this video offers the safest and most comfortable way to carry …
Can I put a gun safe in my bedroom?
The Liberty Safe is a custom-made security system designed to protect your valuable belongings. It is often displayed proudly, but some prefer to keep it in an area where visitors are unlikely to see it. To prevent snooping, consider placing the safe in a bedroom, office, or den with a lockable door. Alternatively, bolting the safe to the concrete in your workshop or garage can make it more difficult to carry away.
To deter thieves, consider locking the safe to the floor, placing its opening side against a wall when installing it in a room, or building a special spot for the safe in your wall and enclosing it on three sides. This creates an extra barrier of protection, making it difficult for burglars with cutting tools or blowtorches to cut through the top or sides.
Will guns rust in a safe?
The gun safe industry is emphasizing the perception of security, with products that assert fireproof capabilities and promote gun corrosion. SecureIt, a prominent supplier of weapon storage systems to the US government, is transforming the functionality of military armories and aspires to achieve a similar transformation in the context of home firearm storage. It is anticipated that this transformation in storage technology will occur rapidly in the coming years, as the industry continues to innovate and enhance its products.
What is the best gun case for airline travel?
The D-Tap 2 Airtight Handgun Case is a lightweight, range, instructor, all-round, and small case designed for gun owners to safely and comfortably carry their firearms on flights. The number of gun owners traveling with firearms on flights has more than tripled from 2019 to 2020. Choosing the right gun case is essential to avoid detention by law enforcement or TSA officers and protect your firearms and ammunition from damage in checked baggage. The D-Tap R1 Airtight Handgun Case is the best all-round case.
What weapons are not allowed in the airport?
It is prohibited to transport firearms, firearm parts, genuine ammunition, and cartridges in carry-on baggage. Such items must be declared to the air carrier during the check-in process. It is required that any firearms transported in checked baggage be unloaded and stored in a locked, hard-sided container. For further details regarding the transportation of these items, please consult your air carrier or refer to the Canada Firearms Program website.
Where not to put a gun safe?
Keeping a gun safe in an upstairs or master bedroom is generally considered the worst place to keep it due to the potential for easy theft by criminals. However, keeping the safe in the bedroom can be advantageous as most guests won’t see it, and it provides easy access to the contents. To minimize losses, consider hiding the safe in an alcove, walk-in closet, false mirror, or other hidden locations.
If you choose to keep the safe upstairs, ensure that the floors and joists are rated for the load, as larger safes can weigh up to 1, 500 pounds, even when loaded with steel and lead. By minimizing the visibility of the safe, you can minimize the risk of theft.
Do all guns eventually rust?
Modern guns can still rust if not properly cared for, especially if they have metal parts like springs or triggers exposed to moisture or if their surface finish is damaged. Scratches on the surface finish can expose the metal underneath, leading to rust formation. To prevent rust, guns should be cleaned regularly, especially after use, and a thin layer of oil applied to the metal surfaces can also help prevent rust. Oil acts as an excellent rust preventer, creating a barrier that prevents moisture from coming into contact with the metal.
How often should you clean guns in a safe?
Stored guns should be cleaned and lubricated twice a year to prevent rust formation and ensure their longevity. Proper storage helps prevent common issues and ensures the value of your firearms. Professional help is recommended for those who own or are considering purchasing a firearm, as a trained technician can provide a thorough cleaning and ensure all parts are correctly assembled. CSA Guns offers routine work and inspections to help keep your gun functional, accurate, and safe.
It is essential to maintain good cleaning habits to prevent common issues and ensure your investments retain their value. Firearms can last from several years to several generations, depending on how you care for them.
What is the hardest gun safe to get into?
The Fort Knox Legend 7261 is a 10-gauge stainless steel gun safe with a 1/4″ thick, Uni-Body construction. It features a 3/8″ steel plate, 28 all-active 1. 5″ solid steel locking bolts, a drill stop hard plate, a quadrafold door frame, a recessed door, and a glass door panel. It also has an UL Listed Group I S and G Electronic Lock and a drill deflector bolt guard for added security. The Browning Pinnacle 65T is a 7-gauge steel gun safe with a 1 5/16″ Duo-Formed, 16 all-active bolts, and massive corner bolts.
Can thieves break into a gun safe?
It is a fallacy to believe that a safe can be rendered completely burglar-proof or indestructible. With the appropriate tools and sufficient time, any safe can be opened by an individual with the requisite skills. Some tactics, such as the use of a plasma cutter or thermic lance, explosive blowing, or machine power prying, are not susceptible to counteraction by manufacturers. These methods necessitate the use of specialized tools, training, or time, and are typically employed to breach bank vaults, rather than residential or firearm safes. In order to identify the most secure home or gun safe, it is necessary to consider a number of features.
Where is the safest place to keep a gun safe?
Basement gun safes are ideal for those who want to store large, hidden firearms in a secure location. They offer greater security due to their home location and better monitoring, but may be more difficult to access when needed. They are ideal for those with multiple larger guns and are particularly effective in keeping them out of sight.
In the bedroom, many people prefer keeping their firearms close at hand to keep children away or ensure they are nearby when needed. However, the choice of location depends on the specific needs and preferences of the individual. Overall, basement gun safes offer a secure and convenient solution for those looking to store their firearms in a secure location.
Are gun safes safe?
A gun safe is a secure storage container designed for firearms and ammunition, offering superior protection against theft, fire, and unauthorized access. Key features include reinforced steel construction, complex locking mechanisms, fire-resistant materials, and additional security features like tamper alarms or monitoring systems. There are various types of gun safes, including standard, biometric, fireproof, waterproof, vehicle, and hidden or disguised safes.
Standard safes are designed for general home use, while biometric safes use advanced technology for quick access. Fireproof and waterproof safes are designed to withstand extreme conditions, while vehicle safes are compact and ideal for travelers. Hidden or disguised safes are designed to blend into home décor or mimic everyday objects, providing concealment alongside security. Gun safes are designed with multiple layers of security to ensure the safety and security of firearms and ammunition.
📹 TSA shows the legal way to bring a gun on a flight.
Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein explains how passengers can legally bring a firearm with …
We were delayed, and nearly weren’t allowed to disembark on a cruise because my wife had a single, spent .556 casing she kept in her purse as a remembrance of her father’s funeral (a Vet). None of the idiot security even knew the difference between an inert spent casing, and a live round – badgering us why we would bring “ammunition” on board, asking where the “gun” was etc etc. It took two hours of this nonsense before the captain came down, took one look, apologized, and let us board.
I had to fly to DC for an expo with a non-functional prototype firearm. Going to DC, super easy. Flew out of my airport, they saw it was a demo and not capable of firing live rounds, zero paperwork. Flying back FROM DC: Total nightmare. I had to declare it as a real firearm, and the agent freaked out because the mock gun was borderline artillery-sized. I flew with an actual firearm because I stayed in Virginia during the trip, and the TSA of DC cared far more about a mostly 3D printed concept piece, than the actual gun I brought. Upon returning home, the prototype was waiting in the customer service area, however my actual handgun was in my checked bag on the carousel where anyone could have grabbed it. Clown show. Every other time I’ve flown with a firearm, which is every time I fly, zero issues. Unless I’m in the DC area.
I spent 2 months in New Mexico last spring doing a ton of shooting. I check my 2 rifles and 4 pistols without a hiccup but didn’t realize that I had ONE light primer strike .22lr in my coat pocket. I was soon whisked away to the “Room” where I was sure I was going to get a inside out cavity search. The TSA had called the El Paso police and they came with to the room and stood there with their hands on their weapons. one of the officers looked at the round and said “yeah that’s not going to fire at all” and then left. Thank god this happened in El Paso and not a place like California or New York.
If only I had seen this article 6 months ago. This past March I accidentally had loose ammo in my carry on bag on a flight home from Turks and Caicos. JFK missed it on the way down, it was found while I was attempting to board my flight home. I was arrested, charged, spent 6 days in jail and had to surrender my passport and fight the case in which they were trying to send me to jail for 12 years. Yes, you read that right. Fortunately I was able to find a great attorney who was able to argue for special circumstances. There is no plea bargaining down there, so it was either 12 years or nothing. To make a long story short, I was very fortunate. A very expensive mistake. Moral of the story, know what is in your bags at all times and equally important, know the laws of the places you are visiting. Another great article CN.
The best piece of advice is to be prepared during check-in to follow whatever instructions the attendant gives you. No matter how many times you’ve done this, even with the same airline at the same airport, it seems like each time is different. Every attendant has their own interpretation of how this works. I’ve even had a couple of times where I had to tell them how to do it because they had no clue. It’s always a bit of an adventure.
Flying through any NY City airport will get you an up close and personal meeting with the NY Port Authority Police Department. I was traveling from Oklahoma to Connecticut and I flew through New York City. When I flew into New York I didn’t have any problems and the process was just as easy as you described in the article. When I flew back to Oklahoma I ran into an issue. The woman at the counter checked me in then called for the police. Two police officers approached and demanded my ID and airline tickets. I was on leave from military training so I showed them a copy of my orders and pass. They looked at my weapons, ran the serial numbers on them, and told me to stand by while they went to have a conversation with each other. I think that they didn’t arrest me because I was on orders and not breaking any laws. Federal law allows you to travel with locked firearms but New York City will arrest you for having the audacity to travel with a firearm in their city. A few days after arriving in Oklahoma I found out that a diamond merchant was arrested for carrying a gun in New York City. Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean you won’t get hassled for exercising your rights and obeying the laws.
THANK YOU!!!!!! The first comprehensive article on flying with a gun. I am a cop @ a NY airport. And I have seen so many people arrested because they did not follow these steps. EVERY AIRLINE SHOULD HAVE A LINK TO THIS article ON THEIR WEBSITE….. Thank you for doing this. Other flying articles I have seen I had to comment about things they said were wrong, or left out. This is a perfect article.
I appreciate this article. Earlier this year, I gifted my sister a pistol. I inherited my fathers when he passed away and so I gave her my concealed carry. She had to fly home with it and we didn’t know the procedures and laws. It took us a while to figure things out but eventually she was able to return home with it lawfully. It would’ve been nice to have a article like this to reference and to guide us through the procedures. We were able to figure it out, but if we had a article like this, it would’ve taken a lot less time to figure out and a lot less worry. Even though we now have the knowledge is still good to post this article for those still trying to figure it out.
As a person who has flown with a gun and had to look this up independently for fear of catching federal charges, thank you so much for making this for those that don’t know. Also, for anyone interested, calling your local airport’s TSA or sometimes knowledgeable staff from your airline is a great resource with people who want to make sure you’re good to go and squared away. But this article is concise and on point.
Just flew with a pistol for the first time a month ago. I printed the TSA rules and American airline rules, laid those in the case with the pistol, just so I would have them if anyone said I wasn’t following the rules. Both flights were very easy, my checked bag was in oversized luggage office before my wife’s bag came out on the carousal.
I would also add you should always add a tracker to each bag or case containing a firearm. This way not only do you know what area they have it, should it not be where you expect it the search can begin. In the pods I hide them under the foam. The pod in my truck always has an tracking tag in case the truck gets stolen or they manage to find the pod and get it out in the 1% of times I have to leave something in there.
I haven’t flown with a firearm in over a decade. The information supplied in this article is great. I recall an early TSA encounter with a checked firearm in my bag. I was able to watch the bag’s progress on the ramp and saw a TSA agent pull my bag and start trying to open the combination lock. I politely told the agent it was my bag and I would gladly tell him the combination. He thanked me and opened the bag. He would have cut my lock off. I told him there was a declared firearm in the bag in a locked case. He said he wasn’t concerned about the gun. My bag has a metal linger and I had packed a pair of thick sole boots in the bag and the soles were in contact with the liner. He used chemical wipes and checked the boot soles for explosives. I thanked him for the information and went on my way. For the return trip, I packed the boots in my carry-on bag and they went through the X-ray machine without a problem. I would also suggest downloading the most recent TSA guidelines for travel with firearms in addition to the state requirements you are traveling to. And always be polite and respectful to TSA agents even if you don’t like their intrusive methods.
Just a point about optics: friends of mine annually fly to Kansas for Prairie Dog Season. Their advice is to equip their rifles with Quick Release Mounts so that they can bring their expensive scopes in their Carry-on bags. They learned(the hard way!) That the Unpressurized Cargo hold caused destructive seal damage and glass fogging and ruined the $1000+ Scopes..
Excellent as always. The pick up really is random like you say. Here is my experience in flying twice roundtrip from Louisville International Airport( SDF) to Miami International Airport (MIA). Arriving at Miami the first time, they told me to meet someone behind the ribbon divider by the escalator behind the curtain to pick up. But the second time, it was in an office. At Louisville, the first time they put it on the conveyor normally. The second time, I assumed it was the same place. I waited for a half hour. Then, I noticed an employee off to the side waiting with a bag that looked like mine. I approached him and identified myself. I got my bag from him, and he said that he was about to leave because I was taking a long time to get to him. (Nobody told me it would be different. I should have asked instead of assuming). So, there were 4 different ways of getting the bag on four different arrivals.
Great article, it is amazing the hoops you have to jump through. I sometimes get a chuckle from the agent at the counter when checking a firearm. Some of them are scared to death and seem to want to curl into a ball, some of them will put the form inside the case, some of them on the outside, and some of them are gun enthusiasts and we end up having a short conversation about my gun. I usually fly Spirit and I have never taken my ammo out of my magazines. I just put the loaded magazine inside the case with the gun. The gun is unloaded of course. However, I just ordered one of the ammo cases mentioned in the article. Every airline and even every airport is different. Some come out and say you’re good to go while others make you stand in a corner for 20 minutes.
One thing I do is I put an Apple Airtag in the case with the firearms, that way I can track it while traveling. It also helps you figure out where they took it when you get to your destination. It’s also true that different airports handle checking a firearm differently. In Tucson they try to see if they ca pry the case open with their hands, in other places they just ask to see it real quick. Great article and very informative.
Thanks for the info dude. just got my first gun a couple days ago because im going to be making a cross country drive “im moving ” and i wasn’t feeling safe without something to defend myself with in case things go left. I was a little scared about flying with my gun but this info was really helpful. I appreciate all the advice you give. Been following you in facebook for a long time now
I flew with one the first time this summer, and was shocked how little fuss they made. Leaving Tampa the airline lady walked me over to TSA check, they ran my bag through an X-ray and I was done. Flying home from Austin the airline just put my shit on the belt and said see ya. On arrival, I had my bag from claim both times before the rest of the family had theirs from the carousel
Gun and ammo do NOT have to fly separate. The ammo also does not have to be locked up at all. Original box is preferred, largely because it’s the easiest most obvious option but I put those in a ziplock back for when the bag invariably gets wet or the cardboard gives up from getting tossed around so I don’t wind up with a scavenger hunt in my bag to find every last round. I always check by bag with two loaded mags in a mag holder in the locked case with the gun and additional unloaded mags and ammo in original box in the suitcase the pistol case is in. The only requirement (at least on SWA) is that the ammo is “packaged to prevent accidental activation of the primer”.
I believe tsa rules state that the bag your gun is in needs to be locked so tsa can’t even get in. Deviant Ollam has several articles on this in greater detail on how to talk to the tsa and the airline/airport employees to be sure you are in compliance with the law. He also will travel with a stripped ar-15 lower if he has a bag with something delicate or valuable that he doesn’t want the tsa to have the opportunity to break or steal because by law they are not supposed to open it without you present with a declared firearm.
I flew from Nevada to Texas in the 90’s with a couple of pistols. Just showed up at the airport with them in my carryon, unloaded, asked for security and asked them their procedure. Put them in my checked baggage and flew home. That was back in the day when guns simply didn’t just up and start shooting people on their own.
Just got back from caribou hunting in Alaska. Made it up fine. On the way home at night in Minneapolis they just opened up the oversized baggage door and let whoever pick up any gun case they wanted AND my bright red HK case made it on the baggage carousel until a rep pulled it off and luckily I asked after it wasn’t in the secured room. Bravo Minneapolis….bravo.
I’m a retired LEO and in the 30 years that I was on the job, I’ve flown many times on job-related trips; cases, training, seminars, as well as just just going on family vacations. I’ve always checked a firearm in luggage and really never had an issue. Only slight bumps were Boston where I flew in with an AR and a pistol enroute to a training class at the Sig Sauer Academy. I secured a “Right of Passage” letter from the Mass. State Police beforehand. And they recommended that we not stop anywhere between the airport and getting into New Hampshire. Lol! The other was LaGuardia Airport in NJ where after I checked my pistol in with my luggage at the ticket counter, I had to wait about 10 minutes and then follow a Port Authority officer to a small office where he checked my bag to make sure I secured my gun properly which I had and my case went through. Those were the only two minor things over 30 years of traveling with firearms.
I flew to California with a firearm and ammo. It was relatively painless process. I had to pick up my lost luggage with that firearm at LAX. It was hilarious and sad having to speak in code with the airport employee to let him know that a firearm was in my luggage. I never said the words gun or firearm.
Best rule of thumb: -Use separate bags for travel vs every day use. No need to get flagged due to residue from your last trip to the range. -Definitely check your bags for oopsies. I have lost a couple of knives that way. -Check with the Airline and TSA. Not only do rules vary, but have been known to change. -Expect to take extra time, for “inspections” and “random” searches. -Expect to get wrong answers, from person to person. I agree, keep your ammo separate. I like the unloaded mags with the ammo in a separate container. I have, however traveled with loaded mags, but if you do, definitely keep them separate from the weapon. I don’t know about loading in the Ubber. That could cause it’s own problems.
Oh and sometimes they dont even ask for your id…I went to washington state…I was shocked that they just left my gun case unattended..when I asked for the manager she said “oh it’s ok, most people dont even know what a gun case looks like”…I was flabbergasted! I told her she was stupid and was going to get someone killed or have someones gun stolen..
Been carrying for years as well. Good article. I have a couple of things to add. 1. He’s right about the crapshoot how your bag arrives. Go wait at the baggage carousel until all the bags have arrived. Last thing you want is your bag with gun to be going around the carousel while you are waiting at the baggage office. 2. Pack some kind of a cutter in an outside compartment of the checked bag. The airline WON’T cut the zip tie off your bag. 3. Put an Apple Air Tag or a Tile Tracker in that suitcase. 4. IF your plane unexpectedly diverts to a location such as NYC because of weather or an emergency, DO NOT CLAIM THAT BAG!!! As long as the airline still has possession of your bag, you haven’t broken any laws. Once you claim the bag, YOU will now need to do the same check-in process for the next flight and they WILL arrest you when you do.
🤣 my double amputee marine veteran buddy accidentally left a couple loose rounds in his carry on bag and me and another friend were joking they thought he had coke in his legs as we waited and saw him being wanded down with what we thought was the drug wand but was a gun powder residue wand and get taken away not knowing about the rounds. Suffice to say he didn’t get fined and had to wait for the next flight to make it to a sled hockey tournament we were going to. There was an army platoon sergeant that made one of his privates give up his seat for him to make the last game.
Sixth comment. Flown several times with guns. Pretty simple. Although once the tsa agent that was checking me, had to get his supervisor because the gun was setting off his wand that senses gun powder. On my way back home from a waterfowl hunt…with boxes of ammo in the same gun case. I shot it 200 times on the hunt. OF COURSE it has residue in it. No problem when the supervisor showed up but just weird. Never said anything about boxes of ammo in the locked gun case with the gun 🤷🏼♂️
Good point, I thought i thoroughly checked a carry on one time, but missed a new bottled water way at the bottom on my return flight. They saw that and took everything out of carry on backpack to reach bottom for it… Lesson learned, search carry on in good lighting, not at 5am before flight when its too freaking dark outside is also a thing to note.
Every single time I’ve flown with a weapon I was required to check it and receive it in a different area, other than general luggage carousel. (Around 2000) Until Covid. The first time I experienced this, I was shocked to realize the fact my weapon came back on the conveyor belt with the rest of the luggage from the flight. While standing in line at the oversize baggage, I could see my checked bag was not in the inventory that I could see. I just happened to look over my shoulder at the carousel saw what looked like my luggage, grabbed it and stepped back in line,I asked the airline employee why. They didn’t know. Then I realized because of my responsibility to that firearm that I was very exposed. I imagined what I would need to go through if it was stolen from the carousel. Lil side note. While picking up my rental I easily defeated the zip tie with a simple twist, think of tightening a tourniquet. Great article. Thank you.
I can’t even count how many times I’ve flown with guns. I never had an issue; unless you count being pulled out of line at my gate while boarding, by several TSA agents and local police, then patted down, while simultaneously having my carry on (backpack) searched again. That’s happened to me a couple of times.
I got a kick out of it in the pre-TSA days. I was coming home after college and had an SKS in a rifle case. My roommate was with me and be both just laughed at the looks we got walking through the terminal with the thing on the way to check-in. As for double checking your carry-ons, YES. I know several people, including a pastor who simply forgot it was there. Especially true if you switch between flying private, where the rules are completely different and there’s no TSA, and commercial. I’ve done it with large knives as a General Aviation pilot. I kept two own in my flight bag in case I ever went down somewhere, and sometimes used my flight bag as a carry-on. These days, that oopsie will be a larger pain in the ass than a flaming hemorrhoid.
I discovered the process for flying with a gun after totaling my truck during a trip from Virginia back to Texas. The wreck happened near Richmond and I had to fly my wife and I back home. A quick trip to Walmart got two TSA compliant lockable cases and the check-in went smoothly. It wasn’t all that big of a deal.
You see, I take advantage of the system… I want to transport all of my stuff in a container that only I can access so my gun goes into a soft sided container, and my hard sided container is a pelican footlocker with a disk lock. This means that everything in my luggage and secured from TSA and anyone else who would want to steal it
I’ve worked in the airline industry for years. You did a good job explaining this. The airline that I work for has a policy where if it looks like a gun case and has a lock on it. Then it’s treated like it’s a gun and needs to go to someone in our baggage office and have an ID check. This sometimes upsets some passengers who have something other than a gun in a locked Pelican style case. But I’d rather play it safe and not risk a possible firearm going to someone besides the owner.
Yeah no thanks! As much as it would be nice to be able to fly somewhere and take my firearm with me I read and heard too many horror stories about people checking their guns and then all of a sudden the flight gets diverted or makes an emergency landing into either a liberal city and/or state and then the passenger gets arrested even though they have their firearm checked. Pretty sure a while back thats what happened to somebody in new york. They were flying from one gun friendly state to another but for some reason they had to divert to new york and ended up getting arrested even though it wasnt their fault the plane went to that communist city. Not worth the risk imo!
Flown twice to Florida and once to Nevada with my CCW. No problems at all. Gun unloaded in an approved mini lockable metal case. Ammo in original manufactures box. Tell the airline check in about the firearm and ammo in the checked baggage. So far everything was smooth and problem free. Airline and security personnel were helpful, polite and professional.
I’ve flown with a gun several times to and from Tampa mostly. It was all on American and, once I found out where to pick my locked bag up, there were no real problems. The other end was home and, since they know me there, it was pretty easy except when I forgot to put my ammo in the original case. That went well. I just left a portion of the ammo in the car that I couldn’t fit in a box. Airline travel with a gun is inconvenient but travelling long distances otherwise is also inconvenient and time consuming.
I have flown with a gun/guns on many occasions. The inconsistency from one airport to another is amazing, even with the same airline. I left Milwaukee going to Arizona with guns and ammo, almost exactly 11lbs of ammo. No weight check of ammo. Returning at Sky Harbor they weighed the ammo which was considerable less as I shot a USPSA match in AZ. He even questioned the empty brass! Another time in MKE I declared the guns and they wanted me to open the case, which I did. It was covered with foam but they asked me to remove the foam which I did. A woman behind me let out a scream when seeing the guns. On the return trip the agent called me over and asked me to open the case. I asked if there was a problem and he said no. Just one of those guns looks very interesting. It was my USPSA Open Division gun.
I have yet to fly with a firearm, but the loose brass/ammo thing is why I have a dedicated range bag that goes only to/from the range. My other suitcases, backpacks, etc. that do go on planes, have never had a firearm or ammo in them, and have never seen a shooting range. I still have to check them for other prohibited items before I fly, but I can be certain there’s nothing firearm related in them.
I also use a Lifepod 2.0 when flying. I take two large zip ties and run them through the magazine housing and out the extractor area to show the gun is unloaded which seems appreciated by the airline staff. One thing I do want to mention is that be careful which airport you are flying into. After listening to another website with lawyers also from TX, I had an unexpected airline change in NYC(RFK airport) where I would have had to go to the carousel and oversized bags to pickup my belongings and get on a new airline. This is against the law when having a firearm in NYC(Possession of a firearm.) and could cost up to $10,000 fine and definitely arrest. I got help from an American Airline’s employee, Richard in PGH, who sent my bag with the firearm all the way to FL without me taking possession of the bag at RFK airport. Thanks Richard! It took well over 30 minutes and attracted 3 police officers at PGH airport from where I would change planes at RFK in NYC. All ended up fine but if I wasn’t educated on this I would have been arrested and definitely fined. Thanks to gun websites like this one and others that know their stuff we can fly safely and be knowledgeable on what to do and what to watch out for so not to be arrested and or fined.
I live in Alaska, where there are no roads. The first few legs are in single engine charters, over bear and wolf country. I conceal carry on all of those planes until I get to the international airport with X-rays and jets. Then i disarm and unload in the bathroom closest to baggage check in. When I arrive, if they didn’t lose my guns, they are always on the normal carrousel.
So essentially everything I’ve done the past couple times. On one particular flight I had my bag checked in one of the airport’s security rooms and the security officer had said “I wish I could take a picture of this to use as an example, because a lot of people get this wrong.” It is definitely important to verify the state’s, airport’s and airline’s rules regarding firearms before booking and boarding.
As someone that has flown with a gun in my checked baggage and on my person (as a LEO), I make sure any bag I fly with is a ‘sterile’ bag. Which means, it was NEVER used to transport a gun, firearms accessories, or other range gear. The bag is strictly used for travel on planes. It has never been contaminated with anything that might get me in trouble at the security checkpoint. (however, I’ll still inspect the bag prior to traveling). I suggest always owning a ‘sterile’ travel bag. And NEVER use it to hold any firearms stuff or other contraband.
There are even Airport Employee differences. Flew to Montana with a weapon in a hard sided case. 2 extra locks in the loops available on the outside the case and the case has a lock built into it. No ammo and the weapon field stripped. No worries on the way out from ABIA. On the way back, the Airport Employee (Not TSA) refused to take the same case in the same condition because she said I needed an external lock in every lockable loop on the case. So I had to purchase 2 more locks, last minute, to fill all 4 external case lock loops before I was allowed to have the case accepted.
Thank you, thank you. This is the most detailed way of doing this. I work for one of the airlines and I see people all the time getting pissed off because they didn’t follow the rules. We always bring the case to our representative in baggage claim so they can do a positive bag match. One thing I will say is PLEASE if checking a rifle use ALL the lock holes.
Loved this. A few years ago 10 of us from SWAT flew to a gun show in TX. Seemed like half the Depts in California sent people and we were all on the same flight. It got comical. TSA gave up. “Just show me department issued ID and badge” “Your good go” 150xs. Leaving TX was hysterical. Checked bag and gun, the end.
Bag checks are VERY important!!! I thought I did one but it was quick and dirty, and I forgot the spare mags in my backpack and my wife’s purse. It wasn’t until we got dropped off at the airport that I remember and had a “OMG” moment. Thankfully, I was able to deal with the situation prior to it being a problem with TSA, but OMG it was close and a lesson learned! I now do a triple bag check and take my time and be thorough. Before packing, after packing, and then once more right before leaving the house.
I flew out of Vermont to Utah earlier this year with a sidearm. Leaving burlington was very easy. Took about 20 minutes. Salt Lake city was a pain in the ass. TSA gave me such an problem I thought I was going to have to give up my gun at first. I was using a hard side pelican case flying both directions with the handgun in a locked hard case on the top level and my ammo on the bottom level of the case.
RE Different “Airports” – I flew with a weapon on Space A once to Andrews AFB in MARYLAND. I was headed to a funeral in KY and didn’t have time to drive. This is the irony: When I declared it at the PAX terminal on Carswell in Texas there was a veritable uproar because the base commander, despite the OPNAV instructions required advanced notice and SP escort to the terminal where they’d remain until the load master accepted the bag. I was warned that they may opt not to accept it. The loadmaster rolled his eyes and then took control of the bag after I had been dressed down and sworn to never coming on board without proper notifications and declaration forms. FTR, I did fill those out before I was allowed to proceed. We land at Andrews and taxi up to a spot right next to “The Beast” (plane used as Air Force 1 or 2 when POTUS or VPOTUS are onboard). We deplaned on the ramp and enter the PAX terminal. I’m waiting for my bag when the female sergeant calls me to the counter. She advises me that she noticed the weapon on the manifest and that the bag would not come through the building but meet me out front. I picked up the rental keys, walked outside and the tractor with the cart was sitting. He handed me my bag and I was off. I had asked after the procedure before leaving and when I returned all I had to do was declare it like any airport and we were done. FTR, I didn’t return to Carswell as the flight kept getting scrubbed so I returned to Kelly in San Antonio via C-130 (only the second time I flew on one that I didn’t get out along the way).
A few years ago, I had a last minute work call “head to airport, we’re booking your flight now”. No problem, grab the 2-day bag and laptop bag. TSA lines were LONG. Finally opened another scanner and they called me over as it opened. Laptop bag goes through and he stops, look at me, then the screen, then calls a guy over, then back to me. Very first bag! As soon as he looked at me, I knew .. spare magazine in side pocket. CRAP! I walked over, and waited for them to ask (never offer up unless they ask). He picked it up and I chuckled. He asked why I was laughing. I explained that it was my bad and last minute, unplanned trip. Forgot to clear out the bag. I was laughing because my little sister did it a few year ago and I STILL give her crap about it. I joked he could have it, arrest me, and ban me from flying.. just don’t tell my sister. 🤣 He was cool, snapped a pic of my CHL, the mag, and offered to let me take it back to my vehicle, or he could get rid of it for me. No paperwork. No signatures. Just cost me one mag and 10 rounds. I consider that my stupid tax. Doh!! TSA was cool and my sister still does not know!
From my experience of flying in and out of Los Angeles and Portland – LAX requires you to declare the gun when flying out of LAX. It must be in a hard shell container, locked. They will take the bag, make you wait 10-20 minutes as they do a check on it, bring it back, have you sign the form, and then require you to lock it with the locks and off it goes. When receiving your guns from baggage claim, it either will go out not he main carasoul or if it is over size luggage go out on the over size luggage and you will pick it right up off the carasoul and walk on out, no questions asked. PDX was the opposite. Checking it was easy, right at the check in counter, sign the form, and off it goes. When you fly in, the bag goes to one place, you have to show up and provide ID proving you are who you say you are. The case is also wrapped with zip ties and additional tags proving it was not opened.
I have flown with a firearm on many occasions. Usually goes pretty smooth. Just tell the airline at the check in desk that you have a firearm to declare, they’ll have a few questions, they “might” take you to a back room to verify its unloaded, but other than that it’s pretty straightforward. Had one exception though…..I went on a quail hunting trip to southern Georgia about 5 months after the planes started flying again after 9/11. Went to the main airline desk for ticketing and check in and declared I had a 12ga in a hard case to check. The agent must have been new or unfamiliar and asked me to remove the firearm right then and there to demonstrate it was unloaded. I looked around and said “See that security guard with the semi-auto rifle?? There’s NO WAY I’m removing a shotgun standing here in line in the main terminal.” A more experienced agent, perhaps a supervisor, overheard and hustled over right quick and said “No no no no…..sorry…..not here……not here.” LOL. She escorted me through a side door, had me open the hard case and demonstrate it was unloaded, had me lock it back up, and gave me a special claim tag. Easy Peasy.
When traveling through Massachusetts, you are allowed to transport any firearm and magazines that is otherwise legal for you to possess. This includes all forms of transportation, so long as your itinerary brings you from out of state, into state and out of state again. Massachusetts is trying to change this, however. Also, you didn’t make it clear that ammunition can be transported in the same compliant case as your firearm. Like you said it needs to be in its original packaging or a hard ammo box manufactured to store that ammo. And yes, Delta still zip-ties your luggage, which can be a real inconvenience.
I flew to Florida with my EDC – in a locked case etc. and the way you suggested. On my return trip back to Texas, I declared at the main checkin. The attendant opened my suitcase and saw the locked case. Asked if firearm was unloaded etc. Then she asked me to open the locked case. I said no way I’m touching that case. You can get an officer and I’ll let him open the case but I’m not touching it. Anyway – they did not call an officer and put the airline paperwork on the case and closed the bag up. Of course when I was about to go thru the metal detector to get to the gate, they redirected me for the intrusive and complete hand pat down. And questions – that was about 10-15 minutes. This was in 2015. Has any of the airline employees asked you to open your locked and secure case? Colion – that one threw me. Was not expecting that. Thought they were running me thru some kind of test or trap.
I’m trying to make flying with my CCW more regular. They more I do it the less stress I’ve become. I have permit in Indiana, but fly out of Chicago. No issues. I was surprised how nonchalant the workers are about it there. I did have to wait in Utah once on a return flight for 15 minutes. There is a lot of misinformation about whether you can keep the ammo in the clip or not. I’ve watched articles where the ammo in the clip passed. I play it save and just keep my ammo in an original container. Only time I don’t fly with it is when I go to Vegas or Disney etc where I am less likely to be able to have the gun on me the majority of the time.
My inlaws live in Louisiana. They have reciprocal carry permit Laws with Washington state. When I go to visit, my wife and I always take out main carry pistols and backups. I also take my 3rd last ditch NAA Pug in 22WMR. Never had a problem except at the little municipal airport in Shreveport. The usual drill is when you check in you show the clerk your firearms, and ammo locked in a box inside your main checkon. They put a card in the locked box you provide, and a sicker on the baggage. That part I disagree with because it just advertises that there is a firearm in that bag, but it also saves TSA from having to check you bag. Again. In Shreveport unlike Seattle the clerk looked like I asked him to introduce me to Santa Claus. He then asked the TSA agent to check it where he proceeded to drop my NAA 32 on the floor. He looked at the outside then put it back in the case. I asked him, aren’t you going to check if it’s loaded? He had no idea how to operate a NAA 32 (my last ditch) this is now a 22 WMR PUG. Besides that incident, I have never had a problem, and this was just some incompetence. No problem getting them there or home. This is American Airlines. The ammo, and gun need to be locked in the same box.
A single, yes, just one, 9mm round, in my EDC bag, almost made me miss my flight. TSA and local PD were very cool about it when presented with my LTC and honest explanation that I just didn’t capture that slippery little booger tucked in the corner of my bag with a bunch of crumbs, belly button fluff, etc. 😅
American Airlines never gave me grief until the one time when the clearly new agent checked my bag w/my weapon. He literally was going to deny me because I was not storing the ammo in the original case. Instead I had a much more protective plastic case like you showed. He literally wanted the original cardboard case and the plastic insert rather than the one I had. He called TSA and handed my luggage to them so they could verify it was safe. This was at DFW for God sake! I had to follow this TSA dude to a room where they checked everything again, put a sticker to “seal” the locked metal box it was all in. Like I was carrying something crazy – it was a Taurus G3C 9mm w/2mags of ammo. I got to Minnesota, they threw the bag on general luggage for me to pick up 😂 no ticket check, nothing, just grab and go.
Something to keep in mind is the language you use in the airport to. Try not to say “I have a gun in my bag” stick to “I want to declare a firearm” and if your looking for where your bag will be at you destination ask someone ” my check bag has a declared firearm in it. Where will I be able to pick it up” Just to avoid trigger words. Airport employees work in loud environments with a lot of people so communicating with them properly helps avoid trouble
I was at Pittsburgh airport once for a deer hunt. Everything went fine but it shocked me as it was put in a separate airline gate unguarded. No one was there. No one was checking anything. It was there among other items but no one was there. Anyone could have taken it. From there on in I drove whenever possible. It was too easy for it to have been stolen.
I just flew Delta with my fireman for the first time. Their procedure was different at both airports. TPA I was walked to a separate TSA location and my suitcase was X-rayed and I was given the all clear. RDU the ticket agent ask me to open my locked case at the ticket counter🤦🏽♂️ and then put my suitcase on the same conveyor as everyone else’s. Both were zip tied when I retrieved it at the lost bag office
I Travel alot for work for the past 14 yrs so I take a fire arm everywhere I go… One tip I can say get an apple air tag and put it in your firearm case so you can tract it!! On that note one horror story i Just recently had was a connecting flight through ATL. MY flight was delayed so I checked in with gate agent because I saw my bag were still at the terminal I landed at and havnt moved for an hour. The agent looked at my info and told me the bags will stay there until the flight arrives just incase theres a gate change. she then said “I see you declared a fire arm” I said yes thats why im checking on my bags. She ensured my bags were fine.. So I still had 1.5 hr delay so I decided to get some food and the restaurant just so happened to be right across from my gate so I sat at the bar and with my food I had 4 beers… no big deal. Plane gets there we all board, im sitting in my seat and a flight attendant came over to me and asked me grab my thing and come with her… I thought maybe I was gettin upgraded or in a wrong seat. We went to the front of the plane and her and the captain said I was intoxicated and asked to leave the plane… I simply said are you kidding me I am not. the captain said we can do this the easy way or the hard way, so I said fine and walked off the plane…. so then I went to the service desk to get a new flight was told I needed to wait 12 hrs before flying again so I had to spend the night in ATL. THANKS DELTA. turns out the gate agent saw me having beer with my food and reported me,.
As someone who has been traveling with gun all over the world. Get an ammo bag, all ammo related should 100% only be put into this bag all the time. I have seen companions with ammo stuck inbetween the bag and inner linings. I have seen ppl forgot the left overs in their pockets. hell even a box of it in their suitcase. I have also seen someone who had a piece of bullet right up the last security check right before boarding And in alot of places, stuff like this gets you into alot of trouble.
I would feel very uncomfortable depending on a system where if I DON’T hear my name, I’m “good to go”. (Colion at around 05:00) There is too much of a real risk you can be distracted or other noises can make you miss hearing your name called and thus you THINK you’re “good to go” when in fact your name was called and you missed it. There are other factors that can also result in your name not being called out when it should have been, and again you falsely think you’re “good to go” when in fact you are not. That method is called negative affirmation or negative verification and is a BAD way to conduct any process especially when consequences can be severe. For example, in manufacturing you don’t want to rely on a test system that ONLY indicates when an item fails a test or worse…doesn’t show any indicator if it “passes”. You need to use a system that positively verifies that it PASSED the test(s). This is because the test system itself may have a failure, or it may have not been updated with the right firmware to test the version of hardware you’re testing, and other errors that can cause it to NOT show a test failure on an item that in fact was in fact flawed. You ALWAYS want a test system that relies on positive affirmation at the very least. Another observation in the “hearing your name” situation, is that if there was a change in shift, and a second person is now handling a list of names, the new person may ASSUME that your name was already announced by the earlier shift.
I put an Apple AirTag inside the Pelican pistol case placed inside my suitcase. I’ll never fly without the AirTag ever again, eliminated the guessing games whether my bag was on the plane, and if it was coming off the belt or oversized baggage. Had an arrow on my phone pointing to where my bag was at!
I’ve left a full magazine in my carryon. When TSA started frantically searching through my bag without saying a word to me, I knew I f’d up. It was just a mag, no gun. They would let me keep my mag, but not the rounds and I had to take it directly back to my car. I was going to miss my flight, so I said keep it. So a TSA dude got a 938 mag and I made my flight (important meeting I absolutely couldn’t miss my flight to). All things being equal, it was nbd.
I have never had a problem with checking a firearm. Never more than a 5 minute detour /wait checking in but I more than make it up when picking up luggage, go to the concierge/ customer service to pick up and it’s there before I can walk there. I’ve always been on my way before regular checked bags hit the carasale. Firearms are the first out of aircraft accompanied by a crew member to airline customer service. I’ve never had a lost bag ! I travel with a firearm as much for that reason as for protection.
When your gun case gets inspected at your point of departure and gets ok’d to fly all locked up and in your luggage,why is it that when you get to your destination you find the locks have been cut off of your gun case? Often the reason they claim is the TSA needed to inspect your gun to be sure it wasn’t loaded. If it was checked at your departure point and found to be unloaded why would they need to destroy your locks to check them at your destination? I don’t fly so I haven’t had this happen to me, I have heard of several 9nstances of this happening to others. It probably happens a lot more than we hear about. It seems that when inspected at your departure point, they could tag the case indicating it was checked and was found safe. This way at your destination or anywhere in between they would see the tag and know it is safe and don’t need to cut off the locks to open the case to inspect inside.
Might be one of those slight difference but I checked the website for Frontier last time I went to Tennessee and your can have magazines loaded as long as the rounds are “fully encased”. They use the example of covering the top of the magazine with duct tape. Pretty sure they can also be in the same container as the firearm.
Last time I flew with a gun, the ticket agents told me that the airline had to have access to the locked case. I told them that was not true, and showed them both the TSA and airline regulations, and they STILL insisted that I had to give them a key. I insisted that they call a TSA agent over, which they did (taking about 40minutes and I almost missed my flight) and he soundly educated them. I was allowed to check my firearm. This was a few years ago, and at the time all you had to do with your ammo was to put tape over the top of the magazine (if it was loaded). No separation of firearm and ammo was required. Has that been changed?
Avoid flying into Massachusetts i.e. Boston’s Logan Airport. Fly into MHT in Manchester, NH. The easiest airline experience you will ever have and it avoids all the antigun Massholes south of the border. Consider using a long razor blade like those snap blade razor cutters and make a couple a deep slices into the foam of your gun case and insert an Apple Air Tag in each hole. If your bag with the gun goes missing, if someone steals your bag off the carousel, the airline says we don’t know where it is, or any other excuse you can tell them where to find it or be able to assist law enforcement in retrieving your firearm
Last month, my departing airline sent me to the TSA station in Boise to check my firearm. She inspected my .45 and 50 rounds of ammo, swabbed my case and made me put a second lock on it to keep it secure. When I arrived at my destination, I went all over the airport looking for my firearm. The TSA agent at the firearm station said she didn’t know where I could find it and to ask the airlines. I came back to the carousel after 15 minutes and there it was, the case was sitting out in the open on the luggage carousel. Both locks had been removed and were missing (not inside the case). The case was broken and the case holders for the padlocks were broken. The case could never be used again in its condition. There was a friendly note from the TSA stating my case had been selected for inspection, also citing the federal code stating they were not responsible any broken or missing locks & cases. Would they have been responsible if any bloke in the terminal went over, opened the unsecured case, loaded the firearm and started blazing away? What if a ten or 15 year old started playing with it? Wtf. This was sent through the entire chain unsecured including plane changes.
Deviant Ollam is the go-to resource about flying with guns. Another benefit besides the extra tracking your luggage receives is that you must use non-TSA locks. Blank guns and non-firing replicas are considered firearms by the TSA but not by local law enforcement in case you need to visit an anti-gun airport.
Sitting in an airport right now. Just checked my bag following these instructions and no trouble. They did ask me to wait for 10mins after checking the bag for TSA if they had any questions for me. I waited maybe 3 mins. No TSA agent even showed up. The counter person asked how long I’d been waiting. Went into the back and came out less than a min later and said your good to go. We’ll see if the bag shows up in the airport I’m flying to.
A lot to take in, but I will find a way to make thorough notes on this subject. Lots of customers ask me how to transport firearms legally and as secure as possible, but all I can advice is to check with airline policies and to consid buying Air Tags to track your package if it gets lost by the airline workers. It can be tricky working in a firearm shop because people assume you know everything on guns and laws. Thanks for the article. I have homework to do.
Funny I just flew Aug 24 to Sep 14th on Delta. Going into FL the bag with the fire arm was ziptied… but it was a releasable ziptie. I took it off by hand. Also it didn’t seal the bag so I dont really know what it was doing. Flying back to WA however no ziptie. However instead of being escorted by TSA through oversized baggage like American did, Delta had it at their counter and just asked for ID. Not to open the bag like American. It was very odd. As far as Ammo goes I will need to keep this in mind. I was under the impression it had to be the “origenal” box the ammo came in and not the nice aftermarket boxes. With that being said and done I’m definitely going to buy those instead! Thank you for the article!
Man, that weight limit is a bummer. I usually carry 500 rounds of 9mm and 300 rounds of 30.06. And that is when I’m not bringing 44mag, 7.62, 5.56, 12ga, and some .5 bmg…. As for containers, I think luggage handlers would manage to break welded steel case and that is if your luggage doesn’t end up on some other flight to the other end of country. How they sometimes manage to lose everything is quite an accomplishment.
I usually just seperate the mag from the gun, place them in my pelican case rounds down in the foam, with the gun in the holster next to it in the same case….The airlines just dont want the rounds exposed with the primer in a position to posibly be struck…..I do this every time I fly…I have experienced going straight through in some airports, and waiting 15 min to see if they call my name in others.
This article is excellent. Wish it had been made before I started traveling with mine lol. Had to learn the lesson of it getting sent to oversized baggage the hard way and incredible amounts of time loss. I would also recommend throwing an AirTag or some kind of tracker inside the case so that you have a general idea of where your bag and case is.
Delta does still zip tie your bag. Well in most states. Boise doesn’t do it I can tell you that. In fact you get your guns before you get anything else first in Boise. But. Luckily I normally travel with a rifle and pelicans are a little heavy with a rifle in them. A small drop of the case nothing too high. And that zip tie is gone.
I have to say, at least Colion makes even telling us about having to thank a sponsor interesting. But to make things even better is the information is always about something that can help us or at least interest us. Love this no nonsense website. Let me thank you Colion for all the work you put in for mostly our benefit. You let me know that there are still some decent normal people still around. I’m not going to start going cause the people in this country need a serious talking to. But I’m not the one. ✌️👍🇺🇸
I was traveling from LA to Atlanta, TSA agent pulled me aside, very kool dude. He said ” I found this in your luggage” and showed me a magazine/ 10 rnds/ 9mm. I was speechless, mouth open, he said ” guess you forgot it was in there?” Yes, sorry. From another road trip, actually thought I lost it, where the heck was it. He took it away, I asked if he could just take the ammo and give me the mag, No!!! I’ll never do that again. Check your bag and check it again. 😊
Something to note, gun and ammo cases should not have a tsa lock on them. If they want to check your weapon, you are supposed to be present. If you find that they cut the lock off your cases, do press charges. Work with a lawyer to find all the laws that relate to this. I find it funny that Delta thinks a zip tie makes a case not readily accessible. Especially now toe nail clippers are allowed on planes again after realizing they make a worse weapon than bare hands. But they are so easy to take off, even without breaking them if you know how.
It’s been almost 10 years since I’ve flown with a weapon (or flown at all) but my experience was mostly with Southwest; painless. Tell them you have it, show it to the ticket agent, fill out the form, and usually they would close that station and walk you down to the TSA point. 1,2,3, and you done. I never could understand the angst most people had about flying with a weapon.
I flew from Atlanta to Long Island MacArthur Airport in NY. After declaring my handgun at the check in counter I was directed to the TSA office where I gave them my tagged luggage. No questions asked and I didn’t see the bag again until it came out on the carousel on Long Island. I picked it up, checked it and walked out. Easy peezy.
American told me to contact the baggage claim attendant with my claim ticket and when it came off the plane and they would bring it to me. That is exactly what happened. United however said basically the same thing but when I landed the baggage claim attendant was clueless about transporting guns and did not communicate well with her staff because she told me she would have it delivered to her office and for me to wait there till she came out with it. Shortening a slightly longer story; they put it on the belt never told her it was there for ten minutes and someone could’ve ran off with two, um, shooty things.
Good stuff,,I must admit I have not Flown on a commercial aircraft since you could smoke a cigarette on one,,,for this reason,ya I get it,I’m old and cranky,set in my ways,,I might consider flying with my firearms,,but driving is fun for me, plus most of my travel is cross-country,,driven coast to coast many times,,, thanks for your support