Checking a rifle/shotgun as baggage...

[ThirtyAughtSix 101]

So I started a thread in the general discussion forum asking about flying with firearms before I attempted it. Well, I attempted it and all went well and I've decided to give you a step by step for it, the cheapest way possible.

 

First off, this was with Southwest, let me just say they rule for the fact that you can check 2 things for free. This is their FIREARM POLICY. Most airlines are the same except for maybe charging you $25 for checking the case.

 

Without breaking the bank you can get a hard two rifle case from Walmarts website. THIS case was $47.00 with $.99 shipping. It made it there and back again without any damage to my rifle, my scope was zero'd still, its a bargain. They have it at CTD but it was about $20 more.

 

For them to even accept that case you will need TWO TSA locks that let them get into your case without the combo. Do a search on CTD for those, mine were about $11 a piece.

 

Before you leave for the airport, check to make sure all magazines are out, if you can, take the bolt out, make it as easy as possible to prove it is unloaded. You can even bring ammo in the case with you if its in good tight packaging(like it comes in). I was able to fit my spotting scope, glasses, ear protection and two boxes of my ammo in there real easy with my bolt action tied down real tight.

 

Once you are at the airport, just walk in like you normally would, don't try curbside checking. Once you get into the check-in counter, quietly say to the person you are checking a firearm, they will take care of the rest of it for you. They will escort you over to the TSA/DHS guy, make you prove (again) that its unloaded and then tell you that you are all set (I was a little skeptical leaving it with them, wondering if it would show up and all).

 

Find your gate, get on plane, land.

 

Go the the baggage collection for arrivals. I've heard it could just come on through the conveyer belt but at both airports I had to wait for somebody to walk out with it and ask for my ID.

 

And that was it, firearms in hand, in another state 1400 miles away in two hours. I guess the biggest thing is to keep your cool, don't give them a reason to be suspicious, you are just exercising your god given constitutional rights, and whats wrong with that?

 

Attached are a few photos I took of the case itself (it is really a good bargain, heavy though), it loaded up and the special TSA locks.

 

This was surprisingly easy and I will do it again in the future. They don't write your serials down or do any checks like that, you could bring somebody else's gun, or whatever.

 

Just be careful, know the laws of the state you are traveling to, and it should all be gravy.

 

 

 

[volkov 318]

thanks for the right up, was wondering about this a good deal, especially given the stupidity with which airlines tend to operate.. All I need to know now is international version of this, since aparently Americans bring guns to my relatives shoots in england and I'd like to do the same, but their gun laws are so different.

Edited October 17, 2009 by volkov

[ThirtyAughtSix 101]

thanks for the right up, was wondering about this a good deal, especially given the stupidity with which airlines tend to operate.. All I need to know now is international version of this, since aparently Americans bring guns to my relatives shoots in england and I'd like to do the same, but their gun laws are so different.

 

I'd call the ATF/TSA/DHS in advanced, plus customs over there, and whatever their SS agency is.

[Marc 147]

I fly with guns all the time, mostly with southwest. I have flown with as few as 1 gun (either a single handgun or a single long gun) but my personal record was 7 guns at once (4 handguns and 3 rifles) with mags and ammo for all of them. In my flights with my guns I have experienced just about every attitude you can think of towards firearms from the TSA and Check-in clerks; from people who don't give a shit about it, to that really hot check-in girl that said a surprising "oh wow, that's a cute gun." LOL, to the old lady that just about flipped out that guns are legal and has to take a smoke break immediatly after she is done checking you in. I've also had the asshole TSA guys that tried to find any reason to deny my firearm from being checked in (never could though), also had the TSA guy that go "hey guys, check this out" and three of them come over and go "whoa, thats friggin awesome" lol.

 

Of all the times I have flown with my guns I have never, ever been told this...

 

For them to even accept that case you will need TWO TSA locks that let them get into your case without the combo. Do a search on CTD for those, mine were about $11 a piece.

 

Every schmoe that works in the airports has access to those TSA keys/combos (they leave them laying around all over the place). You do not want to use TSA locks on your gun case and TSA does not want you to use TSA locks on your gun case, TSA does not want to have to track down that scumbag baggage handler that exchanged your ticked out Saiga with a brick because you gave him easy access with those damn TSA locks...

 

From the Southwest link that the OP posted

Firearms must be encased in a hard-sided, LOCKED container that is of sufficient strength to withstand normal handling, as follows:

 

1. A firearm in a hard-sided, locked container may be placed inside a soft-sided, unlocked suitcase.

2. A firearm placed inside a hard-sided, locked suitcase does not have to be encased in a container manufactured for the transportation of firearms.

3. Only the Customer checking the luggage should retain the key or combination to the lock. No exceptions will be made.

 

Never use TSA locks on your gun cases when flying, use only good locks that only YOU have the key/combo to.

 

All that being said, I am glad the OP made his flight without loosing his gun.

[ThirtyAughtSix 101]

Above: (no reply because its a waste of space...)

 

Wow, that sucks. So I could have just used my own locks? Whats the point of TSA approved locks... A couple times I just told them to open it cause I had two combos and they had no idea, but they were just check in peeps that swab you shit for some reason (drugs? guess it could tell the diff between GP residue, ammo and whatnot, and other shit that explodes. Point is, they are probably fucking tricked out machines that they run those swabs through). Anyways, thanks for making that clear, I should edit the original post, but I can't edit properly right now.