Has anyone flown with guns lately?

[R-Tex]

Hi, all -

I've searched as best I can, but haven't found all I'd like to know.

My searches have been successful as far as determining how to comply with TSA and airline regulations as well as the advisabilty of having printed copies of such regs with me when I get to the airport.

I am going to be flying to another state to retrieve some of my guns that a relative no longer wants to be responsible for. There will be 3 or 4 handguns and 3 or 4 long guns. I know that I can secure and declare the handguns in locked hard cases in my checked bags, but don't know all I would like about flying with long guns.

Has anyone had any experience in the past few months with long guns (cased and locked properly, of course) on regular airline flights? Is there anyone who has experience with the Plano Sportsan Double Gun Case shown here: PLANO SPORTSMAN DOUBLE GUN CASE ?

Or would it be easier just to ship them to myself (assuming that's permissable)?

I'd be most appreciative of any info anyone has - Thanks in advance for any responses.

 

[venomballistics]

I recently fell off the porch railing with a side arm .... technically I flew with it given the lack of ground contact till I landed .... but that doesn't exactly count.

seriously though ... your entering weapons into an imperfect system when you fly with them.
Yes, it is possible, and legal to check them as baggage however since they are visibly marked "firearm" the possibility of theft by the bag smashers at the various terminals is greatly elevated.
This is a documented problem.

you might be far ahead renting yourself a good piece of road trip worthy road iron like a Mustang and going to collect in style.
trucks tend to beat the snot out of you on the long haul .. econo eggs can be nearly as miserable.
dont overlook this advice if you opt to take the wheel.
an 87 stang with seized front struts and other rough ride issues was by far preferable to a pristine Jeep Grand Cherokee on my north central WI to Nebraska route.
if fact, what your drive determines how daunting such a trip really is

 

[R-Tex]

Thanks, Venom -

Yep - it's definitely harder to stay aloft when you're packin'. Especially so if you're totin' a BUG.

We've considered the driving option, but it doesn't look as if our schedule will permit it right now. Long distance across the country & all. 'Stang sure sounds fun, though!

 

[woftrax]

R-Tex

My son checked a handgun in his luggage over Christmas coming and another one going home..he had a TSA approved lockbox with 2 locks and a copy of the TSA regs with him..They moved him to the head of the line when he declared the gun...no problems though either end..he did have to unlock the box and show that the gun was unloaded...

Might be a little more difficult to travel with a bunch...I don't know...You might be able to google it on TSA..

 

[Faulkner]

You'd probably be better off shipping them back, even if you have to go through an FFL.

 

[7shooter]

I flew into and out of Miami with a handgun in a TSA approved case in January. Coming out of Miami the TSA asked for the key to the gun case and took my luggage back to their area where they went completely through the suit case. First time thats happened to me when flying. In the past Miami is the only airport where I have gotten a negative reaction from airline employees when I declare a firearm.

 

[truckemup97]

IIRC, you can ship long guns to yourself through USPS. If you're worried about the long guns particularly, you might send them ahead.

Unless you're going for another reason also, it would likely be much cheaper to have your relative take your guns to a FFL and have them shipped to your FFL....

 

[Class III]

I made a trip via NWA/Delta about a month ago MEM/MSP/BIS, BIS/MSP/MEM. A M37 and a Benelli SBE2 where packed in a quad locking hard case and checked as baggage. When checking in with the long guns you will be required to declare that you are transporting firearms as checked luggage by filling out a card and placing the card in the case with the firearms. TSA MAY want to inspect your firearms and will need the key's to the case, so hang out at baggage check until you see it placed on the convayor belt. A few years ago NWA "LOST" my long gun case while flying BIS/MSP/BNA. When I filed a claim with them and told them that I had purchased THEIR excess value insurance the shotguns mysteriously showed up two days later.

A few pointers are listed below.

1. Pack the firearms in the SMALLEST case they fit into. It's OK to pack 2 or more per case. Do not put any marks, stickers ... on the outside of the case showing that a firearm is enclosed.

2. Do not take any firearms parts onboard the aircraft. Choke tubes and choke tube wrenches will get you in BIG trouble with TSA. Don't ask how I know this.

3. Do not pack any ammunition in any case containing a firearm. Check with the airline about ammunition transportation. Some airlines state that it must be placed in a locked metal container (ammo cans are great), packed in the original manufacturers packaging. Different airlines have different rules on how much ammunition they will allow to be tranported

4. Have the make, model, serial # and full description of the firearms on your person when checking them as baggage, just in case SOMETHING comes up missing. Pictures are GREAT.

5. Put your name, address, cell phone number and destination in the chamber or barrel of EACH firearm being transported.

6. If possible break down each firearm, i.e. take the barrel off of shotguns, take the bolt out of rifles. Put trigger locks on each firearm.

7. When filling out the "Orange Card" declaring you are transporting firearms have them give you a second copy, signed by the baggage clerk. (You can thank TnDixieGirl for this one).

8. BUY EXCESS VALUE INSURANCE for the replacement cost of the firearms.

9. If the firearms case is damaged in transit take it to lost/damaged baggage claim BEFORE you open the case. DO NOT OPEN THE CASE IN PUBLIC for obvious reasons.

10. If the firearms case does not make it to your destination do not leave the airport before fileing a claim. Once you leave the airport the airlines responsibility to you ends.

11. If the firearms case does not make it to your destination and after you have filed a claim for lost baggage, give them some time to find it before getting in their face.

Hope these help

Class III

 

[venomballistics]

got it class III ...
trunk
keys
foot
greasy spoons

 

[bettis1]

I flew into and out of Miami with a handgun in a TSA approved case in January. Coming out of Miami the TSA asked for the key to the gun case and took my luggage back to their area where they went completely through the suit case. First time thats happened to me when flying. In the past Miami is the only airport where I have gotten a negative reaction from airline employees when I declare a firearm.

RULE # 1 (applies whether you are traveling with a gun or not): Never, I say again, NEVER go to a destination where the only route takes you through Miami International!

Bob

 

[BarbC]

The hard-sided aluminum cases are very good. They can take a beating in a cargo bay pretty well. Cabela's Bullet Proof Aluminum Cases : Cabela's

I fly quite often with handguns and all I can say is the last time when they lost my luggage with my favorite guns inside, I realized I had no proof there were guns in there because the FAA red tag was with the guns.

Have the clerk sign a duplicate to keep with you as your proof.

 

[Onomea]

I shipped, via USPS, a Winchester M1886, take down, from Ohio to myself c/o a gunsmith in Colorado who I wanted to do some work to it. (I think one is NOT supposed to mark "rifle" or "gun" on the label. Probably USPS explains this somewhere on their website.) He later sent the rifle to my FFL in Hawaii. This was about, eight years ago or so. We also have members here who report good luck (no problems) sending handguns to themselves from, say, their home destination, to wherever they will be staying temporairly in another state.

 

[perrazi]

best suggestion was to have a local ffl ship the guns and don't make the trip. that said, i refuse to commercially just for the hassles of carrying guns with you. when i fly now, i carry on my person and don't have any problems. privately of course.

 

[dmar]

I believe that "ClassIII" has it pretty well summed-up. I've traveled with guns a few times, post 9/11. They were hunting trips (both rifle and shotgun), and I did not have any problems. I live in a fairly 'gun-friendly' state, and traveled to other gun-friendly states/areas, so I believe that helps. I think it also helps that I do not look like I live in a remote mountain village on the Pakistan/Afganistan border...

I'm not familiar with the Plano cases, as I used one of the aluminum hard cases, and they work great. It needs to be able to be locked. They have a 'TSA' approved lock (real cheap, they can open it...), but I just used my own. They inspect the case contents, put the card inside, and then have you lock it. The first time I traveled with a gun, post 911, I just read read the rules on the airlines/TSA website, and printed those documents to carry with me. If you have any other questions, you can call them for clarification; well worth the potential hastle if you don't have your facts straight.

One time, I got summoned to the luggage screening area in the basement of an airport to open the case for another agent to re-check the rifle, but they were very nice about it. I believe that I have also had ammo in with the locked gun case, and that has not been an issue.

I do have to say, that it is very nerve racking while waiting at baggage claim for your gun case to come out, but again, never a problem with it coming out with all of it's contents. You do get some stares from people, as a full length rifle case leaves little doubt as to what you are traveling with... I've never taken a flight with a handgun, but wish I could!

 

[R-Tex]

Thanks for the great info, everyone. Especially ClassIII - I would have NEVER thought of putting my info in the gun's barrel or action!

Thanks again,

 

[Evil One]

I fly with 2 handguns every 3 weeks.
I put both into 1 case... and pack that case in my checked luggage.
I do declare it of course.
There is a small notation on the label the wrap around the handle... if you dont eagle eye the label you will never know.
Never had an issue.


Jim

 

[c.marsh]

your best bet

have UPS ship the weapons to your home address. no hassel with TSA inspections or airport luggage handlers.no papers to fill out.just take the weapons to the UPS store an they will box an ship.i may be mistaken but i believe it is against federal law to ship firearms by USPS..

 

[R-Tex]

have UPS ship the weapons to your home address. no hassel with TSA inspections or airport luggage handlers.no papers to fill out.just take the weapons to the UPS store an they will box an ship.i may be mistaken but i believe it is against federal law to ship firearms by USPS..

Is it legal to ship long guns (non-C&R) to yourself via UPS or Fed-EX? Seems I've heard it both ways.

TIA,

 

[cowart]

Is it legal to ship long guns (non-C&R) to yourself via UPS or Fed-EX?

Yes - see ATF Online - Firearms - Frequently Asked Questions - Unlicensed Persons

 

[Lenshappy]

yup - all the time - lots.