pistol in baggage at airport

[oldiegoldie]

Haven't flown in 20 years and have to fly out of Wyoming or Montana to Houston. What hoops do I have to jump through to send a pistol in my checked baggage? Is there an easier way to get the pistol to Houston? all help and suggestions will be appreciated. Have to spend 2-3 weeks there and not too keen on being in Houston without a carry weapon. spent alot of time there in the past 50 years and it has changed. just pleased it is winter instead of summer.

 

[the ringo kid]

I can't answer your question but, just relating news I heard last night. So far this year, Corpus Christi Intl airport has found two loaded handguns. One person was arrested, and I'm not sure why? The other was detained but released when he took it back out to his car. From what I understand, as long as you don't pass the TSA checkpoint, your totally legal.

 

[H Richard]

Check with the website of the airline you are going to fly on, there is differences among the different airlines. In general, you need a sturdy, locked gun case, and a locked ammo case. Gun must be unloaded and no ammo in the case with the gun. Some airlines let you put a loaded clip in with the gun. Must declare at check in and they will probably have you present to someone that will verify it is unloaded.

 

[fedoff]

You must store the weapon in a locked case. You notify the airline and they will stick a red tag in your luggage notifying the TSA that you have informed them of your weapon. Your weapon must be unloaded and you can not transport ammo. Just got done transporting a pistol. Remember the weapon has to be in your checked luggage.

 

[Bkreutz]

Check with the website of the airline you are going to fly on, there is differences among the different airlines. In general, you need a sturdy, locked gun case, and a locked ammo case. Gun must be unloaded and no ammo in the case with the gun. Some airlines let you put a loaded clip in with the gun. Must declare at check in and they will probably have you present to someone that will verify it is unloaded.

Agree with this, competition shooters do this all the time. One extra suggestion, when you get the airline's rules for gun transport, print out a copy and take it with you to the airport. Some times the airline agents are more than a little stupid when it comes to what the actual rules are. Having a printout to put in their hands usually ends any lack of knowledge. You must declare that you are shipping a firearm in checked baggage, don't even attempt to just pack it inside your PJ's hoping it will get through, it won't. There are specific rules that each airline follows. It's not difficult, but you have to follow the regulations. Have fun (I agree, I haven't been to Houston since 1982 and I didn't think it was that safe then, can't even imagine what it would be now, nothing against Houston, seems like anywhere you go anymore isn't like it was when we were kids. )

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The last time one of my guns flew, a lady friend of mine carried it to N Carolina and drove her dau back.
We carefully followed all the rules at the time.
But I was greatly relieved when I got my revolver back in my possession.

 

[cbore]

Call the airline and double check. Several years ago I left Fla with my 40 cal HPS in a soft case and 100 round in taped boxes in my check on luggage. One week later I returned from MS the same way. Prior to flight TSA paged me and I identified my luggage. My mistake was the weapon was not in a locked hard case and I had not notified the airline there was a weapon inside.

Took a quick to Bass Pro and got a hard case and "locked" it with a zip tie and Delta put a sticker on it. TSA was nice and my gun and ammo was not confiscated. I left with no delay.

Several weeks later I receive a notice of violation and a $500 fine which I did not contest and paid. Guess my name is on a Alert list now.

Moral of the story know the requirements yourself and don't expect the Airline to tell. In my case what was OK with Delta airline in Fla. got me cited with Delta in MS.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Agree with this, competition shooters do this all the time. One extra suggestion, when you get the airline's rules for gun transport, print out a copy and take it with you to the airport. Some times the airline agents are more than a little stupid when it comes to what the actual rules are. Having a printout to put in their hands usually ends any lack of knowledge. You must declare that you are shipping a firearm in checked baggage, don't even attempt to just pack it inside your PJ's hoping it will get through, it won't. There are specific rules that each airline follows. It's not difficult, but you have to follow the regulations. Have fun (I agree, I haven't been to Houston since 1982 and I didn't think it was that safe then, can't even imagine what it would be now, nothing against Houston, seems like anywhere you go anymore isn't like it was when we were kids. )

Just be very cautious in attempting to tell someone who's going to let your bag through with a firearm what he or she can/cannot/will/will not do. I've traveled with a firearm(s) hundreds of times. Check the TSA and airline rules online, follow them accordingly, but be prepared for a deviation and follow instructions. I've seen people ahead of me in line that were on my flight point out the booking agent's failure to follow a rule, and they got to meet a nice fellow with his own gun and then I picked them up at the destination airport on a later flight.

 

[keith44spl]

This may help.....

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition


I used to do it all the time.


.

 

[keith44spl]

Ammo....If yur factory container is a lit'l travel weary, TSA will tape it up for ya.

Like they did mine on several occasions.



Last I heard 11 lbs. was the limit on amount of ammunition one can carry in checked luggage.


.

 

[Alpo]

I thought it was 14 pounds, but it might be 11 - been a while since I flew. But you can certainly carry ammo. Just can't be in the gun. Has to be secured so nothing can bump into a primer and set it off. I've carried it in plastic ammo boxes, MTM ammo wallets and loaded PPK magazines. Never a problem with any of them.

I'm amazed they accepted a "zip tie" as "locked".

If your suitcase is "hard sided" (like a Samsonite - y'all remember them, right?), and is lockable, would not matter if your gun was in a soft pouch, as the hard-sided lockable suitcase meets the requirement.

I got in an argument with a moron in Wichita who wanted to put a great big red tag to the outside of my suitcase saying FIREARM INSIDE. Quite often the people at the counter don't have a clue.

Check in early, so there is time to get a supervisor or argue with the idiot.

 

[fedoff]

When I said no ammo I was pertaining to the firearm being loaded. However, I did not know that you could transport ammo. Thanks for the update.

 

[old bear]

Also print out copy of the airline guidelines on firearm transport as well as the T.S.A's not everyone is up to date on the rules. Better safe than sorry.

 

[The Big D]

INCORRECT! BAD INFO.

That is simply INCORRECT. Ammo CAN be transported in the same locked case. It must be packaged separately, though.

Be safe.

...and you can not transport ammo. ...

EDIT: Poster amended his first post. Leaving this one here as a reminder.

 

[oldiegoldie]

very good....well done, all of you, and much appreciated. Will definitely print out tsa regs and airline regs to take with me.

 

[DWFAN]

I have shipped ammo before in my luggage and the only requirement was that each round was in a separate sleeve like most ammo is packaged. Loose ammo is not allowed.

DW

 

[max]

I have flown on numerous airlines without any problems. I use a hard plastic gun case with 2 small padlocks. I also bought a small bike lock cable and run the cable through a spine on my suitcase and lock it to the guncase. Ammo is suppose to be in original packaging. I spent several months trying to get TSA to define original. Never did get an answer.

 

[Bugkiller99]

One point you may not find in the airline or TSA regs, but something to be careful of.

You, of course, must be able to legally posses your firearm at your destinations. I would highly recommend that you be able to legally posses your firearm at ANY stopover your flight makes.

Feces happens. If, for instance you have a stopover in O'Hare airport, but your flight ends up stranded there, you are now in possession of a firearm in Illinois as soon as you pickup your luggage headed for your unplanned overnight stay.

Now, Illinois is not the most gun friendly state, lots of regulations. Do you meet them? Or are you a felon, about to loose your guns rights?

Numerous, informative threads on this topic. Yes, you can fly, with a firearm AND ammo in you checked luggage. Follow the rules. TSA and airline.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/414820-handguns-airlines.html#post138354003

 

[da gimp]

Boys, Bugkiller just pointed out a very real scenario that can easily happen if your flight has an unscheduled or even scheduled layover at an airport in an anti-gun state like Illinois, Calif, NY, NJ, Mass, Conn, Pa... etc etc... we've all heard of various nightmare horror stories about what happened to folks who took the wrong exit on a highway and ended up in a anti gun state & was stopped by police, and was arrested for having a firearm...or who ended up in an airport with an unscheduled layover after missing a connecting flight out of O'Hare or LaGuardia etc etc etc & the traveler ends up facing felony charges too...it would behoove us all to plan our travel wisely....

 

[Beemerguy53]

You must store the weapon in a locked case. You notify the airline and they will stick a red tag in your luggage notifying the TSA that you have informed them of your weapon. Your weapon must be unloaded and you can not transport ammo. Just got done transporting a pistol. Remember the weapon has to be in your checked luggage.

You can transport ammo. It just has to be in a case of some sort, not rolling around in your bag.

Here's all the information you need, right from the horse's mouth... https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition