I have a competition That I plan on attending in March. So I want to know how to get my firearms from San Diego Airport to the Baltimore airport. Someone told me it was illegal to put the firearms(looked up in a case) in my luggage. Even if it is in the cargo hold of the aircraft. I have two firearms I would like to take<browning Hi-power and HK USP. Any info would be helpful.
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help...how do I transport my firearms from San Diego to Baltimore.
- Thread starter CBlackjr
- Start date
Transporting firearms
It's my understanding that as long as the UNLOADED firearms are in a locked suitcase, separate from the ammunition, and you DECLARE the firearms at check-in, you're legal.
The problem is, many airlines put a tag on your bag indicating there's a firearm inside.., kind of a "steal me!" tag.
I did, however, quite a few years ago, transport a Ruger Redhawk from Atlanta to Houston and back, without problems. They did put the "steal me" tag on the metal suitcase the revolver was in, though.
It's my understanding that as long as the UNLOADED firearms are in a locked suitcase, separate from the ammunition, and you DECLARE the firearms at check-in, you're legal.
The problem is, many airlines put a tag on your bag indicating there's a firearm inside.., kind of a "steal me!" tag.
I did, however, quite a few years ago, transport a Ruger Redhawk from Atlanta to Houston and back, without problems. They did put the "steal me" tag on the metal suitcase the revolver was in, though.
TheBluesMan
Moderator Emeritus
It is my understanding that tagging the outside of the luggage that contains the firearm(s) is illegal. That doesn't mean that it has always been, though.
Call the airline that you will be using and ask them to send you information on the proper way to pack and declare your firearms. You should probably lock your firearms in a container and then pack them inside regular looking luggage. The airline will probably want to inspect the firearm to be sure that it is unloaded before allowing you to re-lock the case and then they may place a tag on it (within the suitcase).
I don't know about shipping the ammunition, though. There may be different restrictions since ammo contains an explosive substance.
Check out this site:
http://www.packing.org/airlines/
Call the airline that you will be using and ask them to send you information on the proper way to pack and declare your firearms. You should probably lock your firearms in a container and then pack them inside regular looking luggage. The airline will probably want to inspect the firearm to be sure that it is unloaded before allowing you to re-lock the case and then they may place a tag on it (within the suitcase).
I don't know about shipping the ammunition, though. There may be different restrictions since ammo contains an explosive substance.
Check out this site:
http://www.packing.org/airlines/
Declare the value of the firearms to the airline IN WRITING, making a representative of that airline sign a copy that you keep, indicating that the airlines knew the value prior to your boarding one of their aircraft. The airlines current liablity is about $1200. Which you may or may not get if your firearms are 'misplaced'. A friend of mine lost close to $4000 worth of 'marked firearms' from the airline his wife worked for. He learned all this the hard way. He got back less than $750 because he didn't get anything 'in writing' from the airline stating they were aware of the current value of the items they were transporting for him. Hopefully this will help.
Call the airlines. Go to their web site. Get their rules.
Follow them. Print them out and take them to the airport.
Get there earlier than expected.
Guns in locked case unloaded in a hard suitcase.
Ammo (check for how much) in a separate hard case and
in manufacturer's original box. Who knows why.
Follow them. Print them out and take them to the airport.
Get there earlier than expected.
Guns in locked case unloaded in a hard suitcase.
Ammo (check for how much) in a separate hard case and
in manufacturer's original box. Who knows why.
I've yet to have a problem transporting firearms into or out of BWI during interstate travel -- just don't try to check your bags at the curb (go straight to the ticket counter).
I put my SIG (trigger-locked and unloaded) in its original plastic case and padlock it (make sure you keep the key on your person); ammo goes in its original box (cardboard or plastic). Both go inside locking hard-sided luggage (I usually only take one suitcase -- never had a problem with ammo and pistol being in same suitcase, but YMMV).
Technically speaking it's okay to keep ammo in mags, but I don't.
The "steal me" sticker goes outside the SIG's case but inside the hard luggage (no particular place, not taped to anything, dunno what good it does). Only once have I been asked to show that the pistol was unloaded, and the lady at the counter said, "Hey, that's a nice SIG!"
No problems so far on Northwest, Delta, or United. All their websites have specific info, and the counter agents have been knowledgeable and discreet.
I live about 10 minutes away from BWI; about 10 minutes further down the road is a great brewpub called Ellicott Mills (on Main Street in Ellicott City -- 410-313-8346 -- I recommend the Weisenbock and venison steak).
On Target (largest indoor range in MD) is 10 mins south of BWI on I-295, then east on Rt-175 -- 410-551-7777.
Drop me an email if/when you're thirsty.
I put my SIG (trigger-locked and unloaded) in its original plastic case and padlock it (make sure you keep the key on your person); ammo goes in its original box (cardboard or plastic). Both go inside locking hard-sided luggage (I usually only take one suitcase -- never had a problem with ammo and pistol being in same suitcase, but YMMV).
Technically speaking it's okay to keep ammo in mags, but I don't.
The "steal me" sticker goes outside the SIG's case but inside the hard luggage (no particular place, not taped to anything, dunno what good it does). Only once have I been asked to show that the pistol was unloaded, and the lady at the counter said, "Hey, that's a nice SIG!"
No problems so far on Northwest, Delta, or United. All their websites have specific info, and the counter agents have been knowledgeable and discreet.
I live about 10 minutes away from BWI; about 10 minutes further down the road is a great brewpub called Ellicott Mills (on Main Street in Ellicott City -- 410-313-8346 -- I recommend the Weisenbock and venison steak).
On Target (largest indoor range in MD) is 10 mins south of BWI on I-295, then east on Rt-175 -- 410-551-7777.
Drop me an email if/when you're thirsty.