Traveling w/ guns

B

BaDgErFaN

New member
I'm going to be flying to a family members house in another state and want to bring my pistols. I checked with the airline and they said guns just have to be in checked luggage, in a locked case, and you have to notify them at the counter when checking your bags that you have a gun. Im just a little nervous about the whole process and having my guns floating around w/ the baggage handlers. I was wondering if anyone could tell me some personal experiences flying w/ checked guns. Also, are there specific types of cases that are required to keep your guns in, or will any hard case do? Thanks a lot!!
 
Same

Often wondered the same.

And does the case come down the luggae belt with all the other baggage.....hoping that nobody else walks off with it?
 
I fly with mine all the time and it's a snap! The airline agent after checking them out will walk your baggage over to the secure TSA guys, who scan it. When it gets to the other end of your trip there is "usually" an airline rep there with your bag, so I'm not sure if the reg. baggage handlers ever touch it. Never had a problem in all the yrs. I've flown with my weapons.
 
When I went to Alaska back in '04, they "misplaced" all of our baggage on the way home. This included two rifles and my handgun.

They brought my baggage, including my firearms, to my house about 8 hours after I landed. They used a courier service to bring them the 60 miles to my house, and they were unsecured in the back of his truck.

The driver was obviously shaken at delivering an obvious firearm in a hard case, and seemed overjoyed to be rid of it.

But, I guess all's well that ends well. I got all my stuff back, and it was all in good shape when I did.
 
I bring mine with me whenever I fly. Each airport and airline is different but a few things are consistent. First, the gun must be in a locked box, I use a small Pelican case just big enough for the weapon and 2 empty mags. The ammunition must be in a box "designed for that Ammunition". I use the box that the ammo came in. This must be in your suitcase, not in the locked box with the weapon. When you get to the ticket counter state "I need to declare a firearm". They will fill the firearms declaration tag out give it to you, now, depending on which airport, either a Port Authority Police or TSA will check that the weapon is empty, put the tag in the box with your gun and have you lock it and put the box in your suitcase. In one airport, they sent it straight to TSA and had me wait while TSA scanned my suitcase. In any case, this never took more than 10 minutes. In all cases at the other end my bag comes out on the carousel with everyone elses. Never had a problem and never has it taken more than a total of 10 or 15 minutes. One ticket agent wanted to put the firearms declaration tag on the outside of my bag, I politely asked her to ask the TSA and they told her to put it inside out of view. Don't be intimidated, it is quick and painless.
 
I would ship them ahead to your relative's house. My experiences with TSA have proven that they are both idiots and thieves.
 
Unless your relative is an FFL holder, you can't. I too have traveled this way many times and never run into problems. There can't be any ammo in the cases and there is a limit to the number of firearms in any one case - I think two of each, and thought the case must be locked they almost always have me open it, and they have the right to check to see if they are loaded, then they seal them and lock them. You get them on the other side at the TSA pickup and that's about it. I have never had them inside another bag, always by themselves in a rifle case, two of each - a largish case...
 
Since in your post you stated "pistols" My answer was only for pistols. I have never travelled with long guns but my bag is always on the carousel with everyone elses. Never a problem. If you want, after you put the locked box in your suitcase, you can lock that also. Just make sure that you are legal in BOTH states. If you are don't sweat it. It is a little intimidating the first time, after you see how easy it is you will bring it everywhere.
 
:rolleyes:
You can send them to a gun shop near their house.

......... Or just get a hard case that the unloaded guns could fit in, lock it, put it in a Fed Ex box and overnight priority ship it to their house with a signature required. It will cost less than the airlines will charge for it.;)

I have seen hard rifle cases rotating on luggage pick-ups. Do what you want.
 
......... Or just get a hard case that the unloaded guns could fit in, lock it, put it in a Fed Ex box and overnight priority ship it to their house with a signature required. It will cost less than the airlines will charge for it.
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My understanding is, or it used to be...

You can send rifles in this manner to yourself, C/O the person at the other end, but you have to be the one that opens the package on the other end.

But handguns have to be sent FFL-to-FFL. You can't mail them that way across state lines legally, and I'm pretty sure it's a felony if you're caught.

When I flew to/from Alaska, my handgun was in a locked hard case, then locked in my luggage. They did inspect all the firearms before we got on the plane, but didn't charge anything extra for it.

The rifles were sent as my 2nd bag, so no extra charge there, either.

Depending on the airline, it really is a fairly simple process.

Daryl
 
Make sure that you are allowed to posses the pistols in the state that you are traveling to....for example, don't even think of bringing them to NYS...
 
One of the few benefits of being Retired civilian LEO, is HR-218 that if you meet some requirements can carry nationwide. I have been told that if you take the FAA course, you can carry concealed on the plane, with the pilots consent. I have not done that have traveled out of State carrying under this Law.


I mention this because I have spoken with current and Retired LEO.s and one thing has been made very clear. As someone has said the TSA crew is not Law Enforcement, do not allow them to handle your weapon past a look to see if it is stored properly. The cops have said, if they want to go beyond that have a LEO come over and handle your weapon.
 
Just flew from Chicago to Houston in January (A year in Illinois was enough) w/ Southwest. Had both my M&P .40 and G23 with six mags all inside my M&P case locked with a cheap family dollar padlock. This was then put in my suitcase with a box of WWB 100. Note: All mags were loaded but none were inside the guns. Informed counter person who took me down the line to TSA guy who was cool about everything. He even asked if I wanted to throw the pocket knife I had clipped to my pocket in the bag. I also had to fill out two small slips of paper. I think one was with me and the other was in the case but, dont really remember.
 
I don't know if it is different for pistols than rifles. However, if using FedEx or other private shipping company. They don't ask what is in the box. If the do you reply "sporting goods" and that's all you have to do. At least that's how it was years ago.
 
Already getting deep here with mis-information and getting off subject.

I hate it when folks do this to me... but the search function on this forum will help you a lot. In the mean time....

Yes you can check your pistols in at the airport check in counter... TSA will then show up and make sure they are secure. You then (best choice) put the container with the pistols AND AMMO in your luggage.

It will take a good pistol case that has a lock on it. The ammo must be in a boxed or secured so it is not loose but can be in the container with the pistols. Some TSA agents will accept the ammo in magazines (as long as they are not in the gun of course) but others want it to be in a factory box.

It is not really a big deal as long as you follow the rules. Don't think the airline will not know you have a gun checked in your baggage or anyone else who has access to the airlines computers.... but then if you look at how much stuff is being moved and how fast... you really got more important things to worry about... like who made the underwear on the guy sitting beside you.
 
Well, I got to start somewhere, so Hi everybody and thank you for all the very good information on this site.


I would ship them ahead to your relative's house. My experiences with TSA have proven that they are both idiots and thieves.
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I agree with you, but the rules around firearms are tight. A fellow photographer actually packed one small cheap revolver whenever he could in the same case with very expensive photographic equipment, because of the extra attention this packages are given. He didn't carry ammo, nor did he carry the revolver once arrived, its sole purpose was to highten the security level of the case. Never had a problem.
 
Wow, thank you all so much for all of the information! This site truly is a great resource. Glad to hear most of you have had good experiences flying with your guns. That makes me a little more comfortable about the whole process.
 
EdInk said:
You can send them to a gun shop near their house.
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And if they are pistols, now he has lost them, because the FFL cannot transfer them to an out of state resident. If his family chooses to redeem them for him, they will have to do a 4473 and NICS background check and pay for the transfer fees.

Rail said:
Unless your relative is an FFL holder, you can't
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Referencing shipping guns to yourself c/o another person in another state...whether they are pistols or rifles...it is perfectly legal to do so...

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html#shipping-firearms-additional

Q: May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity?

Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm.

EdInk said:
I don't know if it is different for pistols than rifles. However, if using FedEx or other private shipping company. They don't ask what is in the box. If the do you reply "sporting goods" and that's all you have to do. At least that's how it was years ago.
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And that, since the firearms are being shipped out of state to a non-FFL, is a Federal felony.

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/usc_sec_18_00000922----000-.html

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped
 
Don't forget that the lock you use on your gun case must be a lock ONLY you have the key to. TSA locks are not approved for use on gun cases. You may use a TSA lock on the luggage your gun is in however.

I just use a nylon wire tie on my luggage. TSA has cut the locks off so many times I was going broke buying replacements. Not any more.
 
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