checking gun on plane

[Guest JIMBOB]

Can ya'll help me find a case for a glock 19?

[Photoguy67]

I believe as long as its hard sided and locking you are good to go.

[quietguy]

The best solution I have found is two GunVault Nano's. Handgun in one - mags, ammo, and knife in the other.

[Oh Shoot]

I believe as long as its hard sided and locking you are good to go.

Yeah, even factory case okay if it has hole in handle for a lock and the lock keeps it shut snugly. Some do some don't.

Center of Mass makes a quite popular and affordable one. Sold as "car safes", but work fine for plane without the cable attached.

In Car Gun Lockers

They are sold online by the usual places, too, and some are made by COM even when they're not advertized as such.

Sport Lock Als Single Pistol C, Shooting Accessories, Sportlock at Sportsman's Guide

2-GVNV100 - GunVault NV100 Nanovault Safe 8.25"x6"x1.75" with Cable and Key Lock Black

etc

- OS

Edited December 31, 2011 by OhShoot

[TMF]

The best solution I have found is two GunVault Nano's. Handgun in one - mags, ammo, and knife in the other.

It is not a requirement to separate the firearm from the ammunition so long as they are both in a locked case, correct? It is a requirement to download the magazines though. Whenever I fly I put the ammo in a small ammo box, two mags and my pistol w/ a chamber flag all in the same locked case; TSA has always been okay with that.

[Oh Shoot]

It is not a requirement to separate the firearm from the ammunition so long as they are both in a locked case, correct? It is a requirement to download the magazines though. Whenever I fly I put the ammo in a small ammo box, two mags and my pistol w/ a chamber flag all in the same locked case; TSA has always been okay with that.

All correct.

TSA: Traveling with Special Items

- OS

[Mike.357]

the last time I flew with a gun I put the gun and empty mags in the same hard sided case and my ammo in the factory cardboard box inside my shaving kit.

My pocket knife inside my checked bag mysteriously was missing upon arrival. Everthing else was good to go.

[quietguy]

It is not a requirement to separate the firearm from the ammunition so long as they are both in a locked case, correct? It is a requirement to download the magazines though. Whenever I fly I put the ammo in a small ammo box, two mags and my pistol w/ a chamber flag all in the same locked case; TSA has always been okay with that.

You are correct. I just tend to err on the side of caution. I usually pack my handgun with the slide open in one Nano, and the second Nano with a box of my SD round, empty mags, and knife.

The couple of issues that I have run into were with airline personnel, not TSA.

[LDRider]

I am currently away from and have been on commercial flights. This is the first time I have flown with my my firearm.

I am using a Gun Locker but actually employed the cable. My bag has an extendable handle and by unzipping the liner I can run the cable around the tube for the extendable handle. This way the gun is locked up and not easily removed from the bag.

Although it was my understanding that the desk agent would ask to see the weapon and verify it is unloaded I have yet to be asked to do this.

I also have my 1911 in the Locker with the slide open. I wait as TSA runs the bag through and verify that they do not need to inspect the weapon. Again, they have never asked to see it. I think having the slide open has helped with this.

Jeff

[JayC]

Can ya'll help me find a case for a glock 19?

TSA: Traveling with Special Items

Follow that guideline and you'll be fine.

Be careful where you fly into and out of and local handgun laws in those cities (NYC for example).

Otherwise it's a pretty easy process.

[Guest don_m]

I've flown out of quite a few airports (including Memphis and Nashville) with a handgun on several airlines, and it's always been a painless experience. The gun case needs to be sturdy enough that you can't easily pry it open to access the gun, and locked with a non-TSA lock. I've used a gunvault, a heavy aluminum case, and the case that came with the gun. The outside luggage should be locked with a TSA lock. When you declare the firearm (it's best not to say "gun" in an airport) at the baggage counter (you have to check in at the counter, not curbside), you'll be asked to sign a red tag declaring that the firearm is unloaded and place it either inside the gun case or outside it (I've found them inconsistent on this). They may or may not ask you to show them that it's unloaded (usually not). It's not necessary to lock the slide open (you probably can't in the manufacturer's case) or insert a chamber flag. I've always been asked to wait while the TSA screens it, and in one case (Denver) I was escorted along with the bag half way across the airport to the TSA. So allow a few extra minutes; yo may or may not need it. As for the ammo, check the baggage rules on the web sites of the airline(s) you're flying. The details vary a bit between airlines.

I avoid NYC airports (La Guardia, Kennedy, Newark) at all costs, even as a connection. I'd also avoid Chicago, though I've never heard of a problem there. Both of the D.C. airports (Reagan and Dulles) are in Virginia.

Edited December 31, 2011 by don_m

[LagerHead]

Just a point of clarification: You can leave the ammo in the magazines as long as the magazines are inside a case covering the rounds. I use a soft sided binoculars case.

[TMF]

Just a point of clarification: You can leave the ammo in the magazines as long as the magazines are inside a case covering the rounds. I use a soft sided binoculars case.

Hmmm... maybe it was the airline I flew a long time ago or TSA changed their rules, but the first time I flew a pistol I was instructed that my mags had to be downloaded. I just checked TSA and it didn't have that requirement on their website.

[Guest pfries]

I have left my mags loaded every time in a Bianchi leather double mag case (leather snaps closed duty style) in the same case with my pistol no problems.

[Guest 270win]

It is not that big of a deal to fly with a handgun. I've never flown with a long gun. I just put my handgun in my hard sided case that I bought from Sportsman's Warehouse. I have put a box of ammo, the holster, speed strip all in with the gun. I put the locks on the case and then put it in my suitcase because my handgun case is small enough. Go to the counter and tell them you have a handgun to declare. Pull the gun box out and put it on the counter, unlock it, sign a piece of paper, put paper in case, lock gun case. I once confused a ticket agent because I didn't walk up to the counter with the locks on before declaring. This was in Memphis and the ticket agent wasn't that bright. Surprisingly the TSA security (one of few times i've found Memphis TSA helpful!) was called over to clarify everything for the ticket agent that I had everything cased right and knew what I was doing. I also brought a printed form from the airline and TSA websites.

I'm sure a long gun is a bigger pain because you can't put that in your suitcase due to size like a handgun. Paying for an extra piece of luggage for a long gun makes traveling with long guns more expensive.

Oh don't use those TSA locks on your gun case. You want locks no one else can open but you. The airline folks can get in big trouble if they get into your gun case and those TSA locks cause problems.

[Guest don_m]

You also need to look at the individual airline's rules on transporting firearms. There are differences, and they change from time to time. For example, US Air's rules state:

"Checked ammunition may not exceed 11 lbs/5 kg per person. Ammunition must be packed in the original manufacturing package or constructed of wood, fiber, plastic, or metal and provide separation for cartridges. Ammunition may be checked in the same piece of luggage as a firearm. No additional documentation is required."

From Delta's web site:

"Ensure small arms ammunition is packed in the manufacturer's original package or securely packed in fiber, wood, plastic or metal boxes and provide separation for cartridges."

Clearly a magazine doesn't provide for "separation for cartridges."

[TMF]

You also need to look at the individual airline's rules on transporting firearms. There are differences, and they change from time to time. For example, US Air's rules state:

From Delta's web site:

Clearly a magazine doesn't provide for "separation for cartridges."

Yeah, this is what I was talking about. I remember that I was told that my ammo had to be downloaded from the mags. Maybe TSA won't make a stink but perhaps if airline personnel see that when you open the box to put in the declaration they could put you on the spot. If you don't have an authorized storage container to put all that loose ammo you might have to kiss it goodbye.

[Guest pfries]

Well what I do know is I always get one of these when I fly

[Guest RichieRich]

A couple suggestions based on previous travel experience:

1. Some airline check-in staff know the drill, but many don't and seem to make up rules as you go along. Go to your airline's website, print out their firearm policy (usually pretty similar to TSA's, but with a couple tweaks) and have a copy with you. If they try to make this more difficult than it should be, present the policy, ask why they're changing it and ask for a supervisor. You don't want to deal with people who make up rules.

2. Some airline check-in staff will ask you to show them your firearm unloaded. I'm a bit anxious about presenting a gun in an airport, even unloaded in this climate. The last time I was asked, I was told by the airline attendant it was TSA policy. Fortunately, there was a TSA officer walking by, and I told him "she wants me to take a firearm out of the case, are you guys okay with that?" He told the agent to just check it through.

[East_TN_Patriot]

Hmmm... maybe it was the airline I flew a long time ago or TSA changed their rules, but the first time I flew a pistol I was instructed that my mags had to be downloaded. I just checked TSA and it didn't have that requirement on their website.

I had a similar experience once. I've also had TSA treat me like a potential terrorist when flying out of Panama City, Florida even though I was a cop there at the time and had my credentials with me. I declared my pistol at the ticket counter, showed that it was locked in a hard sided case, they made me separate the ammo from the pistol, unload the mag, and put the rounds in a separate container. When I took it to the TSA folks for screening, I told them that there was a firearm in my luggage and the guy said he needed to make sure it was unloaded. I opened the bag and started to unlock the gun case. The TSA agent screamed "Do not touch that weapon! Get your hands up and step back immediately!". He then tried to grill me on why I needed to check a firearm and I reminded him again I was a LEO. He made some BS comment about why it was unnecessary for me to need a firearm. My point is to be prepared for anything when you try to check your firearm.

To be on the safe side, I unload the firearm, put a cable lock through it, put the ammo in a separate container, keep all mags unloaded, and lock the whole mess in a hard side case with a heavy padlock.

Edited January 2, 2012 by East_TN_Patriot