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Read the airline's rules. Most say "original container or appropriate box designed to carry ammunition" or something similar.

I have never heard of the full rule. I have flown with partial boxes.

I am pretty sure it can not be in same locked container as the firearm unless it is a long gun. I have two lockable boxes, one for pistols, one for ammo.

But then, you never know.

Although the airlines and TSA have the "rules" posted, they are not exact. nor set in stone. Given the number of times I fly with firearms each year and the number of times I do the checked firearms waltz through the airport, I am amazed at the amount of inconsistency that exists.

Bentcursor,

I am glad everything worked out for you. Please study the airline rules and TSA rules.

First, you must take your luggage to the ticket counter. You can not use the curbside service when transporting firearms. Ever.

When you get to the counter, prior to the agent taking your bag, softly tell them " I have X(quantity) unloaded handguns in my checked bag". Depending on the airline, they may have an out of the way place to inspect your firearms.

I travel a lot with handguns. I am in Baton Rouge right now. There is a lot of info here and at Packing.org.

Please note:

No two firearms check-in are the same. No two agents know what to do. Some have never checked firearms and must look up the rules and still will not get it right.

Not all TSA know what to do. As I understand, TSA is not supposed to handle your firearms. I ALWAYS lock my luggage with a non-TSA lock. YOU are the only person who can have the key/combination. The gun case has a non-TSA lock, the ammo case has a non-TSA lock and the luggage has a non-TSA lock.

You ALWAYS must wait as your luggage clears TSA X-ray.

Traveling with firearms and exercising your 2A rights are great. Be always aware! Last time I arrived at Houston Bush terminal B, I had to go make wee really bad while waiting for my bag. When I came out, lugage had arrived on carousel and mine was GONE! I waited for 10 minutes or so looking around, and some jerk came walking up with my bag. He dropped mine and picked up his. I quietly told him he was a real .....whatever and told him to READ the tag!

I am sitting in my hotel room, my trusty 40 SW next to me with my BUG in my pocket. doing the TexasCHLforum thing! Reciprocity with LA is great!

Please tell us the San Francisco details. I have only flown out of Oakland.

Outside the locked hard case inside the luggage. TSA must be able to see the tag without opening the locked hard case when inside luggage. The tag goes inside hard rifle cases. TSA has corrected the tag issue several times. Airlines keep wanting it inside the locked hard case. TSA keeps wanting it outside the hard case.

The ticket agent at IAH on Tuesday inspected my pistolas, and handed me the tag for the case. I signed it, and attached it to the case. She handed me another tag. I told her "You just handed me the tag". SHe told me the case needed two tags since there were two pistols in the case. I started to argue, but decided to hush.

In Baton Rouge, I attached the ticket to the case and she told me to put it inside the cse. I told her it goes on the outside of the hard case. She said no, it goes on the inside, and the lock must be a TSA lock so they can get inside to inspect it. I Did stand my ground about the locks, and asked her if the tag goes inside the case, what is the little elastic loop for? I locked everything up, and went my way.

If ever The process is repeated the right way two times in a row, a hot place will be really chilly.

I use a Pelican case each for my handguns and ammo. The Handgun cse will hold two commander size 1911's. The ammo case will hold four clips and two boxes of ammo. The boxes are lockable, of course, and really sturdy. Measure your weapons and ammo, order up the boxes. I order mine from a place online - cases4less.com.

Chris wrote:
i know how it has to be transported, etc, but how much crap would i have to take after declaring it to the screener? do they actually inspect it? i'd prefer no one but the screener and i know i have it in the checked baggage.

Chris,

Based on my experience, the ticket agents are not likely to dish out any "crap". The absolute only airport where a ticket agent did not bend over backwqrds for me was Philadelphia, Continental Airlines. All that I did was show her the Continental rules, TSA rules, and once a much wiser, more experienced agent verified the facts, the operation went smoothly.

The agents will inspect your weapon to see if it is unloaded, and that the ammo and weapon are not in the same container. They will either escort you to TSA or take your bag to TSA, depending on the airport. If the agent takes your bag to TSA, be prpared to wait until the bag is cleared. Checking firearms adds about 10 minutes to your check in time.

The biggest issue I have seen is TSA's nasty habit of wanting to inspect your firearms, which as I understand it is against the rules. Up to you to object. So far, though, I would rate the experience of flying with weapons a very pleasant experience, well worth the "trouble"' since I like being armed when possible. I highly recommend it. I am winging to Baton Rouge tomorrow, packing.