TexasCHLforum.com

trentwhite778 wrote:I'm actually flying to Michigan on Wednesday and will be taking my firearm for the first time. I read up on all the TSA rules as well as Michigan's CPL laws (pretty similar to Texas for the most part). Do you have to cable your case to the inside of your suitcase? I didn't read that anywhere.
TSA clearly says that you can keep your ammo in the same locked case as the unloaded firearm, yet when I called DFW, they said I had to have the ammo and gun in SEPARATE locked cases. I don't have an Ammo lock box nor room, so I'm planning on taking everything in one case. I got a cool Pelican case at Cabela's.

So when I go to check in, do I just tell the ticket agent that I need to fill out a declaration of a firearm and let them take it from there?
Do they mark the outside of your suitcase as containing a firearm? I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Fastening your firearm case to your suitcase with a cable is not a requirement, but it does provide better security in case a baggage handler gets sticky fingers. TSA allows ammo in the factory boxes, other boxes made to hold ammo, or even in the magazines if they are placed in a magazine pouch. When I do the latter, I tape them in the pouch to keep them secure. What your airline's policy is about ammo in the firearm case is another matter... check their web site or call your airline. Southwest allows ammo in the gun case and their policy is not to verify that the firearm is unloaded, but some airlines want to physically check the firearm to ensure that it is unloaded. When you get to the check in counter, tell the agent that you have an unloaded firearm to declare. The agent will have you complete the declaration form and will place it on the firearm case, some tape it to the firearm case. You should not use locks that can be opened by TSA to lock your firearm case. Your suitcase is not marked to indicate that it contains a firearm as such is prohibited by law. Southwest is firearm friendly, some airlines are not so much.