My experience flying

[CJATE]

After he went through my dirty clothes and box of ammo, he placed the gun case back into my luggage and set it on it's way.

I did not think you could fly with ammo, so I did not see the point to take a gun, as I would hate to buy a box on location only to toss it for my return flight… so I never have.

Where would I review this? TSA or airline’s website? Is there a limit of ammo? Can it be in the mag?

[ducks4brkfast]

Yeah, I've always been under the impression that ammo had to be transported via the ground.

[apostate]

I have flown with firearms in my luggage many times and always had ammo. No hay problema.

[Mike1951]

Ammo has to be SHIPPED by ground.

That is probably where the confusion originates. You cannot ship using Fedex or UPS air services.

However, that has nothing to do with flying as a passenger with ammo. Some airlines do have rules about it being in factory boxes, others just in boxes.

[ELB]

After he went through my dirty clothes and box of ammo, he placed the gun case back into my luggage and set it on it's way.

I did not think you could fly with ammo, so I did not see the point to take a gun, as I would hate to buy a box on location only to toss it for my return flight… so I never have.

Where would I review this? TSA or airline’s website? Is there a limit of ammo? Can it be in the mag?

You need to check both. Airlines can have more restrictive policies than the TSA. Go to the TSA website and search for "firearms" and "ammunition," and do the same on the website(s) of whichever airline(s) you will be flying. Sometimes airlines hide their firearms rules under "sporting equipment" or "hunting."

But yes you can have both firearms and ammo in you luggage, you just can't have the ammo IN your firearm. TSA allows ammo to be transported in the same locked case as the firearm, some airlines do not. Go check, and happy flying.

[SecondSupport]

Transporting a firearm by air is perfectly legal provided certain criteria are met:
1. Unloaded
2. Secured in a hard, locked case
3. Only the person checking the firearm will have the key/combination to the lock securing the gun case. NO EXCEPTIONS. This is a Federal Law. It may NOT be superceded by the TSA.
4. Ammunition may be transported in checked luggage provided it is seperate from the firearm (unload gun, duh) in either factory packaging or a package designed for the transportation of ammo. It is a generally accepted premise that a magazine is a 'specifically designed package'.
5. No reference to a firearm shall be placed outside of the luggage. The airline will fill out (or give you to fill out) a little orange declaration tag, to be placed inside your luggage.
6. Make sure it's legal for you to take possession of your firearm at your destination. There have been a lot of horror stories about flights being diverted to NY/NJ and other very unfriendly places wrt firearms. The laws regarding "unimpeded travel with a legally possessed firearm from the point of orgin to final destination" tends to be ignored in those places.

NOTE: I am NOT a lawyer, this is NOT legal advice. Check with your airline for further information. I have travelled with a checked firearm on southwest (http://www.southwest.com), american (http://www.aa.com) and continental (http://www.co.com). No problems with any of those.

[iflyabeech]

some airlines can be more restrictive.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm

Here is the actual HAZMAT regulation. http://law.justia.com/us/cfr/title49/49 ... .25.4.html
Most of the restrictions on baggage you know of are due to HAZMAT regulations, not security regs. notice 175.10 (5)

Here is another pretty cool link on what you can carry. http://www.midconair.com/web/pdf/FAA_HazMaterials.pdf

[amber]

I'm going to visit family for July 4th. What's good luggage if I want to take my pistol? I usually go with a rolling carry on but I don't think they allow that.

[Kalrog]

.

Don't know how I wound up quoting myself, my apologies.

Sometimes you just have to quote the smartest one in the room...

[BigBlueDodge]

Interesting thread. I do quite a bit of traveling in my job, so this thread is immensely helpful. I do have a couple of questions.

1. I see mention of a "hardsided container". Are there specifics about what constitues hardsided container? Does it matter if the gun case is made of hard plastic, or must it be made of metal?
2. I am unclear about the use of magazines as proper storages of ammunition. I understand that the ammo can be kept in boxes inside of the locked case. Can you keep loaded magazines inside the locked case as well?
3. Does the lock on the case have to have a key, or can it be a combination lock as well?
4. Does the locked case have to have any declarations that it contains a firearm? I seem to recall that a rule that any case that contained a firearm had to be labeled that it contained a firearm.
5. I am a little confused about the discussions of TSA being able to handle a firearm? Is it okay for a TSA agent to request that you open the case containing the firearm? Is it okay for the TSA agent to pickup and handle the firearm?

[BrassMonkey]

Interesting thread. I do quite a bit of traveling in my job, so this thread is immensely helpful. I do have a couple of questions.

1. I see mention of a "hardsided container". Are there specifics about what constitues hardsided container? Does it matter if the gun case is made of hard plastic, or must it be made of metal?
2. I am unclear about the use of magazines as proper storages of ammunition. I understand that the ammo can be kept in boxes inside of the locked case. Can you keep loaded magazines inside the locked case as well?
3. Does the lock on the case have to have a key, or can it be a combination lock as well?
4. Does the locked case have to have any declarations that it contains a firearm? I seem to recall that a rule that any case that contained a firearm had to be labeled that it contained a firearm.
5. I am a little confused about the discussions of TSA being able to handle a firearm? Is it okay for a TSA agent to request that you open the case containing the firearm? Is it okay for the TSA agent to pickup and handle the firearm?

As I understand it:
1. Metal or plastic is fine
2. The TSA website mags are not an acceptable storage medium in and of themselves - You would have to enclose the loaded mags in something like a pouch. You can place the enclosed loaded mags inside the hard sided firearm container if you wish
3. Keys and Combos are both fine
4. Nope - They will give you a little piece of paper to place in the general vicinity of the case and some ticket agents will ask you to put one in the box
5. TSA can inspect the package but not handle the firearm. Doesn't mean they don't do it, but it is against their rules to handle the firearm itself.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm

[HerbM]

Yeah, I've always been under the impression that ammo had to be transported via the ground.

No, that is incorrect.

The law usually reads "separate from the firearm" (or words to that effect) and I thought for a while that this
meant "separate bags" but called and asked. No, not that either.

Then I thought, "Two locked but separate containers" with the (same) bag.

Nope, not that either.

It means Unloaded.

Ammo locked in the same container or in another are both fine. It's not even clear the ammo must be locked up (i.e. in a separate case inside your bag.)

I only carry one firearm case now, within my checked bag.

[zaroffhunts]

A standard hard plastic gun case is acceptable. Ammo must have the primers covered so magazines in a mag pouch meet the legal requirement, but some airlines may have more strict rules. Combination locks are acceptable. There is an unloaded firearms declaration tag you sign, but the tag should go inside the locked hard case, and that goes inside your luggage. FAA regulations prohibit the airlines from using labels that tell thieves there's a gun in the luggage. We encourage purchasing extra valuation insurance. The peace of mind is worth the extra $5 or $10 for a handgun.

The TSA luggage screener can request that you open the case. I don't know the rules about TSA screeners handling firearms but we tell clients not to argue with people who can make you miss your flight. Be sure the hard case and luggage are locked up before they send it down to baggage handling. Remember the old commercial?
[youtube]http://youtube.com/v/B2ZeIoLz8FE&hl=en[/youtube]

[HerbM]

Interesting thread. I do quite a bit of traveling in my job, so this thread is immensely helpful. I do have a couple of questions.

1. I see mention of a "hardsided container". Are there specifics about what constitues hardsided container? Does it matter if the gun case is made of hard plastic, or must it be made of metal?...

As I understand it:
1. Metal or plastic is fine
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm

And they will accept just about any cheap, crummy little plastic case with cheap, crummy locks.

You know like those the firearm comes in (usually) and those tiny little luggage locks that will fit through the clasp or handle on the plastic case.

My knife cut cut through that only marginally slower than a canvas bag but they're legal.

A $5 plastic case and a $1 lock from Wal-Mart or Target (appropriate) will do too.

[jimlongley]

Interesting thread. I do quite a bit of traveling in my job, so this thread is immensely helpful. I do have a couple of questions.

1. I see mention of a "hardsided container". Are there specifics about what constitues hardsided container? Does it matter if the gun case is made of hard plastic, or must it be made of metal?
2. I am unclear about the use of magazines as proper storages of ammunition. I understand that the ammo can be kept in boxes inside of the locked case. Can you keep loaded magazines inside the locked case as well?
3. Does the lock on the case have to have a key, or can it be a combination lock as well?
4. Does the locked case have to have any declarations that it contains a firearm? I seem to recall that a rule that any case that contained a firearm had to be labeled that it contained a firearm.
5. I am a little confused about the discussions of TSA being able to handle a firearm? Is it okay for a TSA agent to request that you open the case containing the firearm? Is it okay for the TSA agent to pickup and handle the firearm?

As I understand it:
1. Metal or plastic is fine
2. The TSA website mags are not an acceptable storage medium in and of themselves - You would have to enclose the loaded mags in something like a pouch. You can place the enclosed loaded mags inside the hard sided firearm container if you wish
3. Keys and Combos are both fine
4. Nope - They will give you a little piece of paper to place in the general vicinity of the case and some ticket agents will ask you to put one in the box
5. TSA can inspect the package but not handle the firearm. Doesn't mean they don't do it, but it is against their rules to handle the firearm itself.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm

I will add:
1: The case does not have to be specifically intended to transport a firearm - I have seen Pelican cases (generic) and cases that had other intentions in their lives (camera) and even a Tupperware type thing that the gun owner had whipped up.

2: Mags in pouches that close was the TSA interpretation while I was there - this means an open top belt type mag carrier is not suitable, although I have both seen them and used them, and have seen mags packed in a gun case inserted in the foam packing - and I didn't say a word.

3: The rule is that the key or combo must be only in the possession of the owner, which would seem to disinclude the TSA locks that are available and since TSA is not supposed to need to get into the case after it's declared and locked, there is no reason for them to have a key - if the really really need to get in there, they should really have you there to open the case for them, and to witness the transaction. I hate to tell you how many "lip service" locks I have seen on gun cases - like luggage locks that can be opened by just about any key - and those I also usually let pass.

4: The locations of the declaration tags, if used, vary greatly.

5: TSA agents may ask you to unlock the box so they can look inside, but once it's open, TSA agents may "gently move" a firearm, by nudging it to the side to see if something is underneath it, but they are not allowed, under ANY circumstances, ANY circumstances at all, to handle a firearm, no TSA screener, no TSA Lead Screener, no TSA Supervisor, no TSA Screening Manager. If a firearm absolutely must be handled, a LEO must be called to do so, not even the owner is allowed to handle the gun, and there are no circumstances that modify this rule.

All of that said I would not spend a lot of time trying to confront them - I would mention that a certain action is a violation of their own rules, but I would, and have, get names and badge numbers of all involved and write numerous letters of complaint about their non-compliance.