Your proven method for traveling on planes with guns

[cm]

I will be taking my first family trip with my CCW pistol on a flight to Florida where my permit is honored. I am aware of the TSA rules of how to transport my Sig p226 on planes but wanted to hear from the experienced folk who found the best method for traveling on planes with their firearms. What type of Case you are using the type of lock (TSA approved or not).

What has been in your experience the best method for transporting your gun, mags, ammo, and dealing with airport security?

Thanks for your input.

Chris

[philw]

G'Day and welcome to DRTV mate

the ammo is best stored in the factory boxes or MTM style cases  in a locked bag,

with the pistol I would have it in a good hard cased box  and make sure you have Good locks on the box  and you suitcase not the crappy little ones you get with a lot of suitcase's.

have a good holiday


i hope Rob P or MB will add there input in to this one seeings they spend more time traveling than at home

[kmitch200]

I use a hard handgun case that has holes for 2 padlocks.
If you don't have one, look at the box your gun came in and see if it has holes you can use for the lock(s).
I put the ammo back in the box (or two) and mags in the mag pouch. (there can be loaded mags in the mag pouch but I usually put the ammo in the box)
All go in the hard case then padlocks go on.
(**on edit**: It doesn't HAVE to go in the locked hard case. Inside the suitcase is fine if you don't have enough room for ammo.)
That goes in the suitcase. On the suitcase I just use a cheap TSA 'approved' lock that is a POS.

Tell the ticket agent that you have a firearm to declare and they will give you the tag to sign, that goes in the suitcase that has the gun in it. No big deal.

In Phx, they tell you to hang out for a few minutes while the bag gets x-rayed in case the TSA geek needs you to open it.
In Seattle, they send you over to a separate area and that guy swabs the bag inside and out but doesn't check inside the locked case. No, it doesn't make any sense to me either.
Then head to the bar and get a bloody mary.  

Check the airline regs 'cause they can be different than the TSA regs, but usually aren't.

[TAB]

The last 2 times  I've done it, I've mailed it to myself at the address I was staying it.  Federal law says its legal to do that, but no one else better open it.


Now granted if you are staying at a hotel thats not exactly something you can do.

[fightingquaker13]

The last 2 times  I've done it, I've mailed it to myself at the address I was staying it.  Federal law says its legal to do that, but no one else better open it.


Now granted if you are staying at a hotel thats not exactly something you can do.

Actually, some, not all, UPS stores will hold pachages from UPS for you for a couple of bucks a day. My local UPS store won't mail firearms, I have to go to the main depot (not sure if its a local policy or a national one). Its a drive, but not a hassel once you get there. I don't know if UPS stores will hold fire arms or not. If its a local thing, just call and ask (talk to a manager).
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[Rastus]

Plastic hard case with one of those midget key locks on it.  I have my name on an airline tag attached to the trigger guard BECAUSE...the guys in the back at TSA have jimmied and opened my cheaper cases to look in and lost stuff, like extra parts such as a safety lube, etc. and I am paranoid they will drop the gun and not know how to put it back in the case...so I tag it.  Get a case that you can't open from the sides easily by prying on it (Kmitch is right about the two lock if you can find it). 

As far as regs, TSA did not like my Bushmaster case that came with the AR...it's flimsy as in it locks in the middle but you can open the catches and pry it open on either end easily removing the weapon....but they just looked at me and implied they were doing me a favor by letting it through.  At that time the standard only said locked hard case so TSA really could not make a big deal because I had done it "as it is written" and if that has not changed in the last few months since I've flown then any hard case is good.

Easy, easy, easy to fly with weapon as luggage...just keep it locked up when you come in and until after you walk out.  When I present my luggage and get my boarding pass they'll ask something like "Two bags to check sir?" And I'll say I have one bag which is an unloaded weapon to check in and another which is just normal luggage.  Newbies who do not know guns will get nervous so always have a reassuring smile when they call in to find out what to do and the more experienced agents will sometimes only want to open the case and drop in the declaration without inspecting the gun.  The ones who know me here in Tulsa sometimes want to open it up just to see what I'm flying with...they reallly like the PS 90's.

Remember no ammo with the locked weapon and you do need to tell them the ammo is in the other checked bag which they mostly don't care about but it does need to be in it's own purpose built container not loose.

With the airline employees and TSA guys...if they question you or try to tell you what you have is not OK but they will let it slide smile, thank them and ask them how to do it the right way because you thought you were in compliance....always puts the monkey on their back because it's always in my experience been a personal preference and you've kindly put them on the spot and in their place without them knowing it and greased the skids to continue unabated with no hassels past that point.