Airplane travel with two pistols, checked of course

Tactical Gear Tactical Gear
1

It looks like I’ll get more chances to shoot when I’m on the road rather than stuck with the rug-rats at home. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the basics, but we don’t have much here on M4C on it, and it seems like most of the posts from other places are mostly 3-4 years old.

I’m going to be travelling with 2 fullsize handguns, and about 5 mags per gun.

From what I’ve read I want a case small enough to put in another standard suitcase. I’d like to be able to put the gun case in my standard roll-on that expands to check-in size.

  1. Suggestions on cases, or how big of one I’ll need?
  2. Is it advisable to secure the gun case to the inside of the suitcase somehow? Kind of like those PC cables?
  3. Locks- use combo or key locks? I assume for the gun case that TSA locks are not suggested? If you are at an airport where the baggage screening is not at the counter, do you just wait around till the tell you it has cleared screening incase they need your keys/combo.
  4. If I need to take ammo, I’ll load the mags- can you still do this or will the mags then have to be in a seperate case?

I think I can muddle my way thru it, I was just looking for some pointers on the fine points.

Thanks!

2

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=27347&highlight=flying

I used a Pelican 1470 and carried a G34 and a G17 in it. Mags traveled in a different case.

3

That would be at your discretion. I don’t.

I prefer key locks. If the TSA decides they need to get into the case, they may cut the locks if they can’t open them with a key. If they cut the locks, you won’t be able to transport the guns.

You could do that. I typically just go to the gate. They can page me if they need me.

You’d be better off keeping ammo in the manufacturer’s boxes or in something like a plastic ammo box like this: http://www.mtmcase-gard.com/products/handgun/ammo_boxes.html

4

Thanks for the link. I was using ‘airplane’ and ‘airport’ as search terms, which didn’t catch that post.

-I assume the mags and ammo would have to be in a seperate locked case also?

5

Took me a few tries to find the post also.

I put mags and ammo in the large suitcase and locked the large suitcase with a TSA lock. No problems. All mags were empty and ammo was in the factory cardboard box. No locked box for the mags and ammo.

6

1. Suggestions on cases, or how big of one I’ll need?

I use a case just large enough to hold the number of guns I’m carrying. So something small enough to hold two guns. I’d use a polymer case. Metal almost guarantees TSA will want to open the bag to verify you have the signed declaration form in there

2. Is it advisable to secure the gun case to the inside of the suitcase somehow? Kind of like those PC cables?

I do and I use a fairly simple method. I take a cable lock (the ones that come with most handguns these days) and run it through the handle and around some fixed part inside the luggage. Anyone will be able to defeat it if they get the bag out of the airport or have the time to screw with it, but that’s a given. What I’m aiming to do is to make it appear to require enough work or time that they won’t bother with it.

3. Locks- use combo or key locks? I assume for the gun case that TSA locks are not suggested? If you are at an airport where the baggage screening is not at the counter, do you just wait around till the tell you it has cleared screening incase they need your keys/combo.

I use a master lock or something similar for the gun case itself - not a TSA lock. Of course you should stick around by the Security screening area until they tell you you’re good to go before heading to your gate as you’ll be the only one with a key capable of opening the case. If you can’t see the screening area, I’d ask the ticket agent to confirm that you’re good to go before departing the area.

4. If I need to take ammo, I’ll load the mags- can you still do this or will the mags then have to be in a seperate case?

Normally this is still good to go, but leaving Orlando after SHOT this year, the head TSA guy at the screening area there told two of us this was a no-go. I’ve since checked guns and loaded mags haven’t been a problem. To be safe, and given the number of mags you’ll be carrying, I’d just get a small plastic tupperware case or something similar from wally world, load the mags and put them in that case. That said, the absolute fool proof way is to keep the rounds in their original box. When I travel with 1 gun, I usually have the unloaded gun sitting on top of the foam insert, and the loaded mags sitting underneath the foam insert in the same case. 99% of the time my bag gets scanned and they wave me on without opening the case.

Finally, make sure they don’t stick anything on your bag that would alert the world to the fact that you have a burner in there. I’ve had this happen a few times and had to take them to task for it.

7

Good thread. Hit these links, too:

Handy Link: http://safetravel.dot.gov/

Ammo specifically: http://safetravel.dot.gov/index_ammunition.html

TSA Guidance: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1666.shtm

Also, be advised that most airlines have a 50lb maximum weight for checked baggage, and hefty overweight charges thereafter. 50lbs is easier to hit than you think, especially with ammo and assorted other life support gear.

8

Thanks for the answers and links. Luckily (unluckily) I fly all the time, so at least I’m used to that. I try not to check luggage if at all possible, but I guess I’ll have to now. :stuck_out_tongue:

9

One thing to be careful about as well is rerouting. I ended up missing a connection in Atlanta (big shocker) a while back and the airline was going to reroute me through Chicago O’Hare, with the possibility of having to re-check in on another airline. If I’d agreed to that, I could have potentially been arrested when checking in in Chicago for being in posession of a firearm without having a FOID card.

I currently use a Secure-It Pistol Box. It can hold a G22 and G27 at the same time. Depending on how long my trip will be/which airline I am flying on decides whether or not I pack my magazines and ammo in the same checked bag or a different one.

10

Just make sure whatever you secure it in is considered a “Hard Case”, even if you drop the hard case inside your soft sided suitcase…

I say this knowing that your bags can be infiltrated without breaking/cutting ANY locks and you not even know it.

ALWAYS check your bags when you reach your destination, if anything is wrong, note the time of your inspection and report it immediatly.

11

I would never trust my firearms to the thieves at the airport. My advice is to overnight them addressed to yourself, to your destination. Whoever is there to sign for them must be instructed NOT TO OPEN your package.

Just my 2cents…

12

Thanks everyone, went with out a hitch. Of course my bag got smaller on the way home and I had a devil of a time getting the suitcase closed! TSA guy was a former Army guy who talked about shooting 45s.