I'll be flying to out of state to target shoot, what is the best way to ship/transport my firearms?

Question

I fly out of an international airport which states that no firearms are permitted beyond the security point. What is the procedure which allow the carrier to board a plane bearing a hand gun? Yes, I have a CWP.

Was in Equador recently, all hand guns were held by security and given to owners upon reaching their destinations. Would that same legality apply in the U.S. flying across state lines? Many thanks.

Answer 1

Call the airlines and find out their regulations. You WONT be able to take ammuntion more than likely, so you may have to buy it there. I had to let the airport know in advance, let them know upon arrival, it had to be secured in a locked AND taped case which messed up the finish of the case. They made me throw out the ammuntion in the trash can, real safe....idiots. It had to be checked and stored underneath the plane which is fine, but you worry the whole time if the baggage handlers took it.

Answer 2

Take them with you on the plane

It's not that hard, just takes a little extra time

Answer 3

in the hardest locked case you can find

Answer 4

Depends on where you are and where you are going.

I usually fly with them... checked baggage of course.

check oout the TSA requirments for flying with a weapon... also check the airline website (might have to search REAL hard) for information... usually follows the TSA to the letter.

Generally...

1 - Must be in locked case

2 - Must be unloaded

3 - Any Ammunition must be in a case designed to transport a small ammount ofammunition... protecting the primers from accidental strike.

When I fly I go to the check in counter (can not do curbside) .. if there is a line, tell the porter that you need to check in a weapon at the desk... they usyually take you to the front of the line.

Tell the clerk tht you need to check in a firearm... there is a small form to fill out... they usually make you show that the weapon is clear (that is where people usually freak out... so be aware) and place the form in the weapons case... the case goes to the TSA Agent for

"special screening" and you go to your plane and meet your luggage when you get to your destination.

You need to make sure that the weapon you are transporting is OK in the destination you are travelling. Like if going to New Jersey... can't have high capacity magazines , etc.

I fly with handguns, long guns all the time

If flying internationally... there are otherregulations... all of the above is for domestic flights

Answer 5

To avoid the risk of having your baggage lost/stolen, you may want to contact UPS to find out how to ship your items to your destination.  By using UPS (or Fed-Ex) etc., your shipment can be insured and you won't have the airport hassles.

Answer 6

It's a royal pain taking firearms in an airport. I have an advantage of the badge and fly armed. Thus my carry on baggage is not inspected and I'll carry at least one more pistol. Try to get on Your local Police Dept or Sheriff Office as a reserve officer and take the hassle out of TSA and the airlines.

Answer 7

You can take it with you as checked luggage if it meets the requirements as far as being unloaded, locked up and no ammo with it.  If you will not be leaving the United States, there is no special paperwork needed to take it with you.  However, before leaving the United States with it, be sure to have completed all of the necessary paperwork for the country where you will be going.  Whatever you do, do not wait until you are there to try to take care of the required paperwork or you might loose your gun.

Once all of the required paperework is completed, if you are traveling to another country, put your gun in an airline approved lockable gun case.  Use only an airline approved lock ot it could be cut off if they need to inspect your gun case.  From that point on, it will be traveling without any lock.  Too inviting for a dishonest person to resist.  When you arrive at the airport, take the cased locked rifle to the ticket counter and tell them that you have a gun that you want to check as luggage.  They will send you to the secured area where you will be required to open the gun case and show that the gun is unloaded and that there is no ammo in the case with the gun.  They will then allow you to place your approved lock on the case, they will seal it with security tape and take it from you and place it in the luggage cart.  The gun will be placed in the luggage compartment of the plane that you will be traveling on.  You will be able to pick it up with your luggage at your destination.

It's really a very simple process and I have never had any hassle from the airlines or the security people.  Just be serious with them, do as they say and don't make any wisecracks and everything will go amazingly smoothly.

Answer 8

First call your airline. They will tell you what they need you to do. Normaly it is not to hard locked in a hard case ammo seperate and firearm not loaded (They really dislike loaded firearms). Then check the TSA web site for regulations on transporting firearms. Some Airlines i have heard will not transport firearms, but I have not meet one.

Shoot I was flying home one time and taking my varmint rifle with me I almost missed my flight because the nice lady at the check out counter was admiring it so much. She liked it so much that she gave me a free upgrade to 1st class..... This was before 9-11-01 to.

Mr. B

Answer 9

Put your firearms in a hard case- you will not be able to carry them on board the plane with you, not even your pistol-You can only hope they go to the same place you are going to. There is 20% chance they will be stolen, and an even greater odds of them not making it at the same time you do. Did you know that on occasion, the ---forget it, it would just be more for you to worry about! Good luck!

Answer 10

Go to the airport.

Go to the counter and check-in

Tell the ticket agent

"I need to declare a checked firearm"

The will have a TSA agent come inspect it.

Requirements.

Mags unloaded

Gun Unloaded

Ammo in factory or hard ammo box

In Lockable hard sided case

When the TSA agent shows up the ticket agent will tell them whats up.

When you show the TSA upen you suite case

Unlock the carry box - DO NOT REMOVE FROM SUITCASE

I cable lock mine so they can see the cable through the barrel

The will then say ok lock it up

Lock the case

they will put a little sticker in the case

Close your luggage

They will put a sticker on the luggage

The sticker is the "Hand inspected sticker"

Then you check the bag

Recomendation;

When you get where you are going

when you grab your luggage flag down a TSA

tell them you would like them as a witness when you open your luggage and explain that you checked an firearm and would like to inspect it's case for signs of tampering.

The reason I do this is one time I got where I was going and found that someone had cut the lock on my gun case.

This raised one h**l-of-stink.

I had to go right back to the airport to fill out all kinds of paperwork.