Flying with a rifle case

[ForkLift]

Last time I flew I was bring a rifle & pistol with me. All was fine when I left the airport. When I got to my layover spot, I checked the tracking. My gun case was in Dallas, nowhere near where I was headed. A day and a half later the case showed up at my final location, but with new locks. Someone, probably TSA, felt it was necessary to remove all four of my TSA approved locks and replace them with their own. Bolt cutters solved the problem & everything in the case was untouched. Case had its own internal lock.

 

[WCB]

OP...forget A LOT of information guys are giving you here.

#1 My normal experience traveling with a firearm many times including internationally is....Go to check in with the firearm case unlocked and declare it. Fill out the card, they ask to me to open the case and they throw the card in. Sometimes they have me lock it there sometimes not. They then escort or send me to the oversized scan area. They inspect it there. They then clear me ok to go through security and to my gate.

#2 Many people including myself have packed clothes and other items around firearms in various cases without issue. However, if they open it they may not pack it correctly OR depending how things are packed and if you have other items in there it may create interest to search. I stick with factory foam everything (guns, binos, range finder, knifes, etc) in between the two layers so when it is opened everything is right there. I never had an issue the 2xs I've done it with extra clothes packed around the firearm. However, I thought about it one time when I just had the foam and they sent it through the scan after inspecting and me watching them. Before it got through the scanner a red light went off and they had me open the case again. The foam made it easy for them. No issues and the security guy just shook his head when the red light came on and said "I have to open it even though I know it is good". The second time he walked it around the machine instead of scanning it and gave me the thumbs up.

#3 If they measure you may be screwed but make sure you are a pound or two under if weighing at home Never had an issue but again mine is 54" and been right at like 49.5lbs but it weighed exactly a pound less at home with locks on and everything.

#4 Just get a lock for every spot made for one. I just have a 4 pack of Master locks with keys from the hardware store. I have NEVER used TSA locks. I keep a key in my wallet and one in my carry-on zip tied to something internally. YES, you may get by with 2 locks and 4 spots for them. BUT, I have been in line a couple times with guys that only had 2 with more spots for them and they would not accept there cases.

Print out that airlines policy and have it with you. Also, be organized and don't fumble around with crap. This is just my experience and what I have seen but whether it was on initial check in or going through customs on international hunts... I have seen guys fumbling with locks, have bolts closed on their firearms, or packing items in a way that makes it harder for security to inspect. Every time it seems it takes them longer and causes more questions. That is why I just go with foam and everything right there laid out. They open the case, look, do the swab test. Case is then shut locked and I'm gone. Again only the one time my gun got checked a second time and the worker even knew it was B.S.

Be respectful, engaging and accommodating with the agents (within their firearm policy).

 

[mitchamafied]

Flying Delta last year, I had the check-in agent tell me that my SKB double bow case was too big for a bow and that he should charge me for oversize luggage, but that he would let it slide this time. My understanding is that sporting goods are exempt and he was just being a pain. I did have it packed with other clothing and gear, but was well under the weight limit. I’ve used the same case and done similar traveling with a shotgun to turkey hunt.

 

[Macintosh]

This topic comes up monthly, and has for decades, and I keep giving the same advice. I feel certain my advice is better than anything here, because my advice is that the rules dont matter, the ONLY thing you can count on is inconsistency, you are at their mercy, and if you are counting on one set of rules you ARE going to get hosed eventually, so BE FLEXIBLE. I'm confident in this becasue I have personally proven it to be true. I dont care what anything says online, or what the law is, you CANNOT count on one consistent set of rules to be held to universally. I know exactly what the rules are, all I know with 100% certainty is that:
1) you can count on the rules to change without your knowledge,
2) you can count on the airline and the government to have different timelines for updating their info,
3) you can count on various people (who happen to have a controlling interest in your travel plans) having a different understanding of the rules,
4) you can count on different local policies (state, city, airport, tsa office, local airline boss, etc) on how they apply their (possibly unique) interpretation of the rules, which may or may not directly contradict any other set of rules.
5) If making your flight with gun accompanying you is your measure of success, you can count on losing any argument with a tsa agent or airline representative when push comes to shove.

Based on this I'd recommend allowing yourself time to jump through whatever hoops they have, I would prioritize padding because your case WILL get violently thrown a great distance onto concrete, absolutely count on needing a lock for EVERY place that is designed to accept a lock regardless of whether it is required, and I would bring a set of both regular keyed locks and a set of TSA locks, as I personally know people that were turned away for NOT having TSA locks. Put everything in the case, add an air pod, make sure your name and address and cell phone is prominently available inside and outside the case, smile, nod your head, say yes sir and yes maam, and enjoy being treated like a farm animal as you wait with a smile. If you count on the published rules, you WILL eventually have a problem. Be prepared for surprises and inconsistency and you will be fine.

 

[Smfigari]

No. In many ways flying with a gun has benefits over flying without one, such as being in a separate line for check baggage that often times is just you so it cuts back on the wait. Good luck!