Flying with guns and locks

[F3RubiconBallistic]

put an airtag in your case. please !!!!!!!

Why?

 

[roymunson]

Why?

Because you can sit at the gate or on the plane and verify that your luggage/gun is in fact on the plane with you. It's pretty slick.

 

[Thegman]

The last time I checked the rules, TSA had relaxed the “no TSA locks” requirement - but I still wouldn’t use them. And while they are supposed to let you be present during inspection, that depends on the airport in question.

Yes, TSA locks -seem- to be fine with TSA inspectors. I've been flying with my rifle broken down and packed in a hard sided, latching, no zipper TSA lock latch suitcase (Samsonite) for years now. That seems to meet their requirements for a rifle case. TSA has never had an issue in 50+ inspections.

That said, even though it seems to meet their requirements, I once had an American Airlines agent say it didn't. The only issue was he saw the pistol case had no lock. I told him the Suitcase was my locking case but he couldn't wrap his mind around it. Had to buy a padlock from them for the pistol case. Fortunately he had no clue my AR was packed inside my clothes beneath and didn't notice the 223 ammo was obviously not for the handgun. Usually fly with Alaskan and zero issues with them, or any other airline, ever.

 

[F3RubiconBallistic]

This is my current rifle case, by Cabela’s. It only has two lock slots though is this gonna be a problem does anyone think?

 

[fwafwow]

This is my current rifle case, by Cabela’s. It only has two lock slots though is this gonna be a problem does anyone think?

No way to know. Thinking about it on a rational basis, i'd say you are gtg. But I don't know if it's reasonable to assume the TSA person is rational. Might depend on the airport(s). I've heard on the internet that some TSA folks will try to pry open a case to see if they can get a finger in, with the belief that means they could pull the firearm out. No clue if that's a sanctioned test, something done in practice by a few, or internet lore. Maybe do some searches more broadly for that particular case model number?

 

[F3RubiconBallistic]

No way to know. Thinking about it on a rational basis, i'd say you are gtg. But I don't know if it's reasonable to assume the TSA person is rational. Might depend on the airport(s). I've heard on the internet that some TSA folks will try to pry open a case to see if they can get a finger in, with the belief that means they could pull the firearm out. No clue if that's a sanctioned test, something done in practice by a few, or internet lore. Maybe do some searches more broadly for that particular case model number?

I looked on the Cabela's site and it explicitly said it was TSA approved, so who knows

 

[davsco]

I looked on the Cabela's site and it explicitly said it was TSA approved, so who knows

i see that. also a question that says to ask tsa about how many locks are needed, so who knows...

 

[Bugger]

This is my current rifle case, by Cabela’s. It only has two lock slots though is this gonna be a problem does anyone think?View attachment 862556

I’ve traveled with that exact case and two master-locks, no issues. Print out the TSA and your airline regs because they typically don’t know very well. I keep small colored zip ties to throw on there after they inspect as tamper detection, and deterrent, none have ever been busted at pickup.

 

[Thegman]

I’ve traveled with that exact case and two master-locks, no issues. Print out the TSA and your airline regs because they typically don’t know very well. I keep small colored zip ties to throw on there after they inspect as tamper detection, and deterrent, none have ever been busted at pickup.

Agree. I've checked firearms far more times than I can count, and watched as many or more check through with all kinds of cases. I've never, ever seen someone with a case like this have any issues whatsoever.

TSA asks for:
A hard sided case. Check
Lockable. Check
Not easily opened once locked. Check

You're good, no worries.

 

[Avonac]

I flew with a rifle late last year. When i went to fly back, I realized TSA had taken one of my TSA locks off and not put it back. When I got my case at my final destination, the other lock was missing. Everything was there but I have no idea what happened to my locks. I will never use TSA locks again.
Also, some of the other posts are correct. Every airport is different and don’t expect the rules to make sense.

 

[fmyth]

Yes, TSA locks -seem- to be fine with TSA inspectors. I've been flying with my rifle broken down and packed in a hard sided, latching, no zipper TSA lock latch suitcase (Samsonite) for years now. That seems to meet their requirements for a rifle case. TSA has never had an issue in 50+ inspections.

That said, even though it seems to meet their requirements, I once had an American Airlines agent say it didn't. The only issue was he saw the pistol case had no lock. I told him the Suitcase was my locking case but he couldn't wrap his mind around it. Had to buy a padlock from them for the pistol case. Fortunately he had no clue my AR was packed inside my clothes beneath and didn't notice the 223 ammo was obviously not for the handgun. Usually fly with Alaskan and zero issues with them, or any other airline, ever.

Every baggage handler has a TSA master key. I want my firearm in a firearm case with non tsa locks to keep the baggage handlers from accessing it.

 

[F3RubiconBallistic]

I’ve traveled with that exact case and two master-locks, no issues. Print out the TSA and your airline regs because they typically don’t know very well. I keep small colored zip ties to throw on there after they inspect as tamper detection, and deterrent, none have ever been busted at pickup.

Which locks worked best for you? Ones I just got were too thick and short


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bugger]

Which locks worked best for you? Ones I just got were too thick and short

https://a.co/d/8cgCW50

 

[wind gypsy]

This is my current rifle case, by Cabela’s. It only has two lock slots though is this gonna be a problem does anyone think?View attachment 862556

I think my double case is the same one or very similar. Had it for a decade. Never had an issue with TSA even departing from LAX. I've always used non-TSA pad locks with the long shanks that have multiple notches for adjusting how tight you can make them so you can snug them up tight on the holes.

That said, I never had much for hassle shipping long guns via USPS either until recently.

 

[omicron1792]

This is my current rifle case, by Cabela’s. It only has two lock slots though is this gonna be a problem does anyone think?View attachment 862556

Not at all. I know lots of guys that dremmel two of the four slots off a case to only have two. The rules aren’t how many lock slots you have, it is that every slot you do have must have a lock in it.

Also the AirTag thing is a great help.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

also a question that says to ask tsa about how many locks are needed, so who knows...

One for every lock location is the answer for any case regardless if you can't open it up with less locks, they want all locations locked.

 

[wind gypsy]

One for every lock location is the answer for any case regardless if you can't open it up with less locks, they want all locations locked.

This is prudent advice but when I was flying with guns a lot more 5-12 years ago i only abided by the "Locked sufficiently to prevent access to contents in case" rule. I frequently left open lock locations and never had an issue.