Flying with guns.. Could use some experienced advice!

[aggieland]

So we are headed on our first Alaskan bow hunting adventure next week. We plan to carry a 444 marlin and a glock for people & grizzly “protection”. Anyway, I am checking two bags for the flight up, I will have the 444 in my double bow case with other gear locked up after a tsa check. I also have almost all my other gear in my kifaru pack placed inside a large duffle bag. Would I be somewhat better off placing the glock in a small hard case and then put it in the duffle bag and have it checked by TSA? Then locking the zippers on that bag too? Or just lock i the zippers anyway and leave the glock in the hard case with the 444 etc? I have never flown with this much $$$$Gear$$$$, I'm super nervous some of it could walk off on the flight off etc.. Any thoughts?

 

[colonel00]

Use TSA locks if you lock the zippers. I have done both, flown with a handgun in a small locked case in a duffle and also just put it in a bow or gun case. The good thing about having a gun in a bag is they will take it serious.

Anyway, to your question, as I understand it, once you check your gun cases, they cannot open the actual cases and you can use your own locks on them. Worst case, they may page you and have you open the gun cases for inspection. This is all dependent upon the airport you are flying out of. Now, if you have your Glock in a small case in the duffle, I believe they can still search the duffle so that is why I suggest the TSA locks so they don't just cut them off.

 

[aggieland]

I have read that TSA locks are a bad idea due to anyone with a TSA type key can open your luggage, I have already bought non TSA locks but if I need to change over I still have time.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

I have read that TSA locks are a bad idea due to anyone with a TSA type key can open your luggage, I have already bought non TSA locks but if I need to change over I still have time.

the locks on your normal luggage need to be TSA locks or they will break them off. They have to be able to do "random" searches on your bags. As stated above though by Colonel your gun locks should be good quality personal locks in which only you have the key.

 

[blutooth]

I can't remember on the long gun - it's been a few years, but the pistol needs to be in a locked case inside the duffel/suitcase. The duffel does not necessarily need a lock on it but if you do that one has to be a tsa lock. You will need to open the cases at check in. Some agents will want to see the guns/check that they are not loaded etc, while others will want nothing to do with them. All will require you insert the firearm paperwork into the actual gun case and then lock it and place it back in your luggage.

 

[colonel00]

Ask firearms must me in a locked hard case that cannot be opened. One lock on one end of a rifle case will not work if you can open the other end even slightly. I'll take pictures tomorrow of what we do if you need.

 

[idig4au]

I fly with guns all the time.

Put glock inside a hard case like a pelican and put in your duffle. The duffle can be locked with TSA locks. The hard case pelican should be locked with a non TSA lock. Hang out after checking and you can open the gun case for TSA for them to check.

 

[aggieland]

So if you use non TSA locks their is a chance they will cut your locks off. iIf you use TSA locks anyone in the airport can open your luggage.. Sounds like a bad deal either way. I figured if TSA had already checked your bags with the guns and watched you lock them, they would leave them alone.

 

[colonel00]

So if you use non TSA locks their is a chance they will cut your locks off. iIf you use TSA locks anyone in the airport can open your luggage.. Sounds like a bad deal either way. I figured if TSA had already checked your bags with the guns and watched you lock them, they would leave them alone.

Yeah, guns or no guns, that's the way it works with all checked luggage. If you have a handgun in a duffle or other piece of luggage, there is no specific way of identifying that bag as containing a gun. Personally, I prefer this as it does not bring unnecessary attention to that bag. However, being that the bag is not labelled any differently than any other checked bag, it is susceptible to the same random screenings.

 

[aggieland]

If they open that duffel bag and unpack it. Lol, it will take a team of agents to get all that gear back inside. Or they will dump some.

 

[Ray]

A glock for people in Alaska? Unless you are spending time late at night wandering the streets of Anchorage, you won't be needing that.

When I travel with my pistol and work gear, I have my pistol in a padded zipper case and that is in a locked gear box. You can do the same with your bow/rifle/pistol piece of luggage.

 

[aggieland]

I was slightly kidding about the people aspect. In fact I'm considering leaving it at home I plan to have bear spray with me and it's a 40 cal so not the best choice for bears anyway. Probably over thinking things again...

 

[Msowa]

When TSA checks your firearm, you lock the pistol case with your lock AND TSA will do a full wipe down/search of the remainder of the duffel. I've never locked my duffel containing a pistol case. You are at their mercy and if a worker wants it they'll commit the felony and take your shit, if you you're gonna stress it don't do it. Have a great trip!

 

[tstowater]

You have gotten plenty of good advice here already, but I will add my 2 cents. When I was in Alaska hunting, another guy in camp brought a handgun, rifle and a bow. He put all in a double bow case and got along fine. Just make sure that whatever you do meets the TSA and airline requirements as some airlines are more restrictive than TSA. Remember that you may need to pack ammo to meet the airline requirements also. Good idea to have the airlines firearms rules with you when you check in to "assist" a check-in person with what the requirements are.

Second, if you are going to be using a bush plane to get to a hunting location, you may be subject to further weight and size restrictions than you experienced on the flight in. Some of the bush planes are not suitable for some of the larger bow/rifle cases.

Last, if someone wants to damage or steal your gear, paranoia isn't going to make it better. Unfortunately you are at the mercy of the airline employees and others in the terminals. Take a picture of your bags so that you have that handy in case one of your bags cannot be located at the end of your flight. I needed this in Vegas one time when my bag with my gun didn't show up when we got off the plane. Needless to say, the airline employees knew who I was by the time the gun was "located".

Good luck and have fun.