Flying with rifle and ammo

Justin Crossley

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I've flown a couple times with my rifle in a Pelican case along with the ammo in plastic containers.

Has anyone done the same but with a soft ammo wallet?
 
I leave them in the original cardboard boxes. I’ve done this at least half a dozen times with no issues. They just can’t be loose.
I've flown a couple times with my rifle in a Pelican case along with the ammo in plastic containers.

Has anyone done the same but with a soft ammo wallet?
 
You can put it in a factory box, or anything that secures the ammo. Some airlines allow for the ammonia to be “secured” in a magazine. As long as it’s secure and not loose you are good to go in most airlines.
You need to check with the airline you are flying though because some airlines have special stipulations.
 
I keep mine in a factory box and put that in a small Pelican type case in my checked bag. It can't be in the same case as the rifle. At least on Alaska Airlines.
 
I keep mine in a factory box and put that in a small Pelican type case in my checked bag. It can't be in the same case as the rifle. At least on Alaska Airlines.
I've flown to AK on Alaska Airlines many times with my firearm and ammo in the same case. All airlines default to the TSA rules on firearms/ammo. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition.

Alaska Airlines Website: Transporting firearms in luggage:


Screen Shot 2025-03-23 at 6.27.38 AM.png
 
I've flown to AK on Alaska Airlines many times with my firearm and ammo in the same case. All airlines default to the TSA rules on firearms/ammo. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition.

Alaska Airlines Website: Transporting firearms in luggage:


View attachment 857233
Some airlines are more strict than TSA though. It’s best to just make sure before showing up to the airport. All of their regulations and requirements are listed on their websites.
 
fmyth-thanks for the info. It's been 2 years since I last did it so may have changed since then. I still put it in a separate container in my checked bag to avoid unexpected issues. Especially since after I check in, my duffel bag heads out to the gate while I still have to go through the TSA inspection and I'd hate for them to tell me I can't have the ammo in my rifle case.
 
I have never had a single person check my ammo. As long as they aren’t loose in the gun case or loaded in the magazine, it shouldnt matter
 
Some airlines are more strict than TSA though. It’s best to just make sure before showing up to the airport. All of their regulations and requirements are listed on their websites.
What airlines have stricter rules than the TSA for flying with a firearm? I've only flown on SW, AK, United and Delta with my firearms.
 
fmyth-thanks for the info. It's been 2 years since I last did it so may have changed since then. I still put it in a separate container in my checked bag to avoid unexpected issues. Especially since after I check in, my duffel bag heads out to the gate while I still have to go through the TSA inspection and I'd hate for them to tell me I can't have the ammo in my rifle case.
I take a printed copy of the TSA rules and the airlines rules from their website with me. I never put my ammo in a checked bag. A checked bag is much more likely to be lost, stolen or have items in the bag stolen from it and there is nothing you can do about it. The locks on checked bags are required to be TSA locks and everyone working in baggage has a master key. A locked firearm case should not have TSA locks on it and everyone in baggage knows not to touch it. If a firearm goes missing there will be an a police report, ATF notification and an internal investigation. If a checked bag goes missing they will smile and tell you to fill out a form to file a claim.
 
What airlines have stricter rules than the TSA for flying with a firearm? I've only flown on SW, AK, United and Delta with my firearms.
It just depends on their ammo requirements. I don’t know if TSA has a specific weight limit on ammo, but almost every airline does. Some may be 11lbs., and others may be 5lbs.
TSA does regulate how it can be packaged though.
 
I take a printed copy of the TSA rules and the airlines rules from their website with me. I never put my ammo in a checked bag. A checked bag is much more likely to be lost, stolen or have items in the bag stolen from it and there is nothing you can do about it. The locks on checked bags are required to be TSA locks and everyone working in baggage has a master key. A locked firearm case should not have TSA locks on it and everyone in baggage knows not to touch it. If a firearm goes missing there will be an a police report, ATF notification and an internal investigation. If a checked bag goes missing they will smile and tell you to fill out a form to file a claim.
I think having ammo in a checked bag is even different rules from having it in your firearm case. Haven’t ever tried it though.
 
fwiw, the other thing I do is discreetly place an Air Tag in my gun case and checked baggage. Gives me peace of mind to see if they make it on the plane and where they might be in the airport.
 
It can't be in the same case as the rifle
My wife and I just flew American Airlines to Alberta. Going to, we had the ammo in the rifle case in its original box with cutouts in the foam for each separate box as we have many times before. On the return to the states, we were made to take the ammo out of rifle case an put it in a soft duffle bag, far less secure than it had been. The AA agent was obliviously new, ask her colleagues, was told it was good the way we had it in the rifle case, still made us shift to the duffle.
 
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