Question about traveling with ammo

[Texasbuckeye]

Having a custom load made for my elk hunt this fall. How does everyone travel with ammo when traveling on airlines? Does it ride in checked luggage “declared” or in the gun case locked?

 

[7mmag]

It has to be in a checked luggage separate from firearm. I would call TSA and call the specific airline your flying with. You can probably ship direct to your outfitter.

 

[Bait57]

Having a custom load made for my elk hunt this fall. How does everyone travel with ammo when traveling on airlines? Does it ride in checked luggage “declared” or in the gun case locked?

I have the same questions.

 

[Texasbuckeye]

My hope is to travel by air there, due to time constraints, and then if successful rent a car and drive home. So I won’t have too much to worry about, but one way for sure.

 

[Formidilosus]

It does not have to be separate from firearms. It has to be “secured”. In ammo boxes, in MTM cases, in magazines, etc is all fine.

In an average year I fly 40-60 times, all with firearms and ammo. FWIW- American is universally the easiest to deal with.

 

[rootacres]

Ive done this a few times flying out of Chicago to the lower 48. Each time was slightly different (not sure they know exactly what they are doing either). So have your rifle in a TSA approved hard case with locks, chamber flagged and bolt removed (I prefer key padlocks, and you have the key). The ammo rides separate of the rifle in your check bag (at least in my experience). When you arrive to at the airport go to the desk and notify them you are making a "firearms declaration". Sometimes they want to see the weapon, sometimes not, either way fill out the form and they will tell you where to put it (the declaration goes with the rifle, not you). Notify them of the ammunition too, unless its been changed you are only allowed 11lbs of ammunition, sometimes they weigh it, sometimes they don't.

After the declaration has been made and they take your bags and rifle I've had two different procedures happen. One is, they walk you into a special room with a large TSA scanner, you watch your rifle and checked bag go through the scanner and then you leave to go to the TSA line. The other is you part ways at the desk, they take your bag and rifle and you head to the TSA line to go to your gate.

If for some reason the front desk person doesn't insist on you filing out anything ask for a different person. I know of someone who flew internationally for a USPSA pistol competition. The long and short of it was his two matching custom 2011 pistols disappeared, $14k lost in a day. He was told a declaration wasn't needed.

 

[flyinsquirel]

It does not have to be separate from firearms. It has to be in a locked case and “secured”. In ammo boxes, in MTM cases, in magazines, etc is all fine.

In an average year I fly 40-60 times, all with firearms and ammo. FWIW- American is universally the easiest to deal with.

^^ This.

I put mine in the gun case.

 

[Mike Islander]

Total none issue. Bring in a factory box, up to 11 pounds (far more than anyone needs to hunt). Put it in your checked bag and declare it at the check-in counter. Adds maybe two minutes to check-in in most airports.

No lock required.

Used to carry the full weight allowed when ammo was tough to find.

 

[7mmag]

Flew out of NY no ammo with firearm don’t know about different states. Do yourself a favor call the airline and TSA it’s easy.

 

[Wapiti1]

Form covered it. Ammo has to be in the original packaging, or equivalent, not loose, and in a locked case. That locked case can be separate or it can be your gun case. I put it in my gun case with my rifle/s.

You only need to separate ammo and put in in its own locked case for international travel.

Jeremy

 

[Wapiti1]

Total none issue. Bring in a factory box, up to 11 pounds (far more than anyone needs to hunt). Put it in your checked bag and declare it at the check-in counter. Adds maybe two minutes to check-in in most airports.

No lock required.

Used to carry the full weight allowed when ammo was tough to find.

11 lbs seems like a lot until you travel to Africa and take a big bore. Or travel to an ELR competition with your .416 Chey Tac.

Jeremy

 

[Mike Islander]

11 lbs seems like a lot until you travel to Africa and take a big bore. Or travel to an ELR competition with your .416 Chey Tac.

Jeremy

Exceptions to every rule. Shooting 800 rounds of 556 and 500 9mm at a three day class requires shipping or a car ride.

 

[WCB]

Contact the airline and TSA....Or just go online and read their rules. They are pretty straight forward. I've flown a bunch domestically and internationally and I personally use the same procedure. Firearms in rolling hard case. Ammunition in factory boxes (airlines have specifications on allowable alternatives) in my checked bag. I have never locked my ammo up just simply rolled in a shirt in the middle of my checked bag.

go to the counter at the airport a declare the firearm. fill out the little card and follow their instructions. If they ask about ammo I tell them how much and where it is at. Before I lose contact with the firearm I throw (4) keyed pad locks on the case (not TSA approved standard Master Locks). Only I have the keys as they are not allowed in the case without me present.

That is it in my experience

 

[Reburn]

11 lbs seems like a lot until you travel to Africa and take a big bore. Or travel to an ELR competition with your .416 Chey Tac.

Jeremy

Or anything with a shotgun. right at or less then 3 boxes.

 

[hodgeman]

The airport you fly out of will have quite a bit to do with it. Flying out of Alaska, it's as routine as breathing...other places, not so much.

It's easy if you just follow the process.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Since you never know who you will get at the check-in counter and/or TSA, I come prepared for dealing with idiots.

My ammo is in with my rifle in my Pelican. I also bring along a Pelican handgun case with locks just in case. If they bitch about having ammo in the rifle case, I just put the ammo in the small Pelican, lock it up, and toss it in my checked bag.

As I travel extensively for work, the less time I have to deal with the TSA and airline agents the better. Easier to oblige their stupidity and be on my way than fight because I am right.

 

[Bubblehide]

TSA has a national policy, but each airline can have it's own individual policy, Do yourself a favor, make the call to both.

Years ago I went to Alaska with a now ex-friend. I damn near begged him to call the airline and get their policy on transporting firearms and ammo. Needless to say he never did as he stated numerous times "my dad flys with guns all the time, no problem. Well he had it in his checked luggage, lose, both gun and ammo. It turned into a huge ordeal for him, confiscation, attornies...

 

[Desk Jockey]

I find they are mostly concerned about loose rounds and total weight. As long as they are in a box or ammo case you are good.

Not a bad idea to print the TSA and airline policy and keep them with you. I have had mixed experiences with counter personnel and find more gun friendly states far easier than less gun friendly states.

Years ago I had an airline counter employee at JFK tell me to put my ammo in the same bag I had a checked pistol in (locked in a case inside the bag) to save baggage fees. The bag then went to the TSA for X-ray and the TSA guy flagged it for the NYPD. Having the ammo and gun in the same duffle in NYC is the same as unlicensed concealed carry of a loaded gun. I was arrested on felony possession of a firearm and it cost me several thousand dollars and a lot of court and lawyer time to get sorted out.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I check it in the same hard case as my gun. I wouldn’t separate Ammo from the rifle on a trip. I’ve flown with hunting rifles 7-8 times over the past few years and always kept the Ammo with the gun. It’s actually very easy to travel with guns, just have your keys available and don’t pack the gun cases all crazy in a way the TSA jerkoffs can’t re pack it properly.

 

[Mosster47]

It does not have to be separate from firearms. It has to be “secured”. In ammo boxes, in MTM cases, in magazines, etc is all fine.

In an average year I fly 40-60 times, all with firearms and ammo. FWIW- American is universally the easiest to deal with.

This. Your gun case needs to lock in three places and the easiest is to run an MTM ammo box inside your rifle case. Very clearly tell the person at the counter you are checking a firearm with ammunition and you need it inspected and it's always been very easy after that point.