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Flying armed

wallnutz

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So I fly out next week to pick up a new to me RV. With all the BS going on I prefer to travel armed. I have looked what the requirements are and think I get the jist of them. Have any one of you done this? any problems? Looks like the ammo might be a sticking point. AA says it has to be in a hard box (not plastic) or fiber. Is fiber the original cardboard box it comes in? I know of one guy here that has traveled the world with rifles, I am thinking it should be the same? @nganga
 

HocusPocus

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I travel with a firearm all the time. It's no big deal, I keep the ammo in its original factory box and my mags are empty. I use a box I bought from harbor freight for around $20 bucks and keep the only key with me. When you get to the airport go strait to check in and let them know you are traveling with a firearm. They will have you sign a document stating that it is in a locked box and unloaded. This has to be in your checked bag, not a carry on. Depending on the airport you land at they may have your bag at a security desk for pickup.
gun vault.jpg
 

MSum661

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Hocuspocus has is right.
Also, depending on what city and airport your traveling to and from and after you declare you have a firearm and they take your luggage the TSA may ask that you sit in a waiting area as they clear your luggage and firearm. Once they do the check and give you the go ahead you can board the plane . Personally, for handgun, I use a pelican case with the unloaded gun, ammo and detached magazines all in the same case. I cut the foam inside the case so that everything fits nice and clean and tight. That case is specifically used for flying. Lastly, each airline has their own policy related to carrying a firearm on a plane so depending on what airline you use you may want go over their policies or requirements. They'll probably tell you to arrive a 1/2 hour earlier than you normally would. No big deal...just don't yell out too loud you have a firearm at the baggage check in.....lol
 

Dalton

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I heard this lands you on some type of permanent list? I was "Quad S"/ "SSSS" for years and its not something you want.
 
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LowRiver2

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I do it whenever I travel, easy process, have ammo in box it was sold in or plastic ammo box, no baggies, lol, seen it happen
 

HocusPocus

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I heard this lands you on some type of permanent list? I was "Quad S"/ "SSSS" for years and its not something you want.
I guess anything is possible but that hasn't been my experience, not once have I ever been pulled aside for a secondary inspection. Ontario, LAX, Seattle/Tacoma Denver, Phoenix, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Miami, Spokane, Missoula, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Salt Lake, Lubbock, New Orleans, there are probably others. I have never experienced anything negative or had any specific issue with any airline or employees. I have heard and read stories of others who have had issues with traveling with firearms it just hasn't happened to me. Yet??
 

ToMorrow44

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Yep done it many times. Best advice is to print out from AAs & TSAs website the requirements because every ticket agent thinks they’re something different. And I’ve had them tell me some weird shit like I wasn’t allowed to bring magazines. So have the paper there from their website exactly what the policy is.
I do it whenever I travel, easy process, have ammo in box it was sold in or plastic ammo box, no baggies, lol, seen it happen
Yep done that, I had ~200 rounds of .223 in a ziplock bag and they took it saying it had to be in the original packaging. Which was funny because when i bought it, it got shipped to me in a plastic bag inside a box 🤷🏼‍♂️
 
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USMC2010

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Does the ammo need to be in a locked box or is the original packaging in the bag enough? That's the only part I'm confused about.
 

USMC2010

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Thanks, now I just have to modify my pelican case for that and I'm good.
 

Skinny Tire AH

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So I fly out next week to pick up a new to me RV. With all the BS going on I prefer to travel armed. I have looked what the requirements are and think I get the jist of them. Have any one of you done this? any problems? Looks like the ammo might be a sticking point. AA says it has to be in a hard box (not plastic) or fiber. Is fiber the original cardboard box it comes in? I know of one guy here that has traveled the world with rifles, I am thinking it should be the same? @nganga

There is so much left to "interpretation of the gate agent". I have had zero issues more often than not. Sometimes the agent calls TSA. The SOP as far as I have been involved. Firearm needs to be in a lock container. Ammo in a separate locked container. boxes inside need to be in their factory boxes.

They will make you open it, show its not loaded and have you sign a voucher stating "Firearm is unloaded". They will toss the voucher inside, re-lock it and likely escort you to TSA inspection. TSA will then take the firearm and get to the baggage guys. Getting it back on the other side, will depend on your destination.

I have taken Double Rifle dangerous game cartridges to Africa in custom re-loaders cartons. Sometimes its a problem, sometimes it's not. Be safe, keep it full, none missing and inside a separate locked container. There is a 5 kilo (11#) limit on ammo. Which wont affect you. That for me is 40 rounds of 500NE and 40 rounds of .375HH. I have actually had it weighed more than once.

Secondly, and probably more of an issue is driving home with different states firearm laws.

I drove to Skater in November, driving through a bunch of different states and various laws. I had two pistols in locked firearm boxes, un-loaded and in the back of the truck, (in a locked topper). I would retrieve them when entering States such as Oklahoma, or Texas.

In any case, that's been my experience.

I could write a book about my experiences entering, traveling within and exiting Africa with guns. Tanzania is by far the worst.

Best of luck, be patient and non-confrontational.
 
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wallnutz

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There is so much left to "interpretation of the gate agent". I have had zero issues more often than not. Sometimes the agent calls TSA. The SOP as far as I have been involved. Firearm needs to be in a lock container. Ammo in a separate locked container. boxes inside need to be in their factory boxes.

They will make you open it, show its not loaded and have you sign a voucher stating "Firearm is unloaded". They will toss the voucher inside, re-lock it and likely escort you to TSA inspection. TSA will then take the firearm and get to the baggage guys. Getting it back on the other side, will depend on your destination.

I have take Double Rifle dangerous game cartridges to Africa in custom re-loaders cartons. Sometimes its a problem, sometimes its not. Be safe, keep it full, none missing and inside a separate locked container. There is an 5 kilo (11#) limit on ammo. Which wont affect you. That for me is 40 rounds of 500NE and 40 rounds of .375HH. I have actually had it weighed more than once.

Secondly, and probably more of an issue is driving home with different states firearm laws.

I drove to Skater in November, driving through a bunch of different states and various laws. I had two pistols in locked firearm boxes, un-loaded and in the back of the truck, (in a locked topper). I would retrieve them when entering States such as Oklahoma, or Texas.

In any case, that's been my experience.

I could write a book about my experiences entering, traveling within and exiting Africa with guns. Tanzania is by far the worst.

Best of luck, be patient and non-confrontational.
Thanks!
 

USMC2010

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One more question I guess. If one didn't have the original ammo carton but had a specific storage case and it was in the locked box, is that ok? As I read it it's only 1 airline that is specific about the ammo but I don't have any practical knowledge.
 

wallnutz

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I travel with a firearm all the time. It's no big deal, I keep the ammo in its original factory box and my mags are empty. I use a box I bought from harbor freight for around $20 bucks and keep the only key with me. When you get to the airport go strait to check in and let them know you are traveling with a firearm. They will have you sign a document stating that it is in a locked box and unloaded. This has to be in your checked bag, not a carry on. Depending on the airport you land at they may have your bag at a security desk for pickup.
View attachment 900856
I have that same box and was planning on using it. Thanks for the info.
 

MSum661

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One more question I guess. If one didn't have the original ammo carton but had a specific storage case and it was in the locked box, is that ok? As I read it it's only 1 airline that is specific about the ammo but I don't have any practical knowledge.

Shouldn't be a problem as long as they're not loose in a bag rolling around in your hard case.
Worse case scenario....go pick up a new factory smaller box of 20 in whatever caliber your bringing with you and use that.
Keep it simple. Cut the foam to fit nice and tight and keep the weight down until you get to where your going.
Works for what I need.

.40.jpg
 

USMC2010

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Shouldn't be a problem as long as they're not loose in a bag rolling around in your hard case.
Worse case scenario....go pick up a new factory smaller box of 20 in whatever caliber your bringing with you and use that.
Keep it simple. Cut the foam to fit nice and tight and keep the weight down until you get to where your going.
Works for what I need.

View attachment 901008
That was my thinking.
 

Dettom

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I travel with a firearm all the time. It's no big deal, I keep the ammo in its original factory box and my mags are empty. I use a box I bought from harbor freight for around $20 bucks and keep the only key with me. When you get to the airport go strait to check in and let them know you are traveling with a firearm. They will have you sign a document stating that it is in a locked box and unloaded. This has to be in your checked bag, not a carry on. Depending on the airport you land at they may have your bag at a security desk for pickup.
View attachment 900856
I don’t trust airport people. Many are thieves. I only flew armed once, and that was from LAX to Chicago on an extradition. Huge pain in the ass.
 

dspracing

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Generally I have had no issues. Except for one time at LAX. I waited in line to check my bag, 1.5hr prior to departure. Get to the front of the line and I’m greeted by a Delta red coat(these are supposed to be Deltas elite customer service personnel). He tells me “oh, for a firearm you need to wait over there, I don’t do firearms”(which is complete bullsh*t). I proceed to wait in said location until I am helped by a less senior employee. At that point He says oh you’ve missed your flight! After much back and fourth the red coat ends up Rebooking me and checking in my firearms. At the end of the day I suspect the two non white counter agents saw a white guy with guns and a trump hat and decided I would be missing my flight that day.
Moral of the story, ever since then I always tell the first airline rep I can find after walking in the front door that I am traveling with a firearm, tell me how to proceed.
 

Sleek-Jet

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It is pretty painless really. Be patient also, lots of smiles and thank-yous go a long ways. Handguns get to go in the baggage which is nice.

I brought a shotgun back from AZ last time I flew. It never showed up in the carousel at Midway. Fuck! Go find the southwest baggage office and she say "oh, it'll be over in the oversized baggage area.". No shit, I walk over there and the case is sitting there pretty as you please.
 

Sleek-Jet

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Also, the HF Pelican knock-off cases are really nice and seem to hold up well, at least for occasional airline travel.
 

HocusPocus

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Los Angeles, Ontario, Las Vegas, Missoula, Spokane. Seattle, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, New Orleans, Lubbock, Sacramento, Atlanta and I'm sure there are others I have been, of course various airlines. Never have I ever had to open my locked box or be escorted by TSA for an upgraded search. Never been treated rudely or put off by airline staff/security/law enforcement/TSA, maybe I'm just lucky????
Be patient also, lots of smiles and thank-yous go a long ways.
For sure what Sleek-Jet has said.
This is how I pack for any flying trip.
20200721_103907.jpg
 

wallnutz

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So I flew with my handgun last week. There were a couple hiccups, like the TSA agent complaining the ammo boxes had been open. I told him I had to check to make sure what I was buying. Also the gate agent didn't tell me I would have to pick my luggage up at a secure area when I arrived, I even asked. Other than a couple funny looks when I declared I had a firearm, it was as easy as you guys said it would be. Thanks for the info!!!
 
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