Author Topic: Air travel with firearms (Read 550 times)

Nealio · « **on:** August 30, 2011, 09:07:17 AM »

I'm taking a trip here soon to Portland, OR with some firearms and I was wondering if anyone has experience with that.

The TSA "Special Items" guidelines (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm) say you can pack ammunition in:
"fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition." I don't know what "specifically designed" means. Is a military ammo can good then? Factory cardboard and styrofoam boxes? How about plastic bins made by a bullet manufacturer (ie Berry's Bullet boxes)?
I was just going to toss my ammo in the black Berry's Bullet boxes, then put those in a .30 cal ammo can. Also does anyone know if there is a limit to how much ammo? I don't see a reference to that either.
Thanks!
- Nealio

Joey · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2011, 09:24:17 AM »

No loose ammo, it must be in original packaging, or plastic boxes made to separate the rounds.
I think there is an 11lb max on ammo, but it varies between airlines?

Also it must be declared, when you declare your firearms at the ticket counter.

Hope this helps, have a good trip

Broker Mike · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2011, 09:25:29 AM »

I'm not sure about quantity limits but I carry ammo in 50 round factory boxes with inserts (federal or remington, etc). Just toss em in the suitcase along side my gun case and have never had a problem, even carrying a few hundred rounds. They absolutely will not let you transport loose.
Remember, just because the Boise TSA guy lets you do it, doesn't mean another airport will. I had a TSA guy in Seattle make me unload my magazines that were in a hard sided, locked, factory gun case because he said the primer was exposed and could go off. Had never heard that before after dozens of flights with guns.

Nealio · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2011, 10:15:48 AM »

Anyone have any spare empty factory 9mm ammo boxes???

ekuo · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2011, 10:31:18 AM »

You need TG to weigh in. I think of all the people I know, he probably has the most first-hand experience with TSA/airlines/firearms.

But in the meantime, check out episode 28 of The Power Factor Show. http://www.powerfactorshow.com/2011/06/

There is some pretty good info.

NoviceHunter · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2011, 10:54:49 AM »

I've flown with firearms lots of times. Reloading boxes work fine, too, if you don't have factory boxes. Amount of ammo varies by airline. Just call your airline and ask. If it's Alaska, it's 11 lbs, though I always just put it in the pelican with my gun(s), and they've never measured or weighed it. You could fit a whole lotta ammo in place of the second layer of foam.

http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/policies/baggage-firearms.aspx

Some airports will force you to give them the key/combo and open it out of sight, in violation of Federal law. Has happened to me plenty of times in California. You either let them be dumbasses or don't fly out of there (don't pack heirlooms.) I don't expect Boise or Portland would be an issue, though.

NoviceHunter · « **Reply #6 on:** August 30, 2011, 10:55:20 AM »

Quote from: Nealio on August 30, 2011, 10:15:48 AM

Anyone have any spare empty factory 9mm ammo boxes???

How many do you need?

DCR · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2011, 10:56:25 AM »

Nealio - turns out I have 8 empty factory boxes for 9mm and 15 for 10mm. I'm in west Boise, in case nothing else works out.

Nealio · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2011, 12:08:23 PM »

Thanks for all the offers and info guys.
Jaggy is hooking me up with some plastic 9mm trays so I'll think I go with those. I got the other calibers covered.

scoob · « **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2011, 02:48:51 PM »

I think I have 4 or 5 more of the plastic 9mm (50-rnd) boxes that you can have if you need a few more.

No-One · « **Reply #10 on:** August 30, 2011, 03:14:07 PM »

I flew into Portland with my Para to shoot a match several years ago . I just packed my ammo in the plastic MTM or Cabelas style ammo boxes and had no issues whatsoever . You will be fine if you use something similar .

RGinIdaho · « **Reply #11 on:** August 30, 2011, 04:39:18 PM »

I've traveled with my handgun many times. Go to your airline's website and follow their rules. The only places I've ever had an odd experience were Boise and Alaska. Even those were just quirks due to individuals on site. No real hassles.

All of the airlines are going to require the firearm to be in a locked container and ammo in boxes designed to hold ammo seperately.

tgibson · « **Reply #12 on:** August 30, 2011, 09:24:14 PM »

My Storm case that I fly with at least twice a month has the following items in it...
One rifle
one 30 round P mag
one 48 round P mag
one pistol
four high cap pistol mags
one shotgun
one cary pistol
one cary pistol magazine loaded with CCI hollow points
one pocket knife

You can have ammo in the magazines. I have shipped the p mags full of ammo before as well. DON'T USE TSA APPROVED LOCKS!! Use Brinks or Master locks that have matching keys. Keep on in your pocket and the other in your carry on. Once you declare your firearms, put the tag in there, and the TSA checks it out, lock it up and put the key away. The case shouldn't ever be opened again. again....DON'T USE TSA APPROVED LOCKS!!!!
Hope this helps.
Adios,
TG

Nealio · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2011, 09:06:06 AM »

my pistol case has a built in combination lock, that is ok isn't it?

Broker Mike · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2011, 10:12:08 AM »

That's fine, once they have verified that your firearm is unloaded and packed correctly you can lock it up. I don't use a TSA lock on my gun case EVER.
There have been times when the TSA official doesn't even want to see the gun, they might just ask if it is unloaded and locked.

NoviceHunter · « **Reply #15 on:** August 31, 2011, 10:58:30 AM »

It is technically not allowed to use TSA locks for guns, as the rule is that no one can have access but the owner. In practice, no one cares.

It is entirely to your benefit to have locks you're comfortable with, as the only reason for any lock better than what's required to get on the plane is to prevent you from getting an empty case at the far end. If you're comfortable with the lock on your handgun case, throw it in your suitcase and have a great trip.

Nealio · « **Reply #16 on:** August 31, 2011, 11:18:42 AM »

Ok one last question. It says "You may only transport firearms, ammunition and firearm parts in your checked baggage. ", but it does not specifically say that firearm parts need to be locked up.
Can I transport springs, small parts, magazines, etc outside of the locked case?
I may have room for all that stuff in the locked case, but if I don't then can I just pack it in a bag or something in my luggage?

Thanks again everyone for the good info.

Niner · « **Reply #17 on:** September 01, 2011, 07:15:30 AM »

Springs, magazine parts, small parts, etc don't have to be locked up. If you had barrel, slide, or "frame" parts, they would have to be locked up. FYI, I fieldstrip my gun into the major parts - frame, barrel, slide and lock in my case. That way when the TSA guy wants to look at it he is not picking it up and sweeping me or anyone else. They usually won't even pick anything up if it is disassembled.

0351 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 01, 2011, 07:51:04 PM »

It all depends on the TSA agent, flying out of Boise to a shoot in Texas the TSA agent looks in my buddies case and freaks out and calls his supervisor twice because he has two suppressors in the case. Everybody knows "silencers" are illegal but the two UZI sub-machineguns in the same case were no big deal. After the supervisor says its ok, he says he wants to see that the suppressor is unloaded. umm ok. Now its my turn, he wants to know why i have so many magazines for my shotgun. Its a Benelli M1 super 90 and I had about 10 UZI magazines in my case. Flying back from Texas the TSA agent there didnt want me to open the case and I had to ask for the unloaded tag.

NoviceHunter · « **Reply #19 on:** September 03, 2011, 12:29:48 PM »

Both previous posts are correct. Technically just the receiver needs to be locked up, but this is one of those cases where the law doesn't really matter, if you actually want to fly. You can be right, or you can get where you're going. Sucks, and if you have time to protest, bravo for you

If it looks like a recognizable part of a schoolyard-ravaging-destructive-think-of-the-children-evil-gun-thing, lock it up. That's the mindset to prep for, right or wrong. Remember the media scare over a couple of loaded magazines left on a Southwest flight? What was a bad guy gonna do, throw the cartridges at me?

Springs or random metal looking shit? No big.

Lock everything that's easy to lock and it's really a non-event.

carharttfarmer · « **Reply #20 on:** September 03, 2011, 02:11:25 PM »

Your only going to portland just srew it and drive take the whole arsenal with ya

Nealio · « **Reply #21 on:** September 06, 2011, 10:30:44 AM »

Well the trip went well with no issues. The TSA agents didn't even open my gun case.
The only strange thing was that Alaska has "ammunition" on their "Prohibited items list".
At the kiosk it asks "are you carrying any of these prohibited items" and it has gasoline, explosives, ammunition, etc so I selected "yes". Then the ticket lady also asked if I had ammunition, to which I applied "yes", and she then gave me a concerned look. But then she said "oh but do you have it packed in a container that holds the ammunition in individual compartments?". I replied "yes" to that and then she said "oh then you're ok". Seems odd the way it is worded.
Thanks for all the info.

hessmanca · « **Reply #22 on:** September 06, 2011, 12:58:09 PM »

Nealio
Glad to hear that your trip went well. I travel often with firearms/ammo and I have come to understand that there is absolutely no set procedure by any TSA employee that you can plan for. Out of all of my flights I have never had the same experience twice. In fact I travel with other members of my unit and I have actually stood next to a buddy and the two airport members did things completely different and we had the exact same weapon, ammo and packaging, etc....

O well... Grin and bear it!