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Thread: Traveling with firearm via airline?

  1. #1
    Senior Member

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    Traveling with firearm via airline?

    I'm getting ready for a trip out west and would like to bring a pistol for camping.

    I'm flying into Vegas, then visiting various areas in Arizona but Nevada is not a reciprocal CC state with my permit state (MO).

    I've flown several places but have never brought a gun. I know it would have to be in the checked luggage.

    Any tips or advice?

  2. #2
    Senior Member

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    Dec 2011
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    Most of the regulations concerning transport of firearms via planes are very similar. I have been doing it for the last 6-7 years and have had very little issues. All the major airlines have the regs posted on their sites but they mainly all say that it must be locked in a hard sided container (if the suitcase itself is hard sided or you travel with a Pelican style case, then you only need to lock that. Not have another lockbox in the luggage). Ammo must not be loaded in mags or speed loaders and should be stowed in the original packaging. The ammo can be secured in the same box/luggage as the weapon. Some airlines don't require a trigger lock but I put one on there anyway just for GP. Keep all keys on your person, not checked in luggage. When you get to the airport, find the first security dude and declare that you need to check in a firearm. Sometimes they will escort you to your ticket counter, but not all the time. Declare your gun to the ticket counter person. You will have to open it up and show them, so make sure the firearm is easily accessible, not buried under everything. They may or may not have you verify that it is empty, simple range rules apply - barrel down/away from anyone, no finger on trigger, no quick movements that such. You will have to sign a tag stating that the firearm is empty and that will go in your luggage over the firearm. After that you package it back up, keep the key on you. You are supposed to wait until an TSA person has rechecked your luggage. Don't go to your gate until you are called back by the TSA. They may have you open that case again to verify empty or just that you have the key and the "empty firearm" tag is present. I made the mistake once of going to my gate when the ticket counter person said I was good to go. We got all the way through security when I was called back to the check in counter to unlock my case again. A big waste of time. Sorry for the long explanation but I hope this helps.

  3. #3
    Senior Member

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    Quote Originally Posted by Woogiebear View Post
    Most of the regulations concerning transport of firearms via planes are very similar. I have been doing it for the last 6-7 years and have had very little issues. All the major airlines have the regs posted on their sites but they mainly all say that it must be locked in a hard sided container (if the suitcase itself is hard sided or you travel with a Pelican style case, then you only need to lock that. Not have another lockbox in the luggage). Ammo must not be loaded in mags or speed loaders and should be stowed in the original packaging. The ammo can be secured in the same box/luggage as the weapon. Some airlines don't require a trigger lock but I put one on there anyway just for GP. Keep all keys on your person, not checked in luggage. When you get to the airport, find the first security dude and declare that you need to check in a firearm. Sometimes they will escort you to your ticket counter, but not all the time. Declare your gun to the ticket counter person. You will have to open it up and show them, so make sure the firearm is easily accessible, not buried under everything. They may or may not have you verify that it is empty, simple range rules apply - barrel down/away from anyone, no finger on trigger, no quick movements that such. You will have to sign a tag stating that the firearm is empty and that will go in your luggage over the firearm. After that you package it back up, keep the key on you. You are supposed to wait until an TSA person has rechecked your luggage. Don't go to your gate until you are called back by the TSA. They may have you open that case again to verify empty or just that you have the key and the "empty firearm" tag is present. I made the mistake once of going to my gate when the ticket counter person said I was good to go. We got all the way through security when I was called back to the check in counter to unlock my case again. A big waste of time. Sorry for the long explanation but I hope this helps.
    Thanks, appreciate the info!

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