Air Travel w/ Pistols

cbxjeff

August 18, 2003 07:51

I believe in the past I could declare and pack an unloaded pistol in a locked case inside my checked baggage. Is this still true? Does it matter if they are pre 1899?

Thanks guys,

cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.

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  madmarc0

  August 18, 2003 09:09

  I use a seperate case for my pistols, never had any problems.
  
  Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my gun has!

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  drobs

  August 18, 2003 13:23

  What's the deal with ammo, does it need to be in a separate container or can it be with the firearms?
  
  Regards,
  

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  mballai

  August 18, 2003 16:27

  Really suggest you check with both the FAA and the airline you plan on using and give yourself lots of extra time for getting through security. Some of the weird stuff since 9/11 will practically guarantee that you will face some hassles.
  
  FWIW, I would never check anything as baggage that I would not be willing to kiss goodbye. If that means not flying, so be it. There should be some way to secure such items onboard.
  
  Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead

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  Laredo Lefty

  August 18, 2003 16:50

  I have flown several times since 9-11, sometimes with a handgun only, and sometimes with 3 guns, a rifle, a pistol, and a shotgun.
  
  My most recent trip, a couple weeks ago I had my handgun in a locked hard case in my suitcase which was also locked. It delayed me a couple minutes at most. They just wanted to see that it was not loaded, and that there were no more that 5 round of ammo in the same suitcase. I just put the 200 rds in my wife's suitcase.
  
  When I flew with 3 guns to a competition they were in a large case with wheels made for carrying guns. I declared them at check-in. The lady filled out a firearms declaration card and put it in the case with the guns, and I re-locked it. That was all there was to it.
  
  It seems the universal rules are, make sure it is in a locked hard case and unloaded. Any magazines must be unloaded also.
  If the hard case is traveling in your suitcase, then the suitcase must also be locked.
  No more than 5 rounds can go with the gun. This may be an airline rule and not an FAA rule.
  By all means make sure you declare that you are traveling with a firearm. If they x-ray your checked bags and see a gun that was not declared, you are in BIG trouble.
  Never, never, never, try to board a plane with a gun in your carry-on.
  If you do, plan to spend a couple years in a federal prison.

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  Robin

  August 19, 2003 05:21

  Its not much of a problem or delay at all. As everyone has stated, you must declare the handgun or long gun prior to boarding, state that is unloaded, stow the unloaded gun in a locked case without ammo. The accompanying ammo may be subject to a weight limit, around 10 pounds as I remenmber, and must be in its packed in a separate locked suitcase. Some of this information may be the airline's rules and not firearms law.
  
  A couple of years ago, I was boarding a plane in Haden, Colorado heading home from an elk hunting trip and checked my field backpack as a carryon. I had earlier carefully repacked the backpack and removed everything that I thought I should, including a lighter, knife, scissors etc. I forgot to remove 1 round of 300 Weatherby magnum that security found in a small side pocket. It ended up being no big deal, thank goodness. I am sure they had seen similar situations before. They had a 5 gallon bucket full of cartriges, pocket knives, cigar cutters and such.
  
  Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.

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