What you Need to Know
Traveling with a firearm is complicated. There are many rules and regulations governing the carrying of a gun onto a plane, and for good reason. A locked gun case and declaring the firearm upon check-in are just a few of the imperative rules that must be followed. So if you’re traveling with a gun, there are a lot of important things to know about proper storing, packing and transportation of the gun through the airport.
How Should I Pack My Gun? Can I Bring Ammunition on the Plane?
This is actually the most crucial part of traveling with a gun, as the TSA has many requirements for the proper packing of a gun. Ammunition and firearms are not allowed in carry-on luggage and must be checked. Guns must be packed in a hard-sided container which can be (and must be locked) locked. The key for this lock must remain in your possession at all times. Firearms are to be unloaded, including any stray bullets that may be left in the chamber. If you forget to do this, the gun can be taken away and a stiff fine may be assessed.
For the most part, small arms ammunition under .75 caliber are allowed to be packed in the same container as your firearm (shotgun shells may not be kept in the same container). Ammunition needs to be kept in the original packaging from the dealer or in an otherwise safe to carry hard case made of fiber, wood or metal. For the gun, it also needs to be in a
Different airlines and airports may have slightly different rules regarding the safe packing of a firearm and its ammunition, as well as the legality of traveling there with a gun in the first place, so be sure to read the airline’s policy carefully.
Firearm Related Items Allowed in Checked Bags Only:
- Firearms – NO GUNS ARE ALLOWED AS CARRY-ONS!
- Ammunition
- Firearm Parts (Frames, receivers, barrels, stocks, bolts and firing pins, ect)
- Ammo Clips and magazines
- Replica Firearms and Toys
Firearm Related Items Allowed in Carry-on Bags:
- Scopes
What Kind of Gun Case and lock do I need for air travel?
According to regulations , your gun case can be integrated with a lock or you can use a case with a separate lock. Do not use TSA approved locks for your gun case.
TSA approved locks compromise the security of your firearm. Remember, the law states that you ALONE maintain possession of the keys to your gun case. The TSA requires a hard sided, lockable case: this Pelican case comes highly recommended (remember to get heavy duty locks for it) if you are traveling with a pistol. If you are traveling with more than a pistol, we recommend this case for rifles and this shotgun case (with capacity for two) for shotguns.
TSA APPROVED GUN CASES
Below are our recommended TSA approved gun cases:
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Airport Check-in process when Traveling with firearms
The first thing to note is that curbside check-in with a gun is prohibited at all airports and by all airlines. The firearm must be declared upon check-in at the ticket counter with gate agents. When you do this, be prepared and patient. Security may have a couple of extra questions for you, and they are within their right to search your bag if they deem anything suspicious. There will be a declarations form to fill out. Security may also need to check the case itself to ensure proper storage and locking of the firearm and its ammunition.
U.S. law says that “No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.” Do not put any sort of label on your luggage that says there is a firearm inside, and TSA is not allowed to do the same. Be sure to check your carry-on bag for any bullets, gun residue or other material which will not be allowed through security.
If you are a member of law enforcement, there are different rules by which you must abide. Simply being one doesn’t allow you to fly with a firearm at all times; there must be what the TSA refers to as an operational need for you to have it. This means that you have to have been assigned to protective duty, a federally employed officer, or transporting an in-custody prisoner. If you are retired, do not have general arrest authority or are employed by a law enforcement agency that is not fully funded by taxpayers, you cannot fly on the plane with a firearm, and are subject to all the rules applied to regular civilians.
What Happens If I Forget About a Gun In My Bag?
This depends on where you are. If you’re traveling through Texas, you’re in luck, as they’re pretty lenient with travelers accidentally bringing a gun through security in their carry-on luggage. But everywhere else, the TSA has a very thorough process to determine whether it was actually an accident that you had a firearm in your carry-on.
Many times, there will be a brief interview, after which a citation will be assessed and you’ll likely still be able to make your flight. But, if anything seems off to them; the way the gun was packed, whether or not it’s loaded, if you have extra ammunition in your case; then you will be in a world of hurt. There could be a large fine, you may be sentenced to jail time and that interview process will be thorough and time consuming. They will treat you like a criminal looking to carry out a crime on an airplane. You will have to prove your innocence.
But having to sit through all of those questions and the likelihood of missing your flight is by far the least of your concerns in this situation. The TSA can fine someone up to $11,000 for taking a handgun in their carry-on through security, even if it was just an innocent mistake in the carrier’s mind. The TSA gets rather irked by people who forget about their handgun in their bag, which likely caused them to give out stiffer penalties for the mistake, no matter how innocent it may be. The traveler bears all of the responsibility when it comes to traveling with a firearm.
*Featured Image By M.O. Stevens (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
How many hand guns can we carry per approved case?
Can I have a box of ammunition in the locked case with the firearm, along with the magazines for that firearm
Yes the gun must be unloaded, but the ammunition can be stored in the same case.
Do I need any paperwork to travel with my gun, also can I use the same type of locks on the outside of my gun case that I use on my gun/two on each end of the case?
You need to file a declaration with your airline when you arrive at the airport for check in.
Are empty magazines OK to carry on Plane in Nevada?
Ammunition and magazines must be secured either in a hard side case of their own or within the same case as the unloaded firearm.
I need traveling to Italy and I won bring my gun with me what do I need to do and what tipe documentation need in Italy to show at security soon I’m there thank
Do you have to have a permit to transport your firearm on travel or is it just ok if it’s just registered in your name and you have the documents to prove?
Unless you live in a place that keeps a gun registry like Hawaii your gun isn’t registered in anyone’s name. If you need a permit where you depart or at your destination then you need the proper permit. Federal law is supposed to protect you while traveling interstate as long as you are legal on both ends of your trip. But that doesn’t mean you won’t spend months in jail while expensive lawyers sort that out. The TSA isn’t local law enforcement. So if you check in with something legal at departure it doesn’t mean you won’t be arrested at your destination. Call your lawyer for specific legal advice.
I have a hard plastic case for my pistol. I bought a TSA approved lock for it, but this article says not to use that. Should I buy another lock? Also, should the case be steel and not plastic?
Am I allowed to put the hard-sided locked case in my suitcase to check? NOT to carry on. I admit, I look at this little case and paying the luggage fee for it and figure why carry anything on at all if I can put the gun case in my luggage and check it all.
Yes it must be separate and you have to declare it.
It depends on the airline… Southwest states on their website that the locked hard case can be inside a unlocked checked bag. Of course you have to declare it etc etc. Check with your airline for that…
I’m planning to bring my gun in Manila Philippines do I have to put it in locked case n I just leave it to my hand carry or I need to put it in checked baggage
You have to check it. You cannot bring a gun on the plane in your carry on.
TSA locks are not allowed on the case that contains your firearm. A key lock, that you retain the key or my preferrence is a combo lock. I also use scotch tape to seal the boxes of ammo. Southwest is who I usually fly and they are very efficient with regards to firearms. Just follow the TSA guidelines and be courteous and polite. I’ve flown with as many as three handguns and a rifle without a problem. Do make sure that your spouse does not move your ammo fro the checked bag to the carry-on bag to avoid any delays 🙁 ;).
I’ll be traveling with a new rifle stock that I bought – just the stock only. Do I need to declare this at check in and will it be required to be in a locked hard case?
That should be fine in your checked luggage, but I would still identify it or at least call your airline just to be sure.
Is a magazine coupler without a magazine ok with carry on? It’s isn’t a frame or anything and I thought if a scope is ok for carry on, a lil plastic piece is ok right? Again it’s just the lil piece and has nothing else with it
Can I bring a gun cleaning kit in my carry-on?
What about a camera.
Good info
Question – does a ” Plano ” rifle case meet TSA requirements
Do the regular hard plastic cases that handguns come in when you buy them brand new qualify to be used as proper gun storage?
I am bringing three airsoft guns with me on my upcoming flight. Do I need to declare them when I check my bags?
Yes you can, but you need to declare them. Contact your airline to find out if you need to have them in a locked case.
Can I have a loaded magazine stored in the same case with my unloaded firearm?
Can I also have 1 loose round in that same case?
Can I have the ammo stored in a small plastic container within that case with the unloaded firearm?
Small arms ammo can be in the same case as your unloaded firearm, but cannot be loose. It must be packed in fiber (i.e. cardboard, plastic, wood box). Magazines must be unloaded as well.
Can I pack my pistol and rifle in the same hard sided case and I have TSA locks. They are the ones I lock my case with correct?
As long as your airline allows you to bring more than one firearm.
info says no TSA locks allowed.
According to regulations , your gun case can be integrated with a lock or you can use a case with a separate lock.
******** Do not use TSA approved locks for your gun case.***********
******** TSA approved locks compromise the security of your firearm.
Remember, the law states that you ALONE maintain possession of the keys to your gun case.
The TSA requires a hard sided, lockable case with heavy duty locks for it.
Does the factory Glock case meet the TSA requirements? I’ve fashioned to accept a large padlock?
I will be flying on Southwest airlines on 10/26/2016, and I will be taking an automatic pistol with me in my checked bags. Does the unloaded ammunition clips have to be in the same locked case or can they be in a separate case?
You can pack ammunition and clips in a separate case or in the same case.
Can I lock both a rifle and a pistol in a hard rifle case?
As long as your airline allows you to bring more than one gun and you declare it correctly on the form, it should be ok. Contact your airline.
what form do you need to fill out for the airlines
The airline will give it to you when you declare your firearm at the ticketing counter.
May I check a shotgun in a hard case with a combination lock?
Robert, I would check with your specific airline first. Most firearm policies are the same, but the aren’t required to be. Shotguns should be allowed as long as you meet the requirements for traveling with any firearm. All firearms must be unloaded and carried in a locked, hard-sided container where only the customer retains the key or combination. Make sure to declare it at ticketing. Also, do a very thorough sweep of your luggage. You do not want any loose ammunition floating around your other bags, that might ruin your day.