Airline & TSA Approved Gun Cases

[Richard LeStage]

The last time I flew with a shotgun in checked baggage was way before 9-11. Need to buy a case to hold my 20 ga and 28 ga VH's for quail hunting trip to GA. Any advice out there on what is a proper case for air travel of Parkers?

[Jeff Kuss]

americase makes several cases for airline travel. They are the top of the line.
Jeff

[Rick Losey]

http://www.nalpak.com/TuffpakSport

easy to transport- heavy stuff won't get stacked on top of it- and they don't scream gun

i regularly got asked about how the golf was wheeling through an airport to and from Scotland

fly rods fit - boots and clothes go in there as shock absorbers

[Robin Lewis]

Check out our FAQ section ...... #40.

[Paul Ehlers]

Pelican Case.

The only way to fly !!!

[Mike Franzen]

Rick which case do you have?

[Rick Losey]

the "original" 1050 is the one i used

[Bill Murphy]

Before 9-11 and all the new weight and size regulations, I used my Nasco and Aries heavy aluminum cases. What kind of limits do I face today? If I go to a remote gun show, I normally travel with empty cases. However, it is always the plan to bring them back full.

[Richard Flanders]

I think you can't go wrong with Americase, Tuffpaks, or Pelican. I use Americase 2-gun case and love it. Heavy but bombproof.

[Rick Losey]

I think you can't go wrong with Americase, Tuffpaks, or Pelican. I use Americase 2-gun case and love it. Heavy but bombproof.

agreed- i have an Americase 2 gun as well- I use it when driving to a shoot or hunt- it will survive most anything - but i would not want to pay the air freight for it

[Michael Murphy]

Make sure that whatever case you get, that it can be secured with TSA approved padlocks. Some brands or style of cases don't have provisions for TSA approved padlocks. That can prove to be a real hassle if TSA agents are busy and end up stacking up cases for later inspection. They won't be able to open your case without breaking it or paging you at the airport to come to the ticket counter. Negrini cases come to mind as not having padlock provisions. They claim that they are working on it.

[Jeff Kuss]

I was under the impression that you show them the firearm and close and lock it in front of TSA agent. You then keep the key and they don't have access to the interior of the case.

[Michael Murphy]

Jeff, Please note my reference to "if TSA agents are busy and end up stacking up cases for later inspection". Often you will open the case for the ticket agent and to put the orange card in, but the ticket agent is not the TSA agent. At some airports, the TSA agent will inspect the inside of the case, in a separate area and at a later time as the bags head to the plane. I've had this experience in both small and very large airports.

[Paul Ehlers]

I've done a lot of flying with guns post 9-11. Everything I've been told or have read states that you are to use your own locks on gun cases with guns in them and you are to keep the key yourself.

The TSA agents are supposed to open the guns with you present and then when their inspection is done, you place the locks on the case & lock them yourself. I would never think of locking my gun case with a TSA approved lock. Using one would be a quick trip to a stolen gun IMO.

[Michael Murphy]

Gh-16, You've obviously never flown out of Newark airport in the early morning or Aberdeen airport with 20 other hunters in line or Missoula airport during Elk season or San Antonio after the World Skeet Championships. I have and what I covered above has and does happen. I've also never had a gun stolen during an airline shipment. I don't think that having the key in hand has anything at all to do with whether or not a gun will be stolen. If the thieves think it is worth stealing, they will.

[Phillip Carr]

Possibly this is something new, or a specific airport policy??? I have flown a dozen times with my guns and I have always had to fill out a form, and wait for TSA to inspect. I was then instructed to lock my case with my locks. I keep the key. When you get yo the end of your flight does someone remove the locks? Admittedly I have not flown on any commercial flights with any of my guns this past year.

[Michael Murphy]

Phil, "TSA" refers to TSA approved locks. they can be opened by TSA agents with special keys that they have. The locks can be bought at any place that sells luggage. The locks are your locks, not TSA's. They arenT "owned" by TSA. They are locks that you buy and own.

As regards booking in procedures, The ticket agent not the TSA agent, can and normally does give you the orange form to fill own and enclose in your case. That is separate from the TSA clerks responsibility which is to make sure that the case can be and is locked and to insure that there is no ammo or contraband in the case.

[Mike Franzen]

So how do you fly with ammo if it isn't allowed in the case?

[Rick Losey]

So how do you fly with ammo if it isn't allowed in the case?

in your checked luggage

[Bill Murphy]

Regardless of the rules on padlocks, I have always left my cases latched and unlocked with the latches covered in duct tape. I keep long strips of duct tape on my cases in case the TSA guys cut into the tape covering the latches and need to reseal my case. I have never had a complaint from the powers that be and I have never had a case opened for inspection.

[Richard Flanders]

You can fly with all the ammo in your case that you please, as long as it's not over 5kg total as per international regs, and is in "packaging designed for the transportation of ammunition". It doesn't have to be in the original packaging as some ditzy airline folks would like to tell you. We dumped a bunch of loose ammo in a 5.65 NATO ammo can once and checked it through with no problem, though I think that was a rare occurrence as most would likely not allow it, despite it following the actual letter of the regs. I stuff my dbl Americase with shotgun ammo every time I travel.... every time... and have never been given a hassle. As for their inspections, sometimes they do it on a separate counter with you watching, sometimes in an open room where you can see what they're up to but are kept out by a little fence(Denver), and sometimes it's in a closed room where you can't see what's happening(Fairbanks)but give them the keys for the case. I never use TSA locks; you can use whatever you please in my experience. Only once have I had a bad experience at all. The guy tasked with inspecting my Americase was about to open it a way that would have dumped everything out of the open side, which would have made a horrible mess. Generally, you're told to not touch the case while they do this inspection but I sure had to holler at him to STOP while I told him how to open it. He was an arrogant prick too and clearly didn't know anything about what he was doing. Some places like to rip the entire protective nylon cover off the Americase, which is a real PITA. Those places always tell you that it's a requirement, which it may be but most don't bother. Who knows? I can tell you that what they do is not at all consistent between airports. Some seem to have their own set of rules and many employees are clueless of the actual regs and treat YOU who travels with a gun often like an idiot, which can really fry ones azz. Most of them though are very polite and considerate and come out and ask questions if they can't figure out how to open the case or whatever. In Denver they put your case on a trolley to take it to the baggage loading and will even allow you to accompany the guy wheeling it there.

[Mike Franzen]

Thank you Richard for that info. I'm going to be flying a gun in the near future and I'm a little concerned about it. I bought the pelican case Thomas offered so I should be good there. I assume if you call the airline they would give a different answer each time you call

[William Davis]

When I was working in Australia transported my Smallbore and High power Target rifles back and forth at least 6 times in a Pelican. Sometimes via California to the East Coast other times other way via South Africa then Atlanta & home. Only issue was the latches are wide to allow taping with Duct Tape. Once did not tape them down and somebody opened as far as it would go with padlocks attached and no doubt felt around for something to steal. Rifle and it's bolt were untouched. This was pre 9-11 doubt if you can tape them down today. Case is still in good shape after a lot of air miles.

Other day fellow in our gun club was throwing away a Americase AT3 Gun, stickers and tape all over it you could hardly tell what kind of case it was. He said it had been to Africa and Back at least a dozen times. Took it home cleaned it off, needed new feet and one of the 4 latches was broken off. Called Americase they are sending me the parts no charge.

Either one is a good choice, however if I was going to drop one out of a Airplane think the Pelican would survive better, but perhaps not.

We have about given up on the Airlines. Raton trip bunch of us put our rifles in one Truck for the drive. If I had to fly by myself would ship the guns in a Pelican advance, travel without any guns. Friend who was traveling to the Silhouette Pistol Nationals tells the story Airline called in the Airport police to check his T/C Contender, make sure it was empty. Policeman did not know how to open it and would not let him show or even tell him how to do it. Missed his flight waiting for the supervisor who opened the gun and checked it empty soon as he picked it up.

Pelicans driving to Raton NM for Silhouette Nationals guns in the back of a truck we removed the foam insert, filled the case up with rifles in soft cases, stowed this way you are able to load 6 Lever Action rifles. That can work for a large lot of shotguns too. I drove 6 Parkers to the Southern that way.

Empty either one is real heavy put the Americase on the scale when cleaning it up. 30 pounds. Pelican may weigh even more

William

[Richard Flanders]

Free parts? When I needed a new lock mechanism after some airport idiot trashed my Americase lock I had to pay for it! I ran into a guy with a Tuffpak at the airport with the same story; his had been back and forth to Africa 9 times. He'd put guns in in their soft cases then pack clothes in around them. That way he had the soft case to carry them in the hunting rigs. Sounded like a good plan to me.

[William Davis]

Free, Americase told me lifetime warranty, might be intentional lock breaking does not qualify.

William

[Richard Flanders]

Likely not. I sure haven't regretted buying mine. It's heavy but you'd have to have two pretty heavy guns to get it over the 50# limit. I can get two Parkers in it plus several boxes of ammo + cleaning rods and supplies and all sorts of assorted small stuff and it's still under the limit. I doubt I'd get the nylon cover again. It doesn't really do anything beyond prevent dings and scrapes and is a PITA to deal with when they peel it off and don't put it back on properly, which is the norm. It's just not worth it. It keeps it "prettier" but who gives a damn really? My next trip will be without the cover. I never use the caster plate either. One thing for sure is that I don't worry one whit about my guns when I use that case.

[Larry Stauch]

These guys are right, get a Pelican and then put the guns in soft cases. That way when you get where you're going you have a way to carry your firearms.
With good leather cases the full Pelican will weigh just less than the 50 pound maximum, including two 12 gauge side x sides. I travel constantly with my guns to sporting clays shoots and have to bring guns home when I buy them when I'm out on business trips and Richard is accurate for those of us who travel out west, but the one thing that's very true is all these airports have their own way of doing it. Just remember to ask the ticket agent for the declaration, sign it, place it in the case and lock the case. The declaration is just a document that you sign that you attest to the fact that the gun is unloaded. If the TSA inspector wants to open it, and they rarely do these days, they'll ask you for the keys. A TSA approved lock is just a lock that will secure the case so no third party can open it without the key or combination.
Good luck and safe travels, it's really no problem when you do it right.:bigbye:

[Richard LeStage]

Thank you to everyone who offered gun case information. I have ordered and received an Americase UltraLite 2 gun breakdown case that I like very much.. Haven't traveled with it yet but expect it to get my Parkers there and back whole.

[Richard Flanders]

How much does it weigh empty?

[Richard LeStage]

I bought Americase's Ultra-Lite UL-3019. I haven't weighed it but their specs say it weighs 15.85 lbs.

[Richard Flanders]

Tx. That looks to be the same layout as mine with wheels added, which would be nice in some big airports. Only caution is to make sure they don't stand it up on the back side and open both sides at the same time and sprinkle stuff from the front/bottom side all over the floor. Make sure they lay it on the front/bottom side and open the contained top section that has the velcro'd divider to hold everything in.

[Richard LeStage]

Thanks for the heads up. Appreciate it.