Airline & TSA Approved Gun Cases

[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 the Gun Guy]

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.

[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.