Pistol case for airline travel. Which one.

[colorider]

Have a trip coming up and need a pelican or like case to pack my gun and goodies in. I have no clue which one to get.
Glock 19, 4 mags, small eye pro and ear pro is the size of a pack of cigs ( electronic ear buds ). Any suggestions ?

[JerryG]

I just used an ordinary gun case that came with one of my guns and went to Lowes and picked up a Stanley key pad lock.
Once you check in and head to the TSA screening area, your case goes inside your luggage. Take a small lock or zip tie to keep your zipper shut. Hth's

[Aloha_Shooter]

Pretty much any hard case that will take a non-TSA padlock (or 2) will do. I've used a regular pistol case and a lockable ammo box but even a lockable tool box will work. Make sure you have foam or other padding to the contents from bouncing around.

[esaabye]

You don't need anything special, just needs to accept a lock. You will want it inside other luggage anyway so any basic padded case will be fine.

[copfish]

I use a bright orange Pelican with my guns in a Travelvault cable box. That way I can watch my box as it is loaded on the plane. I plan to have en eyebolt attached to the inside so I can cable lock the box inside the Pelican, but have not got around to that yet.

[Great-Kazoo]

I use a bright orange Pelican with my guns in a Travelvault cable box. That way I can watch my box as it is loaded on the plane. I plan to have en eyebolt attached to the inside so I can cable lock the box inside the Pelican, but have not got around to that yet.

That's for long guns, I prefer low profile cases. It also matters what airport one flies in to. Some just toss them on the carousel, others require you pick them up at securioty / TSA.
Denver is very easy to check guns in. They look at ticket counter, then an escort brings you over to TSA. They look hand you bags send you on your way.

[colorider]

Thanks fellas. Guess I forgot that If I have to check a gun case, might as well check a bag and put the case in it. A simple or small case I'm so used to traveling with just a carry on and no guns. I'm flying to Denver to Vegas. Hopefully Vegas airport is easy.

[Great-Kazoo]

Thanks fellas. Guess I forgot that If I have to check a gun case, might as well check a bag and put the case in it. A simple or small case I'm so used to traveling with just a carry on and no guns. I'm flying to Denver to Vegas. Hopefully Vegas airport is easy.

Cake walk. Keep ammo in ammo box NOT in mags. Everything should fit in 1 case.

[OneGuy67]

I also use a cable lock to lock the case to the frame of the suitcase along with a lock to secure the case itself. Too many reports of gun cases missing from suitcases to suit me.

[DireWolf]

Too many reports of gun cases missing from suitcases to suit me.

This is why I will typically only fly with something that I wouldnt be too upset with the loss of....For me, that's an LC9 (original) in a flat pelican case (a little smaller than a laptop) with 3 loaded mags and a padlock, placed inside standard checked luggage....

I've never had TSA give me crap about the loaded mags (in locked case but not in weapon), and if it gets stolen then it's really no big deal to me, aside from the inconvenience.....if the same happened to a >$500 weapon then I'd be pretty bummed out.....

The one I use is very similar to this model (it may be this specific one), which you can probably find locally at a SW or Cabelas:

http://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/watertight-protector-hard-cases/hardback-case/pistol-case/P1075/



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[SamuraiCO]

Quick question for traveling with a pistol. Does the ammo need to be in a locked box as well with the pistol or locked box by itself or do you all just lock up everything?

Traveling from DIA to Portland Southwest Airlines. The trip is to retrieve the rest of my father's firearms and some other items from my childhood home before it sells. Finally got my mom to move out to an senior apartment and to sell her house.

I am shipping firearms to FFL in Colorado. Wife and I will be traveling by vehicle back to Colorado and I do not want to be unarmed along all that highway.

[Rooskibar03]

Quick question for traveling with a pistol. Does the ammo need to be in a locked box as well with the pistol or locked box by itself or do you all just lock up everything?

Traveling from DIA to Portland Southwest Airlines. The trip is to retrieve the rest of my father's firearms and some other items from my childhood home before it sells. Finally got my mom to move out to an senior apartment and to sell her house.

I am shipping firearms to FFL in Colorado. Wife and I will be traveling by vehicle back to Colorado and I do not want to be unarmed along all that highway.


Ammo has to be locked in a same style case as firearm. Southwest limits you to 11lbs of ammo. When I flew out last week I didn't take any ammo with me. While I was at my destination i picked up a box of defense rounds and on the way back I just cut a square in the foam and put box in there.


TSA official wording is ammo can be in magazines as long as it's in no danger of discharge. That said everyone I've talked to said don't do it.

[Great-Kazoo]

Quick question for traveling with a pistol. Does the ammo need to be in a locked box as well with the pistol or locked box by itself or do you all just lock up everything?

Traveling from DIA to Portland Southwest Airlines. The trip is to retrieve the rest of my father's firearms and some other items from my childhood home before it sells. Finally got my mom to move out to an senior apartment and to sell her house.

I am shipping firearms to FFL in Colorado. Wife and I will be traveling by vehicle back to Colorado and I do not want to be unarmed along all that highway.

Same box . I keep it in a factory ammo carton. Last trip 2 26's a 38 4 mags and ammo boxes in Lg pistol case.
I had more issues with the 1050 frame then guns.

[SamuraiCO]

Ok. Then after checking the case and locking up it is placed in your luggage correct? I also see some here lock the gun case to something inside of the piece of luggage.

[Great-Kazoo]

Ok. Then after checking the case and locking up it is placed in your luggage correct? I also see some here lock the gun case to something inside of the piece of luggage.

It's in luggage till i'm at counter. They look it over to check not loaded, then call TSA. After putting the RED FIREARM card in with gun. Off you go to TSA who inspects AGAIN before you move on.
As for locking it inside luggage, nothing wrong with it. I snap picture of gun being checked at ticket counter, as validation gun was handled by Airlines.

[SamuraiCO]

Ok thanks. I feel more comfortable traveling with my CCW pistol and want to ship back my father's firearms to meet the letter of the law even though he passed away before the laws enacted here. Just doing things by the book so they can be easily sold.

When I get them back I will post the firearms for sale on this forum to give members the first crack before opening up the advertising. Hope they find good homes. They are specialty items and I want more practical. Some safe queens, black powder etc.

[colorider]

Thanks for the tips fellas. I'm not traveling w an inexpensive pistol, so I'm going to lock the case to my luggage. Just need to come up with a way. Or get a big case and just use it so it's less likely to get "lost".

[Erni]

What was said above. For ammo I got a 50 round plastic case, they are more sturdy and with some tape won't open. To chain gun to the luggage get a case with the wheels and extending handle. Usually you can get access to the handle tube inside the suitcase. Then use a child lock to secure it. Who kney they may be handy?

[colorider]

Brilliant Erni ! Have several with wheels. Will see which one I will use.

[Grant H.]

I am shipping firearms to FFL in Colorado. Wife and I will be traveling by vehicle back to Colorado and I do not want to be unarmed along all that highway.

Not to side track, but why?

If you are the owner via inheritance, you can ship them to yourself, no need for an FFL.

Saves the transfer fee's.

[SouthPaw]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/gun-storage/gun-cases%7C/pc/104792580/c/104730480/sc/104368680/cabela-s-armor-xtreme-molded-pistol-case/1318399.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fgun-cases%2Fcabelas%2F_%2FN-1100211%2B1000002949%2B4294388355%2FNe-4294388355%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU

That is the one I used to fly back home from AZ for my G19. Pretty nice case and it didn't break the bank.

[KS63]

The TSA agent in Denver who took my case and escorted me to the X-ray room looked and acted like he wouldn't pass a BGC. Felt like I just gave a criminal my guns. Also, check your airline carriers webpage for their special, if any, rules concerning firearms. Most adhere to TSA regs, but some have different polices.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Quick question for traveling with a pistol. Does the ammo need to be in a locked box as well with the pistol or locked box by itself or do you all just lock up everything?

Traveling from DIA to Portland Southwest Airlines. The trip is to retrieve the rest of my father's firearms and some other items from my childhood home before it sells. Finally got my mom to move out to an senior apartment and to sell her house.

I am shipping firearms to FFL in Colorado. Wife and I will be traveling by vehicle back to Colorado and I do not want to be unarmed along all that highway.

Every time I've flown with a pistol checked in luggage, I had the ammunition in a locked box, usually the same locked box as the pistol but clearly separated. This included loaded magazines that clearly couldn't drop accidentally into the magazine well. I also had chamber flags that showed an empty chamber and prevented anything from entering the chamber.

In Colorado Springs, United counter agent asked me detailed questions to ensure the pistol was unloaded and didn't care that ammunition was in the magazines as long as the magazines were not in a position to go in the pistol. TSA agent only cared that I had non-TSA locks on the case.

[SamuraiCO]

Not to side track, but why?

If you are the owner via inheritance, you can ship them to yourself, no need for an FFL.

Saves the transfer fee's.


Am I being overly conservative and cautious? I was just following the recommendation of a forum member I know. Was just going to make sure my Colorado bonifides are in order so there is no question.

[clublights]

you can get this for about 45 bucks at walmart .. but you gotta go to the "rural" ones ... ( parker, longmont etc) to find em. e have a few we use for stuff other then guns and they are decent

http://www.planomolding.com/hunting/hard-gun-cases/all-weathertm-gun-cases/108021

[Great-Kazoo]

While we're talking about how we fly out of DIA, remember he has to fly back. How the ticket agent follows TSA and airline guidelines on that end may be different. Even though the guidelines are suppose to be uniform.

It's been posted in a few other threads inquiring about flying with gun. I keep a copy on hand when flying. If there's an issue i hand it to ticket agent.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition



Ammunition is prohibited in carry-on baggage, but may be transported in checked baggage.
Firearm magazines and ammunition clips, whether loaded or empty, must be securely boxed or included within a hard-sided case containing an unloaded firearm. Read the requirements (http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=0e643a4dc787c2bebb8e96698e046b29&mc=true&n=pt49.2.175&r=PART&ty=HTML%20-%20se49.2.175_110#se49.2.175_110) governing the transport of ammunition in checked baggage as defined by 49 CFR 175.10 (a)(8).
Small arms ammunition, including ammunition not exceeding .75 caliber and shotgun shells of any gauge, may be carried in the same hard-sided case as the firearm.

[Grant H.]

Am I being overly conservative and cautious? I was just following the recommendation of a forum member I know. Was just going to make sure my Colorado bonifides are in order so there is no question.

I do think you are being over cautious, which is obviously your choice.

https://www.atf.gov/file/61721/download

Section 6:

Any person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in the care of another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner “in the care of” the out-of-State resident. Upon reaching its destination, persons other than the owner must not open the package or take possession of the firearm.