Flying with Handguns in the luggage?

[Pistol Packing Preacher]

What is the deal with flying with hand guns in the luggage?

I think you must declare them...
When do you declare them... at the counter or way before the flight?
Where does the ammo go?
In the same suit case as the handgun?
Another suitcase?

What if some one steals the handgun [in route]?

What about picking up you luggage at the other end... Say Miami?
Has anyone had any bad encounters with this issue out of DIA?
Good encounters?

Thanks for any info..

[Merl]

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1035,00.html

Firearms
Federal regulations require that firearms in checked baggage or in their own shipping case be unloaded and declared. Firearms are not allowed in carry-on bags. Firearms in checked baggage must be packed in a locked hard-sided bag or gun case. A maximum of 11 lbs. of small arms ammunition is allowed in checked luggage in the original manufacturer's box or securely packed in a fiber, wood, or metal box to prevent movement of cartridges.

[Pistol Packing Preacher]

Thanks Merl.

It does not look too intimidating!

11 lbs... Hmmmm.

Well I guess I can purchase more ammo @ my destination.... :P

JK

[Merl]

having never done it, I would expect you have to pickup your bag at then end. I doubt a hard case with bright yellow tape saying FIREARM will come down the carousel. (saw the tape on some cases in the airport pre 9-11 no idea if they still mark the bags for easy theft.)

[Hoser]

Now days when I travel commercial, I always take a gun. You go right to the front of the line, and sometimes there is someone there to meet you at baggage claim with your bags.

[Pistol Packing Preacher]

So Tom...

Do you advice them BEFORE you arrive @ the airport that you plan to transport a weapon?

[Great-Kazoo]

i don't talk to anyone except baggage check in.
had called once before. was travelling @ christmas. was told by airport security thanks but deal with your airline checkin
in cali of all places i just took firearms off the baggage carousel (go figure0 however on return trip had to go to baggage claim @ dia. show ticket stub and i.d
i had my guns in cases with the addition of trigger locks (just in case) empty mags and no ammo.
check in said the the trigger locks were nice but not necessary. there is no identifying tag placed on luggage to show it as a firearm.

[AR_Forever]

Make sure you have the serial number off the gun. Firearms are one of the top stolen items out of airport security. Also one of the most un-advertised problems airport security has. They like to take handguns.

[MuzzleFlash]

I've flown wiith machine guns and silencers through DIA. No I'm not posting from jail :cool:

You must comply with the TSA regs. Here's a good resource:
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/Federal/Read.aspx?id=70

After declaring my firearms and placing the tags in the luggage (along with a copy of my ATF 5320.20), they walked the luggage over to the TSA and I stood by while it was X-rayed. TSA did decide to inspect it so I opened the locks for them. They finished and had me close the locks and scramble the codes. They then placed TSA marked tamper seals on the cases and sent them down the hole on the conveyor.

[cobubbasan]

No problems @ DIA, just follow the TSA rules, check their website. Declare it at the counter, make sure it is in a locked hard case, UNLOADED. You sign a form that is placed inside the luggage and it gets screened around the check-in counter and off you go. The only delay I've had is with ammo. I had 2 boxes of 9mm, well under 11 lbs. but the sceeners were concerned and had to look. Oh well

[Asha'man]

Couldn't you mail a carry handgun to yourself at your destination without having to deal with an FFL? I'm flying to Seattle in March and, though I probably won't bring a gun, have been thinking about how to do it if I did. I could mail myself the gun at my sister's address, right?

[KarlPMann]

Well first it would have to go UPS, USPS doesn't do handguns IIRC. But I'm not real sure if you can or can't. But maybe. Karl.

[MuzzleFlash]

Couldn't you mail a carry handgun to yourself at your destination without having to deal with an FFL? I'm flying to Seattle in March and, though I probably won't bring a gun, have been thinking about how to do it if I did. I could mail myself the gun at my sister's address, right?

Here ya go, from the horses' mouth:

(Question B9)

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#b9

[KarlPMann]

(B9) May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity?

Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in 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. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm.


Karl.

[Asha'man]

Sweet, thanks for the link. If the horse says so, it must be true!

[Pistol Packing Preacher]

Quote Asha'man:
Sweet, thanks for the link. If the horse says so, it must be true!

Is KarlPMann horsing around....?

Again!

:P

[KarlPMann]

Nope, not me, that wasn't my link. Karl.

[Hoser]

Well first it would have to go UPS, USPS doesn't do handguns IIRC. But I'm not real sure if you can or can't. But maybe. Karl.

Only FFL holders mail use the US Mail for handguns. Anyone can use the USPS for long guns.

[stove]

Gun check policy and procedures vary by carrier. For example: Alaska Air allows something like 21 lbs of ammo and didn't require that you take your bag to secondary screening last time I flew with them from SEA. A couple years ago.
There are a few airlines that do not allow you to check a firearm. I've traveled weekly for work the majority of the last 6 - 7 years and always take a handgun, if it isn't prohibited where I'm traveling to. I have never had an issue with any carrier at DIA.

[sniper7]

Last year an Atlanta ramp agent was unloading one of our planes. We had just come from a .mil marine base there they were doing sniper school. I watched her drop the case off the baggage unloader then toss it into the trailer used to haul bags.
Needless to say I ripped into her a bit about taking care of those things. The value of that gun is probably pretty close to as much as she makes a year...
she was cool and said she would be more careful. hopefully that is still the case.

all I can say is to NEVER ship your dog on the airlines. I feel sooo bad for them. they sit out by the plane sometimes in the rain, or snow, or heat, with the APU running (super loud) and it has to hurt their ears since it hurts mine.

[SSChameleon]

Remember to give yourself an extra 15 minutes at DIA. For some reason the guy at TSA took forever filling out his little checklist. Coming back from AZ was a breeze. Southwest is real easy with their process.