NationStates Jolt Archive

Perchance, has anyone flown with a firearm (checked, I mean) in the US? I'm planning to tomorrow, and I would like to know how much of a delay I should expect.

Anyone?

Not post September 11th you don't!

Not post September 11th you don't!

Oh yes you can. As long as it's unloaded and locked in a hard case, you can.

I was under the impression that in all circumstances, Ammunition and weaponry have to be on seperate vehicles. If you're wanting to bring both there may be some problem, but I can't actually see much problems if you have the proper paperwork etc.

I'm not planning on taking any ammunition. My round is common enough that I can find it anywhere. But the airline said that, as long as it's in it's original packaging, ammo can be carried in the same luggage as the firearm.

I'm not planning on taking any ammunition. My round is common enough that I can find it anywhere. But the airline said that, as long as it's in it's original packaging, ammo can be carried in the same luggage as the firearm.

Wow, Im impressed with that.

You should be pretty sweet then, Maybe a slightly more intensive background check, but that doesn't take many more minutes. Plan for some delays just in case, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are no issues.

Wow, Im impressed with that.

You should be pretty sweet then, Maybe a slightly more intensive background check, but that doesn't take many more minutes. Plan for some delays just in case, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are no issues.

...

I guess I shouldn't have burnt down that orphanage. Oops.

I don't know about passing through customs (your baggage WILL be closely searched) But I hunt a bit and have flown inside the continental US with weapons and ammunition since 9/11.


DO NOT PUT AMMO IN YOUR BAGGAGE WITH YOUR WEAPONS! you will end up with an asshole big enough to hold a three ring circus in. The rules say you CAN but I have been strip searched as a result of this even before 9/11. The folks they hire to check this are not the brightest you will ever find. Just buy a box when you get here, and save yourself a prostate check.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01dec20031500/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2003/octqtr/49cfr1540.111.htm

I have flown in the states three times with weapons locked and boxed in my baggage. All three times they broke the lock on my gun case to search the case. This despite my having left a huge chunk of duct tape with my cell phone asking them to call me for the key if they wanted to open it...asshats!
Then they used a plastic tie wrap to "relock" it. Time wise it was never a big deal, not really much longer than my other baggage took.
The third time they left a big assed scratch on my rifle stock, which I was able to make a claim for only because the first two times had got me paranoid so I took pictures of my rifle with time stamps on them.
It wasn't really a big deal but they did actually pay for a replacement stock on my rifle.

You should be fine. Ask about locks on your luggage going through customs.

Perchance, has anyone flown with a firearm (checked, I mean) in the US? I'm planning to tomorrow, and I would like to know how much of a delay I should expect.

Anyone?

Put the weapon in a checked bag and the ammo in a separate checked bag. Tell the chick at the counter that you're checking bags with weapons in them. Use sturdy bags that can be locked. One airline, I forget which, labels bags with guns in them and to me that sounds like an invitation for baggage handlers to steal your guns. This advice was given to me by a friend of mine who works for US airways. He didn't mention any delays, but these days you should always show up at the airport nice and early. Who knows what kind of security hoops you'll have to jump through?

Well, I did it, and it was suprisingly hassle free. Just chucked the declaration slip in the case, and gave the TSA dudes the key when they needed to search it.

I just wish it was like the rest of my flight. :mad:

did they come ask you for the key or what? When I wen tthrough my guns went through the back and they just ripped em open, which sucked cause it meant tey could have been stolen. Maybe they have fixed the system finally:eek:

Yeah. The airport I originated from is so low volume, they could do all the baggage searching out in the open. I just stayed there until they ran my case through the big x-ray thingie. They wanted to search the case (as expected), so I just gave them the key.

nice! good for yoU! make sure it will be as easy goin back tho ;)

Yeah. The airport I originated from is so low volume

Lansing, I'm assuming? I imagine it'd be hell trying to do that in Detroit Metro.

Lansing, I'm assuming? I imagine it'd be hell trying to do that in Detroit Metro.

Escanaba. I was home for Christmas before taking off.

Escanaba. I was home for Christmas before taking off.

Ah, I imagine it's standard procedure up there.

Ah, I imagine it's standard procedure up there.

Yeah. Heh, after today I remembered why I hated flying out of Escanaba. Escanaba to Milwaulkee to Detriot Metro to Destination. God, what a hassle.

Yeah. Heh, after today I remembered why I hated flying out of Escanaba. Escanaba to Milwaulkee to Detriot Metro to Destination. God, what a hassle.

That's even more out of the way than the Denver-Minneapolis-Detroit-Soo flight I took once. Flying in and out of the UP in general isn't very fun.

I kept thinking this thread would be about aircraft that are either just big firearms, or propelled somehow by firearms.