Factory Gun Case Airline Approved?

[aphexafx]

Originally Posted by jeepinbanditrider

Anytime you ship a firearm it has to go to an FFL holder. Even C&R weapons have to go to a C&R FFL holder. The only exceptions would be AR uppers which aren't considered "firearms" by the ATF. You could ship your upper and check your lower. Hell I bet you could carry your lower minus the uppoer as carry on I bet no one would know what it is half the time.

edit-also most of the time when you ship a firearm they REQUIRE it be shipped overnight delivery which costs big bucks a lot of times.

I *think* this applies to any firearm with two sections, "reciever" and "upper". Including hand guns. I *think* it is legal to ship a slide from any auto, whereas the frame (reciever) requires FFL to, er, recieve.

Correct?

[jeepinbanditrider]

As far as I understand the only part of a firearm that is considered THE "firearm" by the ATF when it comes to pistols is the frame.

[spamlovr]

To help clear things up and help the discussion:
Fed Ex firearms shipment policy: http://www.fedex.com/us/services/terms/us.html#firearms
USPS: http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub52/pub52c...#PSk741320edwa
UPS: http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/res...h_phr=firearms and http://www.ups-scs.com/tools/terms/a...h_phr=firearms Section 31 on page 25
DHL: http://www.dhl-usa.com/resources/Pro...ommodities.pdf

I would go out of my way to avoid sending a firearm on a passenger plane. Nothing say "steal me" like a big sign on teh baggage that says "FIREARM". If you haven't read it yet, go read this thread on this site:
A Frightening Incident

[[TASF]Overkill]

It says "Springfield Armory" all over it. Not a fan there...

Maybe do that and put it inside your larger checked bagge. If it looks like a gun, its chances of being stolen are significantly higher.

I've flown 4 or 5 times with my XD, no problems yet.

[natehunts]

Just lettin you know that there were no problems using my factory case to fly with. I have flown a number of times with a different handgun case but this time I needed to use the "cutout" portion of the factory case for my loaded magazine. My other case doesn't have a cutout for the magazine. Anyway, all went well. Oh, and if anyone is curious, I flew out of Oakland.

[arizonaimposter]

I travel extensively throughout the U.S. and check my Glock 26 and sometimes my XD .45 with it. I use a Pelican case with foam inside that is big enough to hold both guns, three XD mags, two G26 mags and a plastic box of ammo. The plastic box for the ammo is aftermarket and approved for airline usage. 11 pounds is the limit for ammo.

NOTE: Be careful about what type of ammo and where you are going. Some states that allow carry or accept my CCW still have laws against "hollowpoint" bullets. Some states actually only allow ball type ammo. I had a problem once with HydraShocks and had to give them all up at an airport (I think it was Jersey, but not sure...its been a while.)

The box is then locked with two Master padlocks and I carry the key with me on the plane. At check in you sign a "Firearms Declaration" which is placed inside the locked container. IT IS AGAINST FEDERAL LAW FOR THEM TO ASK YOU TO PLACE IT ON THE OUTSIDE OR ATTACH IT TO THE OUTSIDE. However, I have affixed a "blue line" LEO sticker to the outside and I am betting that some TSA agents have helped it through due to the sticker.

Gate agents are either totally clueless or very savvy about how guns work. Some will ask to see if it is all unloaded, and others will simply ask.

Once all this is done and it is locked back up it goes into my softsided suitcase. This outer suitcase is then locked with one of those TSA openable combo locks.

I have never had a problem with checking my guns and I figure if I lose them, I'll just report them stolen and buy new ones....big deal.

I have also spoken with personnel who work inside Fedex as well as UPS. Both told me that they DO NOT x-ray or generally give a crap about what is in a box....just move it all as fast as they can. If you are going to ship a gun with Fedex or UPS, just ship it unloaded and put nothing on the outside that indicates a firearm.

Hope this helps.

[robinsre]

Don't do it. My first XD was stolen from a secure zone by someone on the airline side. Noone would take responsibility for it. If you MUST transport your firearm do so in a NON-Descript hard sided locked case. Only you, and the TSA agent checking your bag need to know that there's a firearm in there.

[arizonaimposter]

Another good thing to do is insure your guns under a homeowners or renters policy and make sure it covers your belongings while traveling. My policy insures my belongings up to $20K and only costs me around $14 per month.

[SMMAssociates]

Assuming a handgun:

You need to lock your gun in a hardsided container of some kind. All airlines require that it be unloaded - they'll either look, or ask you, or some combination. SOME airlines won't let you pack loaded magazines in the same gun case. SOME airlines won't let you check loaded magazines....

Put the gun case (and it's Firearm Tag) into an outer, non-descript case. Use a TSA-approved lock for the outer case, and your own KEYED locks on the gun case.

You need to put what ammunition you're carrying (some limit you to 50 rounds) in a "factory" box or equivalent - those plastic "loaders" boxes are OK.

Carry a gun you'd not mind getting a check for....

I flew from DFW to CLE about a year and a half ago. The countergal had no idea what I was talking about when I checked the bag in. When we got that straight, she had to call somebody to ask where the forms were.... Somebody opened the bag "downstairs" later, too.

The CLE to DFW leg, a week before, went rather more smoothly. The counterguy walked me and the bag to the TSA X-Ray machine about thirty feet away, and we watched it go through. I'd already shown him that it was unloaded, and that the magazines were unloaded. That was that. The bag wasn't opened en-route....

The hazard is in airports where a bag can be opened and "examined" out of public view, and with either inadequate supervision or surveillance.

The only downside to having a gun you really don't care about is when it walks before you get wherever you're going.... If I'm in TX, I can carry in TX, and that's why I went through the trouble of getting it there.... (Not to mention where I'll be visiting, way, way out in the middle of nowhere....)

My daughter lost a handbag recently, flying from DFW to Columbus. Cosmetics and her orthodontic retainer.... And a rather nice bag.... $300+ to replace the retainer, but with my high deductable, and her being at the far end of the treatment series, we decided to forget about it. The bag was in an unlocked suitcase.

I try to avoid flying, but I'm getting too old to drive long distances. Not easy due to health problems either.

Regards,