flying with guns - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

rockerz71 · 03-12-2007, 02:56 AM

I will be traveling next week and am thinking of taking my XD. I have never done this before, so I would like to know what, if any, problems any of you have run into at the airport or if there is anything I should beware of. What I have gathered so far is that it needs to be unloaded and in a hard case, I'm not sure if it has to be locked or not but I would like to lock it. I need to tell the person at the check-in counter that I have it and then a TSA agent is supposed to come over to have a look I guess. I'd like to lock my suitcase with the gun case inside it as well, since I remember reading something here a while back about someone getting their gun stolen. How does locking suitcases work now, since they have to be able to inspect everything? Can I have them inspect it with me standing there and then lock it up? I also read that they sometimes put a sticker on the baggage saying that it has a firearm inside, but that this is illegal. If it happens I'm not sure if I'll try to get them to take it off or not. If this stuff adds a considerable delay to check-in time, please let me know what I should plan for so I can get there in time.

Thanks

mudfoot · 03-12-2007, 06:11 AM

I fly a considerable amount, and never leave home without it.

1. Gun must be unloaded. Mags must be empty.
2. Ammo can be carried, but in a box (i.e. leave your Rangers in the box they came in).
3. When you arrive at the airport, inform the desk that you need to declare firearms. They will have you open your pistol case, to verify its unloaded. Then they will have you sign a small red tag that will go inside your pistol case.
4. At this point, lock your pistol case and place it inside your check-in baggage. Lock your baggage. The desk attendant will escort you to the TSA screener. You hand them your bag, and they will scan it. IF they need to open your baggage, they will ask for the key. When they say you are clear, you go to your plane.

That's it. It really is easy, after the first time.

Just be careful flying into airports in NewYork, and DC. They have weird ass laws that can land you jail.

jetsiphon · 03-12-2007, 06:33 AM

Yep, he speaks the truth. Get a good Pelican or Storm case and you'll be fine. Make sure that you have a good lock.

Broadside · 03-12-2007, 06:56 AM

Few months ago a member posted his gun was stolen out of the airport. Diddo on the good lock & case.

rockerz71 · 03-12-2007, 08:35 AM

I am flying from Atlanta to Detroit, but with a layover in DC. Is the case the XD comes in not up to the task?

grahamstein · 03-12-2007, 09:26 AM

One more time, get a pellican or a storm, but as an added note, pellican sells TSA locks, get 2 for each case if you plan on flying.

x_out86 · 03-12-2007, 09:41 AM

+1 for the Pelican case. They are pretty much so unbreakable and have secure places to attach a lock.

As far as locking your suitcase, go to wal-mart and get a couple of luggage locks. They now sell the ones that are TSA compliant, meaning that TSA will have a key that will fit the lock, and will not cut them off. If I remember right, the locks are red with a little emblem glued on the front of them.

rockerz71 · 03-12-2007, 09:46 AM

I'll plan to get one of the pelican cases at some point, but assuming for this weekend all I have is the case the XD came in, should I not use it? Why? I'm in college, so spending a couple hundred bucks on a case doesn't seem like the best use of my money right now.

Also, does anyone think that my layover in DC will be a problem?

Thanks

x_out86 · 03-12-2007, 09:52 AM

http://www.pelican-case.com

There is the the site for Pelican. Look around for a case. One that will fit an XD is about $35.00

Stock XD case should be OK for this time around, however I would make sure to get something more secure for the next time. Just make sure you have some way to secure the case closed, other than the latches.

TYFOON · 03-12-2007, 10:14 AM

Ammo MUST be in original manufacturer packaging as well.

Gun Box has to be locked. I use the original box my gun came in.

Good luck!

It's fun walking up to the ticket counter and saying "I've got a gun to check".

Foon

03-12-2007, 02:56 AM	#1
rockerz71 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norcross, GA Posts: 3,362	flying with guns I will be traveling next week and am thinking of taking my XD. I have never done this before, so I would like to know what, if any, problems any of you have run into at the airport or if there is anything I should beware of. What I have gathered so far is that it needs to be unloaded and in a hard case, I'm not sure if it has to be locked or not but I would like to lock it. I need to tell the person at the check-in counter that I have it and then a TSA agent is supposed to come over to have a look I guess. I'd like to lock my suitcase with the gun case inside it as well, since I remember reading something here a while back about someone getting their gun stolen. How does locking suitcases work now, since they have to be able to inspect everything? Can I have them inspect it with me standing there and then lock it up? I also read that they sometimes put a sticker on the baggage saying that it has a firearm inside, but that this is illegal. If it happens I'm not sure if I'll try to get them to take it off or not. If this stuff adds a considerable delay to check-in time, please let me know what I should plan for so I can get there in time. Thanks __________________ Luke GeorgiaCarry.org Member

03-12-2007, 06:11 AM	#2
mudfoot XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 314	I fly a considerable amount, and never leave home without it. 1. Gun must be unloaded. Mags must be empty. 2. Ammo can be carried, but in a box (i.e. leave your Rangers in the box they came in). 3. When you arrive at the airport, inform the desk that you need to declare firearms. They will have you open your pistol case, to verify its unloaded. Then they will have you sign a small red tag that will go inside your pistol case. 4. At this point, lock your pistol case and place it inside your check-in baggage. Lock your baggage. The desk attendant will escort you to the TSA screener. You hand them your bag, and they will scan it. IF they need to open your baggage, they will ask for the key. When they say you are clear, you go to your plane. That's it. It really is easy, after the first time. Just be careful flying into airports in NewYork, and DC. They have weird ass laws that can land you jail. __________________ If you are citizen who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be "on" 24/7, for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself..."Baa."

03-12-2007, 06:33 AM	#3
jetsiphon XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 1,192	Yep, he speaks the truth. Get a good Pelican or Storm case and you'll be fine. Make sure that you have a good lock. __________________ XD9 Service Black - XD45 Service Dark Earth 1945 Sistema 1911 - Para Ordnance LTC Steyr M9A1 - Glock 17

03-12-2007, 06:56 AM	#4
Broadside XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,913	Few months ago a member posted his gun was stolen out of the airport. Diddo on the good lock & case. __________________ XD - 9 Subcompact XD - 357 Service w/ SA Custom Carry Pro Pkg SA - Mil Spec 1911 A1

03-12-2007, 08:35 AM	#5
rockerz71 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norcross, GA Posts: 3,362	I am flying from Atlanta to Detroit, but with a layover in DC. Is the case the XD comes in not up to the task? __________________ Luke GeorgiaCarry.org Member

03-12-2007, 09:26 AM	#6
grahamstein XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West Nyack, NY Posts: 657	One more time, get a pellican or a storm, but as an added note, pellican sells TSA locks, get 2 for each case if you plan on flying. __________________ "To be Irish is to know that in the end, the world will break your heart." - Daniel Patrick Moynihan

03-12-2007, 09:41 AM	#7
x_out86 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 542	+1 for the Pelican case. They are pretty much so unbreakable and have secure places to attach a lock. As far as locking your suitcase, go to wal-mart and get a couple of luggage locks. They now sell the ones that are TSA compliant, meaning that TSA will have a key that will fit the lock, and will not cut them off. If I remember right, the locks are red with a little emblem glued on the front of them. __________________ Hellen Keller: I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker. Bruce Lee: Showing off is the fool's idea of glory.

03-12-2007, 09:46 AM	#8
rockerz71 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norcross, GA Posts: 3,362	I'll plan to get one of the pelican cases at some point, but assuming for this weekend all I have is the case the XD came in, should I not use it? Why? I'm in college, so spending a couple hundred bucks on a case doesn't seem like the best use of my money right now. Also, does anyone think that my layover in DC will be a problem? Thanks __________________ Luke GeorgiaCarry.org Member

03-12-2007, 09:52 AM	#9
x_out86 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 542	http://www.pelican-case.com There is the the site for Pelican. Look around for a case. One that will fit an XD is about $35.00 Stock XD case should be OK for this time around, however I would make sure to get something more secure for the next time. Just make sure you have some way to secure the case closed, other than the latches. __________________ Hellen Keller: I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker. Bruce Lee: Showing off is the fool's idea of glory.

03-12-2007, 10:14 AM	#10
TYFOON XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 393	Ammo MUST be in original manufacturer packaging as well. Gun Box has to be locked. I use the original box my gun came in. Good luck! It's fun walking up to the ticket counter and saying "I've got a gun to check". Foon

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