Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Flying with a gun case - which locks?

It has been about 7 years since i have had to fly with a long gun but i am lucky enough to be going to colorado for 2nd rifle season in a few weeks

My hard case does not have built in locks but otherwise it is a tank.

I picked up some "tsa locks" but then found where those are approved for luggage but NOT gun cases.

Do people just use masterlock padlocks?

I went to Walmart and got some master padlocks...the little ones, two to a pack, with matched keys obviously. They worked like a charm for me and TSA never questioned me at all. The locks are about two inches tall and an inch wide....something like that...not the big ol locks.

Use your masterlock padlocks and you keep the key. TSA locks are fine for your duffle but verbotten for the gun case. I also suggest you print the pages from the TSA AND airline websites regarding travel with firearms and have these pages with you should there be any confusion.

TSA does not allow the locks to be accessed by them, you only!!!

When you get there to check in, declare that you have a firearm and you'll be escorted to another area where TSA will send your case thru a scanner to look it over, they will not open it. Once they've ok'd it they'll give you a label that YOU will place inside the case. They take the case from you and you'll pick it up from baggage claim at your destination

You can put the ammo inside the case with the gun but it can't be loaded in the gun.....duh





Huntinut

Good thread, because I had mis-interpreted this and bought tsa approved locks for everything yesterday (including my gun case)!

Huntinut:

I've flown with a rifle every year for the last four years and I've had a different experience than you. Yes you have to declare the firearm at the ticket counter. Yes a standard Master padlock or similar is the best type of lock. Yes TSA escorted me to a separate screened area where they had me open the case and they checked for nitrates with their little pads. They probed the foam but did not touch the rifle, they can't. They did not put the rifle case through a scanner, maybe because it's aluminum. Then I locked the case and I kept the key. TSA took care of the rifle after that. At the destination, the rifle is delivered at a separate location near but not part of the baggage carousel.

KC

KC

First off if I wasn't going for an OTC bull 2nd season, I'd taggin along behind you 3rd season!! Quite an offer you put out there and I hope it works out for you!

Most of my travels have been with a handgun in a plastic Pelican case packed inside one of my checked bags so that prolly explains a lot!!

Huntinut

is there anything I need to do to declare the firearm before I arrive there? I plan to go early to get it checked and situated.

Not that I'm aware of, or have ever experienced. Just declare it when you check in at your airline counter.

Huntinut

My experience has been similar to KC, they want to see in the case then it was locked. I have flown with mine several times and never had a problem at all.

I'm no expert... but. Last time I flew to AK with a gun, which was last year, the guys/girls at the airline ticket counter had an argument/discussion right in front of me as to whether things were to be locked with a TSA lock or not. End result was "they" had changed it again that week....again. Fortunately for me, I happened to have the right locks, "that week". Best bet, and it's cheap enough, is to have both TSA and non TSA locks with you. They're small and cheap and easy to carry, then if you get into a hassle with an individual agent, you can change them out, satisfy him/her and be on your way. That's my plan, and I'm sticking to it...

My thoughts exactly

OK guys educate me here. I've Always used standard padlocks and had no problems. However, I like the idea of carrying both types of locks just in case I encounter a TSA agent with different ideas. So what's a TSA lock? Where do you buy them?

KC

got mine at Wal-Mart
just a lock that TSA can open with a key they have. Not sure you can see in picture but where "TSA" is at they can use a key. its also a combo lock and where you see the green dot, that will turn red if it's been opened with a key or popped open

Walmart seems to be the common place to get them, they aren't anything special, except the TSA guys can open them. I talked with an agent for a bit about them, wondered if they were all keyed the same, meaning could another Joe Shmo with TSA locks/keys open mine, he said no. All keyed differently, but there are several different master keys that the TSA guys have that open them all. One point they did all agree on, regular luggage, ie suitcases, duffles, etc., that you want to lock, must be a TSA lock, regardless.

SAME TOPIC

I have an skb two gun case with tsa locks on the end--I don't see a place to add another lock on the case. Has anyone traved with a strap and lock around the case? thanks