Learned there have been a few changes domestically since last Fall when the nut job started shooting people in Ft. Lauderdale.

I have an aluminum case with multiple latches that has a rod the run through the latches and is secured and can be locked at one end. For years I've seen people flay around the world with such a rig, but leave the rod our and just attach a lock on one of the latches. Saves pulling the rod in and out at the counter to put the firearms declaration in it. So this weekend I made a trip to do some shooting, and went to the airport with 2 cases locked, but no rod.

It seems that the TSA and the airlines demand a lock on every single latch now. If I had the rod, the one lock would have been ok. TSA put a handful of little locks on my case, and I had TSA at the other end unlock them.


On another note, I get an over zealous Delta supervisor that wants me to put all the TSA locks on the case at the ticket counter. So I Open the case, put the declaration in , lock it up, and snap on all the little TSA locks. Then she tells me to open it back up, because nobody inspected the firearms to ensure they are unloaded. Uh, she told me to lock it up? I don't have the TSA key. So they get TSA to unlock it, and I open the cases, and she looks at the rifles without touching them and tells me to lock it up.

How does she know my rifles are unloaded? Would she even knows where to look? I could have had a round in the chamber or a full magazine. My point is that this check THINKS she was doing everything by the book, but wasn't. It takes a little patience to fly with guns these days.

I actually feel less safe with these TSA jaggoffs after 911. I have the same case. Old school Cabela's. People get a kick out of the Namibia, Cameroon, Tanzania stickers on it.

Love it! I have a friend who put guitar stickes on his. Gibson, Fender, Marshall, Pevy etc. as camouflage. Nobody seems concerned with a hippie musician with a guitar case.

During the 1990's I used a very innocuous-looking aluminum take-down case on many hunts around the world. Went to the Czech Republic one fall to hunt red stag, and the customs woman waved me and my wife right through without even looking inside the case, much less filling out many forms. This was great, since we'd just spent 30 hours in airports and planes coming from Montana.

But in the greeting area the young man sent to greet us asked if we had "papers" for the rifle. When I said no, he went into a panic and dragged me back to the woman. They had a hurried conversation in Czech, and it turned out she thought I was part of an orchestra that had also just landed in another plane, and the case held a trumpet or some other instrument. So we then went to see the police, which in those days didn't take long, and I finally entered the country with legal papers for my rifle....

That's weird Jeff. On my several trips, using an aluminum case like yours, I had a couple of keyed master locks on my rifle case instead of TSA locks. I was told that I should be the only person able to open that case, not some bunch of idiots who all had TSA keys while I wasn't present.

I was told similar by Delta. They told me to put Non-TSA lock on all lock holes. Your case should only be able to be opened in your presence and the employees should not even touch your rifle, as they are not trained to handle firearms. The ammo should be stored in a separate case with TSA locks.

I bought an SKB rifle case a few years ago BECAUSE it had built in TSA locks on it. I used it once, then got wind that I had to convert the locks from TSA locks because guns were an exception and no TSA locks on guns cases. I looked it up and that is the case. ATF rules vs. TSA rules. Anyway, I called SKB to order the new locks for the conversion. SKB told me to use a sharp pointed object, you know kinda like a pocket knife and pry off the little TSA lock symbol with the #2 on it. Violia! it's now converted to a non TSA lock,
My last couple of trips, the counter agent asked to see the gun. They have no idea in the world how to determine if it's loaded or not loaded, they just asked me about that and seemed happy with the correct response. From what I can tell they just want to make sure if you're declaring a weapon that there is actually a weapon in there. I'm guessing to help prevent phony claims.

Another twist is that the Harrisburg put a big zip tie around each case and claimed that was a new regulation before they released the case. Like a zip tie is going to deter exactly what criminal behavior?

This is simply hilarious, if equal requirements were made to drive a car or operate heavy equipment the USA would shut down within in hours of chaos.

Nobody has an accepted standard. I too have been in the exact situation described in the original post, however, I did have the metal rod in place. She told me that it was now a Lock it was a rod, it must be a lock!

After a little testy conversation with the supervisor, and of all people a baggage handler that happened by as we were discussing this. It was put on the belt. Seems the baggage handlers credibility was the apex judgement in the whole discussion. Once that older black fella said " it's locked ........ it's all locked up, aint nodody gonna open any those latches unless that padlock comes off. "ship it"

They all then agreed and away it went.

Thankfully these idiots default to baggage handler guidance, not sure what authority the guy with the yellow vest and kneepads had but his word was golden to them.

Only use private locks on a traveling Gun case and ammo box.

I just used the same case to go to Zim. Flew on Emirates out of Houston and had no problems on either end.

Read a report somewhere once where a guy was leaving "small town" Wyoming on a plane. Said the young lady that checked him in and also loaded baggage could go through rifles like Forest Gump assembling an M16. More impressed with her than any big city airport he had ever passed through.

This is correct. TSA Locks are ILLEGAL on firearm cases. If they want to open it, they have to come to you and you open it, or once it's gone down into the bowels of the luggage world, if they want to open it, they must contact you and get the key.

I had Master locks on it, they just wanted every orifice with a lock on it since I omitted the rod.

Have any of you travelled with several guns???

Like 3 rifles and 3 handguns?

Im heading south this summer and plan to pick up a few of my rifles and revolvers to take back to AK. I was thinking Id just buy a few pelican cases and make it all fit, like 2 - 2 rifle cases and sort of pad the revolvers in the place where the 4th rifle would go.

A couple years ago I related that a friend in Seattle SEATAC had to remove his guns from one of the big plastic black golf club shipping containers (Pelican ?) and have his wife bring a "regular" hard sided gun case to the airport for him to use. The gate agent refused to check his gun in what she said was a "golf" case as it was not a "gun" case. Then, the locking issue wasn't as important as the fact that it wasn't a "gun" case. He even met with the supervisor and the super would not overrule the agent even though he agreed with the gun owner that the "golf" case was in fact a "gun" case.

Just to be clear, the TSA and other "security" cock gobblers are authorized and equipped to get in to any case they want in.

A few years ago, I got separated from my guns and they stayed in Chicago while I went on to Namibia via Swiss Air. When the gun case showed up, eventually, TSA had cut my Masterlocks and left a note. They then re-attached one of the extra locks I had packed inside the case. Swiss Air, or whoever, then opened the case again (another note!) and sent the case on to JHB secured with the other extra lock I had. I'm not sure what happened in South Africa, but when the case showed up in Windhoek it had one lock, with the wrong key jammed into it so solid it took pliers and a hammer to get out, and a wire tie! Everyone did return my locks, jagged bolt cut pieces and all, rattling around in the case with the guns!

The rifles were fine, but I had to buy new locks in Windhoek before returning!

No problem, I often have additional "hardware" inside. You need to confirm with your carrier, though - they may have restrictions of their own.

Are there any issues with the Tuff Pak type case? I have not been to Africa since 2001 but am going to Namibia next summer....

I don't much care for Tuff Pak although many do. For me, it's a real PITA to pull your guns out that you've packed and cushioned with clothing. It's time consuming to put them back it. Also, if you look at what you PAY and what you get, it seems overpriced. Maybe JJ Hack will chime in with his vast experience.

jorge - what case do you prefer?

Pelican

So, a question with that. My wife and I are going with another couple. Only the guys will be hunting so just 2 rifles. Can we use one case for both of us, or do we each need a separate case?

Just a thought, duckster-

Are you both hunting similar species, and using similar caliber rifles? If so, taking separate gun cases and rifles might a worthwhile security move in case one is lost, stolen, or doesn't arrive on time- at least the two of you would have one rifle to use.

I had thought of that - an extra if something would happen to one case....

About two months ago I had a Private locked rifle case turn up missing between LAX and JFK? It turned up the next day at Jet Blue in JFK. One of the two private locks were cut off. I had to leave the Airport with all my baggage to purchase another one!!! I was told at JFK Airport that the Airport Security OR The Airlines can cut off a Private lock without contacting the owner? I also found out that I could not Legally leave the Airport in New York without a New York firearm permit. If someone would have reported me I would have been arrested!!!