Ship it to the outfitter in a long box, and when the hunts over pay to have it shipped back. We have done this a couple times and it was a breeze!

 

What are the logistics of this? Especially the return part. Do you need to make arrangments to get to a FedEx store, while they're open, on the way from the back country to the airport?

People have been suggesting I do this with my fishing stuff for 25 years. It's never worked out. In the Bahamas and Mexico, the logistics with customs really screwed it up. With The Keys, the FedEx store hours there are hit or miss. And we would have to take all the gear down, get it to the FedEx place and shipped the day before we left, so no fishing the last day. Also, I never made it to the price, so I don't know how it compares to the extra baggage cost to fly it.

 

Be careful. I have heard stories where airport workers who are anti- gun and anti- hunting, throw the gun cases around to mess you up.
We flew from Pittsburgh to Denver 7 days after 9/11 happened. National Guard were stationed around the airport. We walked right thru with our luggage and gun cases with no problem. I doubt that would happen today.

 

Not what you asked but, from what I can see, I wouldn’t trust a gun I valued to that lock or the case if flying. There’s a Pelican 1750 in the For Sale section that is well priced, not too far from you and is an exponentially better case for flying.

 

I flew through Phila International to Arkansas last year.
The locking system on the case pictured will not pass.
You need a case that will accommodate TSA approved locks. The locks are cheap and readily available.
I bought a gun case from Harbor Freight. The airlines beat the heck out of it but the guns did arrive undamaged.

 

I flew through Phila International to Arkansas last year.
The locking system on the case pictured will not pass.
You need a case that will accommodate TSA approved locks. The locks are cheap and readily available.
I bought a gun case from Harbor Freight. The airlines beat the heck out of it but the guns did arrive undamaged.

This... 100%

You can buy a 4 or 6 pack of padlocks all keyed alike for reasonable price.
Make sure bullets are packed correctly also.

It's a shame some of the horror stories about how peoples guns were treated. I flew out of Philly with three guns and the lady was joking and having a good ol time.

 

eman is correct needs to be able to accept a tsa approved padlock, basically they have a master key to check inside it even if you're not there.

 

I believe this is inaccurate.

 

Wouldn't trust those locks. When I fly there are 4 padlocks on my case.

 

TSA locks are required if locking regular luggage. TSA locks are not required for firearms and typically not recommended. (Unless something has changed in regulations recently).

With that said I would want a case that accepts a more robust lock if I was traveling with a firearm.

 

If you have any question at all, then call the airline and TSA directly and ask.

I have had all kinds of issues. I use a case with key locks. It has loops for extra padlocks as well. Once I was let right through no problem. Another time I was told that I also had to have the padlock spots filled. It all depends on who you get.

And yes, you do get anti hunter TSA agents. I had a guy at Pittsburgh who wouldn't even speak to me. Then when he was done checking my rifle, he threw the case several feet onto the luggage conveyor belt. He is th only person who I ever filed a complaint against.

 

I’d want something a little more robust than that like a case with holes for 2-4 locks on it.

Do not use TSA locks. Anyone here telling you otherwise is wrong

 

Does TSA even make locks or is the wording starting to get confusing? I'm guessing most are meaning TSA APPROVED locks. I use regular Master locks that are approved by TSA.

 

It does not matter what kind of lock anyone uses. Not one bit. I have used several different types of locks. TSA has several master type key sets that will open any lock that you put on there.

 

Here are the regulations from the TSA website. There is no requirement for special locks. TSA agents will have you open the box in their presence. You will reinstall the lock afterwards. TSA would have no reason to open the box again….they‘ve already been in it once .

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition

 

From what I gather, the rules vary depending on the airline. I'm pretty sure the recommendation for Dad's airline was non-TSA locks, but I'll be reading through all that stuff again several times before I send him off.

Thanks for the recommendations. I was questioning whether that cheap aluminum case would be enough... By default I'm cheap, so thank you guys for steering me the direction I should have gone on the first place.

 

I have a nice two gun metal case that accepts locks that you can borrow if you’re in the Stroudsburg area.

 

That’s very nice of you. I‘ve lent mine out a few times in the past.

If someone is buying one, always buy the two gun box. Even if you only hauling one gun, you have room for a shooting stick, binoculars, knives etc in the case.

When I get to my destination, I put my cash, passport, and wallet inside and lock them up.

 

Get some bright surveyor ribbon, a couple of different colors , and attach it to the handles of your box. I flew into Missoula , Mt years ago, the flight was full of hunters. There were several identical boxes to mine, and another hunter accidentally picked up my box. We were able to find him before he left the terminal. That will never happen again…my box is now covered with stickers from everywhere it’s been. You can’t even see any aluminum on the box.

It‘s always an anxious time waiting for your box at the baggage carousel in the terminal. Hoping it’s was on the flight. You can always hear that Cabela’s box coming before it gets spit out on the carousel. That aluminum has a distinctive rattle….
Ive been fortunate, my duffle and gunbox have always made it to my destination. Although once, my duffle was shredded and my gear was scattered on the conveyor. Coming home? Three times the airlines had to have my bags delivered to my house because they didn’t make the flight home.

A lot of airlines now have a bag tracking App. You sign on, and it will tell you when the bag is scanned as it enters the baggage hold on the aircraft.

 

I used a paint stick and put my name on it in big letters on both sides of my case. Dozens of
international trips and it's still there.

Replying to the OP, That case will not pass any FAA or ICAO test for transporting firearms. You can use TSA locks on your gun case but be advised they can be opened with a paper clip and keys are readily available.

 

You have 3 authority levels to comply, TSA, airline, and local. But no special lock required, if the OP lock functions that would be fine. Minimally the airlines must meet the TSA guidelines but they can go beyond. Traditionally none of the US carriers have gone beyond but I "think" Southwest recently announced no ammo in the case. But you always check your specific carriers. Intl carriers absolutely must be checked as there is an array of special regs like attaching paperwork to the case, counting number of loaded and unloaded rounds, no ammo in case, etc.

For example of the 3 levels, TSA says you can put the ammo in the locked gun case, American, Delta, United says you can put the ammo in the locked case (maybe not Southwest}. Local, JFK says no ammo in the locked case. So if you check with TSA and United and decide to put the the ammo in the case but you are flying in or out of JFK you could be arrested in JFK for carrying a loaded firearm, ammo in a locked gun case is defined there as a loaded firearm, ask me how I know.

From TSA:
You may use any brand or type of lock to secure your firearm case, including TSA-recognized locks.