Flying With Firearms and the Best Travel Gun Cases
Brenden Gallagher for SPLIT REED
The Fall hunting season is finally here and for some of us, that means packing up our guns and ammo and heading to the closest airport! Traveling with firearms and ammunition can be intimidating, to say the least, especially if you're not used to it. So here are some of the most important rules to know.
What you need to know:
Firearms must be unloaded and locked inside a hard-sided case that completely encloses the firearm
All available lock tabs/holes must have a lock associated with them and they must be TSA compliant
When arriving at the airport you must check your firearm at the ticket counter of the airline you are flying with
You must declare your firearm to airline staff, most airline staff will then ask you to open the case to ensure that it is unloaded and, in addition, they will have you fill out an information card declaring the firearm is unloaded which will need to be placed inside your gun case
Once you get to your destination your firearm will not be sent through baggage claim, you will need to go to your airline’s baggage service office to pick it up and you’ll need your I.D.
Ammo can be flown with but only in checked baggage or secured inside your hard-sided gun case
Small arms ammo (up to .75 caliber and all shotgun gauges) must either remain inside the original packaging or be secured in a wood, plastic, or metal box specifically designed to carry ammunition
Most airlines have a weight limitation on ammunition, typically around 10-11lbs
This list should provide you with virtually all the basics of flying with a firearm you need to know. However, depending on your destination there might be additional requirements or laws you need to adhere to. It's always good to brush up on your specific airline's policies as well as any policies that your state or the state you're flying to have. It’s also good to know your destination's requirements for transporting firearms around once you leave the airport. When it comes to traveling internationally make sure to check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Website for information and requirements prior to traveling with a firearm.
As I said, traveling with your hunting equipment can seem daunting. Even more so when you start to consider the long list of options out there for securing your firearm and ammunition. Whether you're traveling local, international, or across the country, it's hard to know what cases or luggage to use that will not only keep your gear safe but check all the boxes when it comes to flying. If simplicity and dependability are at all high on your list, it's hard to find a better option than Negrini Cases. The cases themselves are insanely lightweight, impeccably tough, and International Air Travel Certified and TSA compliant. They are a combination of state-of-the-art engineering and Italian design and the steel combination locks and hinges are fully recessed for protection during travel, which limits the need for additional case locks. Their signature waterfowl case, the Duck Ruckus line, is the perfect case for any waterfowl hunter looking for the highest quality performance and simplistic functionality when traveling across the country to their favorite duck club or internationally to chase the first leg of the migration.
Hand upholstered in Italy and sporting Mossy Oak Shadow Grass accents and interior, the single gun Duck Ruckus Compact weighs in at only 7.2lbs and can fit any semi-auto or even your grandpa's old pump. Next in this lineup is the Duck Ruckus Double Duck with enough room to fit two shotguns of any kind (over under, side by side, semi-auto, or pump) and both of these cases can fit barrel lengths of 34” (+chokes). While these cases do check all the boxes for flying requirements they have functionality outside of just airport travel and are right at home when heading to all sorts of locations, gun ranges, long road trip hunts, home storage, etc. (you’ll even catch the Split Reed team using them as we travel across the country and Canada this season). To top everything off Negrini also offers hard-sided cases for accessories, ammunition, skeet/trap shooters and not to mention handgun and rifle cases. No matter what you're bringing, Negrini has a case that’ll keep your gear protected wherever your travel takes you.
Click on Brenden to find him on Instagram