Travel with PCC

[bwikel]

39 minutes ago, ClangClang said:

 

Not accurate.  Mags can be loaded unless your airline specifically prohibits it. Check your airline's travel FAQ to be sure.

Pulled directly from the TSA website 30 seconds ago:

That is correct on ammo in the mags with TSA I have run into an airline that insisted the ammo had to be in containers. To me it is easier to just leave it in boxes versus argue with the airline rep. on TSA regs. Regardless where you pack it you can still only have 11 lbs. total. 

[Ryan N]

It is important to satisfy TSA AND the Airline regs that your flying.  As mentioned in several posts here, they are not always the same....err on the side of the more strict rules.

 

I had an experience last year with Delta.  The x-ray machines can certainly tell if a mag is loaded or not(inside a metal box).  TSA site says OK, Delta regs say no.  With Delta the ammo "must be in ammo boxes".  The x-ray machines are good and don't assume that your going to get away with anything "stealthy".   Think about how your equipment will look when it goes through the x-ray machine.  If it's obvious that things look in order, there is less of a chance you'll hear "Mr Smith, please return to to the ticket counter".  

Edited March 22, 2018 by Ryan N

[bwikel]

1 hour ago, Ryan N said:

It is important to satisfy TSA AND the Airline regs that your flying.  As mentioned in several posts here, they are not always the same....err on the side of the more strict rules.

 

Ryan nailed it. I fly every week and there is no consistency between airlines or even within the same airline at different airports. Unless you like to gamble it's better to play it safe. 

[LowBoost]

4 minutes ago, bwikel said:

Ryan nailed it. I fly every week and there is no consistency between airlines or even within the same airline at different airports. Unless you like to gamble it's better to play it safe. 

 

So based on your frequent flying, do you mind sharing your most common packing process? 

I guess that separate lower/upper, empty magazines, and 5 or 6 boxes of ammo should be OK?

[bwikel]

3 minutes ago, LowBoost said:

 

So based on your frequent flying, do you mind sharing your most common packing process? 

I guess that separate lower/upper, empty magazines, and 5 or 6 boxes of ammo should be OK?

I mostly travel with a pistol. For it I have a small locking case that I put my pistol and 2 mags in. I put the locking case inside my suitcase and check my bag. I pack my ammo in MTM 100 rd ammo boxes and also put them inside my checked suitcase. If I were traveling with a full size PCC I would get a case that was big enough for it when it was broken down into halves and how every many mags I thought I would need to take and pack the ammo in my locked gun case or checked suitcase. 

[427Cobra]

I fix the birds people fly on, arrive early, the weapon and ammo must be in a locked case, I highly recommend you use combination locks not key locks, after checking your weapon case stick around for 45 minutes before going through TSA security, that will give you time if TSA wants to open the case you won’t have to leave the secure area and go back through security, you can carry 11 lbs of ammo, and the ammo must be in something designed to carry ammo, NOT ziplock bags, or Ammo Cans

[JAFO]

Even the flying the same airline from different airports could be different.  I've flown with both handguns and long guns on SWA between San Antonio and Baltimore.  Flying out of San Antonio, they have ALWAYS escorted me to a private inspection area and hand-checked my bag in my presence.  Then I lock it up and they send it through.  Coming out of Baltimore on the same airline, I have gone through that inspection once.  Usually they just give me the declaration card and tell me to use a specific bag drop area.

[12Bravo]

My experiences have mirrored JAFO's. Only time the hair raised on the back of my neck was at Minneapolis/St Paul the TSA guy doing the inspection was insistent that I give him my key so that he could so his inspection in any area I wasnt allowed in. I was still able to see him but far enough away I couldn't see what his hands were doing, that was a little upsetting.

Edited March 22, 2018 by 12Bravo

[Photon]

The only trouble I've ever had traveling was with shotguns. I checked my guns and was in waiting area when my name was called to come to check in area. A young lady and a police officer were waiting on me. The very excited lady showed me in regulations the largest gauge allowed was 10 gauge and i was checking in a 20 gauge. I looked at the police officer, he laughed and walked off leaving me to explain.

[JAFO]

45 minutes ago, Photon said:

The only trouble I've ever had traveling was with shotguns. I checked my guns and was in waiting area when my name was called to come to check in area. A young lady and a police officer were waiting on me. The very excited lady showed me in regulations the largest gauge allowed was 10 gauge and i was checking in a 20 gauge. I looked at the police officer, he laughed and walked off leaving me to explain.

 

[Ryan N]

On 3/22/2018 at 8:35 AM, LowBoost said:

 

So based on your frequent flying, do you mind sharing your most common packing process? 

I guess that separate lower/upper, empty magazines, and 5 or 6 boxes of ammo should be OK?

 

I also suggest using a cable to lock the hard case to the bars inside the suitcase just in case the suitcase busts open.  Just a little bit more piece of mind. This would only apply to a pistol case locked inside a suitcase.  

Edited March 24, 2018 by Ryan N

[dlightning]

On 3/22/2018 at 7:43 AM, bwikel said:

I mostly travel with a pistol. For it I have a small locking case that I put my pistol and 2 mags in. I put the locking case inside my suitcase and check my bag. I pack my ammo in MTM 100 rd ammo boxes and also put them inside my checked suitcase. If I were traveling with a full size PCC I would get a case that was big enough for it when it was broken down into halves and how every many mags I thought I would need to take and pack the ammo in my locked gun case or checked suitcase. 

Do you lock the checked luggage also?  Or just the cases ( guns and ammo) inside the check luggage?  

[bwikel]

1 hour ago, dlightning said:

Do you lock the checked luggage also?  Or just the cases ( guns and ammo) inside the check luggage?  

No I don't lock my luggage just the case inside with non TSA locks. 

[L3324temp]

Do you lock the checked luggage also?  Or just the cases ( guns and ammo) inside the check luggage?  

Locking the luggage with a TSA lock is permitted. The gun case inside your luggage should be done with a non-TSA lock.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LowBoost]

I think that would negate the security aspect we are looking for. If I check-in my handgun and ammo, locked with non-TSA locks, I guess I would also lock the luggage with non-TSA locks for added security (Assuming it is permitted.

Edited March 25, 2018 by LowBoost

[bwikel]

You aren't permitted to lock luggage with non TSA locks. 

[JAFO]

On ‎3‎/‎24‎/‎2018 at 10:58 PM, bwikel said:

You aren't permitted to lock luggage with non TSA locks. 

 

Unless the luggage is a gun case (e.g., long gun hard case, multiple guns in a Pelican case, etc).

Edited March 26, 2018 by JAFO

[L3324temp]

This is correct. The case the gun is in gets a non TSA lock that only you can open. If the case the gun is in gets placed inside a suitcase, the suitcase gets locked with a TSA lock.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[XD Niner]

I think that one of the major points here is that, if you can, put the locked gun case in another piece of baggage to disguise its true nature.  A nice long Pelican case with non-TSA locks on it would be a very tempting target for thieves.  A well used piece of ordinary luggage complete with TSA locks is going to generate a lot less interest.

 

The 11-pound rule for ammo is pretty prevalent across the major airlines.   That said, has anyone actually had the airline weigh their ammo?

[L3324temp]

Never weighed. I also never had an airline request to open the case and show it’s not loaded. They just give me a tag to put on the case inside the luggage. I did once encounter a 30 min delay in Orlando due to their unique procedures.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Piracy85]

Patriot case for the win! 

[bwikel]

19 hours ago, JAFO said:

 

Unless the luggage is a gun case (e.g., long gun hard case, multiple guns in a Pelican case, etc).

Let me clarify. You aren't permitted to use non TSA locks on luggage that is not a firearm i.e. a suitcase with clothes or personal items. 

[jrdoran]

Average 9mm Luger round:

Rounds per pound ~ 38.10rds.

Weight per 100 rounds ~ 2.63lbs

Approximately 400 rounds = 11 lbs;

I haven't tested this whether it holds true for 115 vs 124 vs 147;

 

 

By the way, this is per PERSON so others traveling with you even without guns can each bring 11lbs of ammunition in checked bags. 

 

Edited March 30, 2018 by jrdoran

[JAFO]

16 minutes ago, jrdoran said:

I haven't tested this whether it holds true for 115 vs 124 vs 147;

 

It probably won't, but it'll be in the ballpark.  Bullet weight will make the biggest effect on the weight of a loaded round, since the brass and primer weigh the same and the difference in powder charge will be insignificant.  I imagine they will also weigh it in the container (if they weigh it at all), so the packaging would probably also be included.

 

400 115gr bullets weighs 46,000 grains, or 6.57 lbs.

400 124gr bullets weighs 49,600 grains, or 7.08 lbs.

400 147gr bullets weighs 58,800 grains, or 8.40 lbs.

Edited March 30, 2018 by JAFO

[Piracy85]

One thing you can do as well is call the airline in advance. some airlines allow for different amounts of ammo depending on what type of plane its on.