Flying with a firearm question

Maybe it is just me but I felt conspicuous with something that looked obviously like a gun case when going around an airport.

I was flying with my Ruger Charger once and it wouldn't fit in my standard pelican pistol case. So I ended looking for options that would fit it and bought this:

LINK



I pulled out all of the insides and put some convoluted foam in it to keep the charger from rolling around. It's now my favorite case to fly with a pistol. Seems quite secure and with the two hasps on each clasp makes it so you can't even open the clasps with the case locked. Some cases you can pop the clasps and the lock is the only thing that keeps it closed. It's very inconspicuous and doesn't look like you are hauling around a case with a gun in it around the airport. The larger size can be a good or bad thing but it isn't an issue for me.

I've flown 10+ times with a handgun on various different airlines with no issues. I would get foam for that Pelican case and use that with some solid locks. They may have you open it before hand during check-in but read the particular airlines policy and you should be prepared.

I flew weekly with firearms for years when I worked for the government in my prior life. I can tell you one thing for sure.

THERE ARE NO RULES. The counter agent / TSA Agent standing in front of you can make up just about anything they want and you will need to go along with it. So prepare yourself accordingly. Get there early and swallow any BS they throw at you and do what they say or you won't fly that day.

I had all the relevant regulations printed out from the TSA website and laminated to the inside of my Pelican case lid. I was a government agent with associated ID. They still didn't care. So don't think you are going to do better.

Sometimes they act as if you are checking a stuffed animal and sometimes they act like you are checking a ticking time bomb. Just smile and let them do their thing.

Yep, always different so just give yourself plenty of time. Also what airports you are flying from makes a huge difference. Flying out of Cody, WY is world away from flying out of Newark or somewhere like that. The looks I get walking through the airport with a rifle case is rediculous. Especially when there's a huge LSU sticker on it..