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hi guys,
i am a newbie to gun ownership and chl and i am trying to figure out which case to carry it in for travel. i checked United airlines and on their site they said it has to be in a hard sided cover. any recommendation on a case that fits TSA requirements? i am looking at this one from amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/SnapSafe-Lockbox ... op?ie=UTF8

also from your experience was it easy to check in your firearm? do i declare it and then have the firearm stored in a bigger checked in back with my clothes and such?

i am still waiting on my plastic, hopefully i'll have it in hand next week before our trip, but any specific laws/regulations that are different from TX in Florida?

thanks a bunch!

Each airline can have different rules, but most are separate, locked, hard-sided container inside of your checked bag. The Amazon link you had will work and is what I will probably use next time I check a gun. Last time I used a small, hard plastic case with a padlock on it and had no problems. You MUST declare it to the check-in agent. They'll most likely had you a small piece of paper to fill out. I had to take my bag to a TSA agent (not sure if this is standard) and they inspected/search my bag. Process wasn't difficult and I had no problems. Also, ammo typically cannot be in the case with the pistol, but it can just be placed in your checked bag. I'd recommend using the original box the ammo came in.

It is good you checked the airline's rules, and read this also: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting ... ammunition

Airline rules tend to be more restrictive than the TSA rules. The box you linked to at Amazon looks like an excellent solution. Hard plastic boxes work too (and are lighter) as long as you cannot pry up/apart a corner giving any access to the inside once it is locked. (There are some really cheap plastic containers that do not have much stiffness to them).

My preference is to not put the ammo with the gun case; I put it in dop kit along with (and only with) all the other fiendish stuff the TSA will not let you carry on board, e.g. knife, pepper spray, scissors, etc. Then at the other end it's easy to find all my pointy goodies and ammo when they are together.

The TSA and some airlines allow magazines to be loaded and inside something (like a mag carrier), some do not, you have to check each airlines' rules to find out. Also one TSA agent warned me that when he worked the east coast, some states consider loaded magazines to be the same as loaded handguns and arrest accordingly. As long as you stay in Free America this should not be a problem.

Although theoretically the rules are supposed to be the same across all airports, in practice different airports have different ways of implementing them, so be flexible. The current TSA site says a lock that only have the key to, but I also have emails from the TSA Contact Center saying you may use a TSA lock for your gun case as well. There are places where they will ask you for your key and then go open the box out of your sight; this would seem to be a violation of the CFR, but it happens.

As far as difference in Florida rules, best you go to one the websites that specializes in tracking carry rules and look for yourself. This is one of them, http://www.usacarry.com/florida_conceal ... ation.html but there are couple others as well. Also the State of Florida probably has a web page someplace for carry rules.

Happy travels.

I would go for the more pricier, thicker, composite cases. That one looks a little chinsey, easier to manhandle and pry open. Its also metal. With TSA, its all about the x-ray machine. The x-ray will penetrate the composite cases easier and the machine can better differentiate between the case and the gun. Also, there is no difference between putting ammo in a magazine or leaving it in its original case. TSA accepts both, but as said before, do not have it in the gun...definitely not loaded. You do not want to give a degenerate Airport Police officer the opportunity to shoot themselves while unloading it. (It has happened). Remember this, TSA prefer their locks, I wouldn't use them. Buy your own. It's all how you pack your bag! Put the gun on one side of your bag with the airline declaration sheet NEAR it. Put the ammo scattered around the rest of the bag (away from gun). If you do this, the ammo will likely be looked at, giving them no reason to get into your Locked Hard Sided Gun Case. Also, if your taking your gun, give your self enough time and keep your ears open! If they do need to get in it and you don't have a TSA Lock, they will page you to go back out of security and open it. In which case you will have to wait in the security line again. Be cool with them and it never hurts to ask if you can be escorted back to the front of the line. Good Luck!

I like that Amazon case. I use a similar case, but I like that slotted flat cable end on that Amazon link much better.
I have never, ever had a problem with that case going through TSA.

0. I like to use that cable to wrap around the internal frame inside my luggage. They can steal the whole bag, but cannot steal just the gun.
1. Unload gun before you go inside terminal.
2. Store bullets in original box or similar box that prevents them from banging together if jostled. Some airlines will allow you to carry rounds in a loaded magazine (not inserted inside the gun!), some will not. Much easier to just unload into original box. Or, roll the dice.
3. Ammo can be stored inside locked case if you have room, or can be stored separately in your luggage, outside the gun case.
4. Go to full service check in line. Do not try to use the kiosk.
5. When you approach the agent simply say "I am checking a firearm".
6. They will have you sign an unloaded firearm declaration card/form and place it in your luggage. Sometimes they will ask you to put it on the outside of the gun case, I have also been told to put it inside. Just follow directions and smile.
7. Some airports will have you take the bag containing the checked gun to a separate place where TSA will inspect the bag (American at DFW). Some airports just drop it on the conveyor with all the other luggage (Virgin at DAL). Other airports will escort you and your bag to whatever screening they have set up... Again... smile and follow directions.
8. Some airlines (American!) will mark your bag for "special handling". Then, at destination, your bag MAY end up in the luggage office instead of the baggage carousel (FLL!!) . Don't mess your pants when the last bags come off the carousel and yours is missing. Go to the airlines baggage office, it's probably waiting for you there already.

9. Know the regulations for each airport. At DFW/DAL, it's ok to CC in the unsecured area of the terminal, so I usually take my bag into the restroom and load up before heading to the parking lot. In many other States this is not ok (NC!). You may have to wait to reload until you are off the airport.

Check http://www.handgunlaw.com

Also.... Absolute rules that I will not violate....
1. Do not choose a route that has a layover in an unfriendly place like NY/NJ/CA.
2. If you get stuck unexpectedly in an unfriendly State, DO NOT PICK UP YOUR LUGGAGE.!!!
What exactly to do is up for discussion, but if I found myself unexpectedly stuck at Newark (NJ), I would inform the airline baggage office that I will not pick up my bag, and ask them to store it for my ongoing/rescheduled flight. Then see what happens from there.

chl-dawg wrote:https://www.amazon.com/SnapSafe-Lockbox ... op?ie=UTF8

Unless you carry a very small gun and no extra magazines, you may want to consider the XL size. My P2000SK fits in a size Large with one extra magazine, but I find it kind of fumbly to get all the pieces locked away. if/when I buy a new case, I'm getting the XL size. It doesn't take up enough extra space to worry about, IMO. And having extra room for magazines and/or my ammo box inside the gun case is a big enough plus to justify the bigger size. YMMV.

RoyGBiv wrote:

chl-dawg wrote:https://www.amazon.com/SnapSafe-Lockbox ... op?ie=UTF8

Unless you carry a very small gun and no extra magazines, you may want to consider the XL size. My P2000SK fits in a size Large with one extra magazine, but I find it kind of fumbly to get all the pieces locked away. if/when I buy a new case, I'm getting the XL size. It doesn't take up enough extra space to worry about, IMO. And having extra room for magazines and/or my ammo box inside the gun case is a big enough plus to justify the bigger size. YMMV.

good tip, i have a G26 so on the small size - i will check the xl size as well and see whats the cost difference.

thank you everyone for the friendly advise !
i will be traveling from IAH (houston) to TPA ( Tampa) on a direct flight, so both friendly states.

I will definitely head to the airport way early as we will be traveling with a 7 month baby for the first time through an airport so never the less ALL new experiences at the airport and need to allow plenty of time. The flight back from Tampa is at 7 so its going to be a rough early morning back but our flight leave mid morning on the way up there so i think we will be OK and that will give me little 'experience' on handling both a fire arm and traveling with a baby for the first time.

like i said, this may not be an issue if my plastic doesn't arrive in time but i am thinking ahead so i can get in the correct mind set to plan and organize myself just incase.