Kaur withdraws

[7shot]

I'm on vacation without my K9, my primary CCW weapon. Had to take to the airways to get to our destination and feel naked without it. Our destination has reciprocity with my home state but I just don't feel good about checking my weapon through airline sercurity! Don't want it to get ripped off...

I'm wondering how many of y'all check your CCW weapon for vacation time?

[TheTman]

I never fly, if I can't get there on two wheels, I don't need to go.

[chrish]

I never fly, if I can't get there on two wheels, I don't need to go.

double ditto, +1,000,000 (and x2 on the wheels)

[wyntrout]

I flew from JAX to Durango, CO, last Christmas and carried my PM45... the first time flying with a gun in my checked baggage. It adds to the stress of flying, especially when your baggage gets to places before or after you do!

Read the relevant instructions from TSA and for the applicable airlines and make sure you comply with the restrictions for ammo and loaded magazines, as well as the pistol. I used a combination-locked mini-safe with a cable attached to the metal spines of my luggage. You use a non-TSA lock for the safe and a TSA-approved lock for the luggage itself. TSA WILL open your bag, but they shouldn't "need" to get into your gun safe. Have your cell# available on the luggage in case they need to contact you.

At check-in just say that you have an unloaded weapon in your checked bag to declare... DON'T say "I have a gun!":eek:

You will sign a card saying that the gun is UNLOADED and will probably have to show that. That card goes outside the gun safe, though some uninformed airline employees(there are lots of those!) will want you to put it in the locked case. WHEN TSA opens your luggage, they want to see that card. Nothing goes on the OUTSIDE of your luggage saying there's a gun inside... invitation to theft.

Carry a copy of the relevant airline and TSA regs to back you up. Watch out for weather or maintenance diverts to unfriendly states and taking possession of your luggage. When you re-check your bag, you could be arrested, as happened in New Jersey.

Make sure you have everything you need... locks, ammo storage, etc., so that you are prepared before getting to baggage check-in!

An old post on my "safe": http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?p=23050&highlight=gun+safe#post23050

June 5, 2012: I added a picture of the PM45 as I had it stowed.

Wynn:)

[dkmatthews]

I'm on vacation without my K9, my primary CCW weapon. Had to take to the airways to get to our destination and feel naked without it. Our destination has reciprocity with my home state but I just don't feel good about checking my weapon through airline sercurity! Don't want it to get ripped off...

I'm wondering how many of y'all check your CCW weapon for vacation time?

I always take mine with me. Here's a post I wrote up about my last trip: http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=13103 (http://kahrtalk.com/showpost.php?p=162248&postcount=1)

[Bawanna]

I'm with chrish and thetmanski except I need at least 3 wheels if I need to stop.

I thought about taking the train but I understand they got a bunch of rules and stuff now too.

[getsome]

IMHO it's just not worth the hassle...I really think it would be easier and safer to overnight FedEx ship the pistol to your final destination and pick it up there rather than deal with the TSA Gestapo thugs...Just getting your butt from point A to point B on an airline cattle car is difficult and stressful enough these days without additional problems...

[dkmatthews]

In most cases, it really is not that difficult to travel with your firearms. I've only had the one issue (written up here on this site) and even THAT wasn't really an issue. The airline ticket agents were wrong. I told them they were wrong, but did what they told me to do anyway. The TSA agent said they were wrong and told me to correct it. That was the end of the "issue". I've never missed a flight due to the process and I've never had any of my gear come up missing.

[wyntrout]

We've been lucky that we haven't had any bad experience with TSA "thugs"... and no body pat downs or searches!:eek:

It must cost $130 to $140 to ship a gun overnight to yourself... both ways!:eek:

I would rather drive and take all of the "toys" I want, but we don't have the time for 3 days each way in driving... my wife works and can only get 5 days PTO at a time + the off days before and after.

On that trip, we had late flights and wound up spending the night in Denver, so the luggage went on and was safe when we got there. And when we returned, our luggage didn't make the connection and was delivered to us around 2:30 AM, WITH a doorbell ring, as requested. "Boomer" was safely home! Whew! Just a LITTLE extra stress!

Wynn:)

[muggsy]

I'm on vacation without my K9, my primary CCW weapon. Had to take to the airways to get to our destination and feel naked without it. Our destination has reciprocity with my home state but I just don't feel good about checking my weapon through airline sercurity! Don't want it to get ripped off...

I'm wondering how many of y'all check your CCW weapon for vacation time?

Insure your guns and travel in peace. Don't travel with a gun that's irreplaceable.

[Charlie]

I felt the same way about our AC-130 but they finaly concinved me others need it more that I.

[Infidel proud]

I take one flight a year to visit family, as its too far to drive with the amount of time off I have. I always take my CCW pistol and all the necessary other gear on the airline. Its a bit of a hassle the first time but after that it doesn't bother me one bit.

As long as you follow the TSA requirements you shouldn't have any troubles...

TSA by the way stands for Tight Sphincter Association...

[7shot]

Sooner or later I'll have to man-up and do this...I really wish I could just drive everywhere, but as some of said, "time is not always on my side".

[Infidel proud]

Can't say it doesn't suck the first time, cuz it does...Prob flown with pistol a dozen or so times without any probs...knock on wood of course...

[Planedude]

The only place we fly to is my wifes family down Fresno way in good old Californacation...:eek:
Not much use taking my Texas carry piece there.:rolleyes:
I just borrow one from the family while I'm "in country".
We drive everywhere else.

[sharpetop]

I don't and won't fly any longer. I remember years ago placing my Colt Trooper [unloaded] along with my carry ammo in my suit case, locking the damn thing up and not notifying or declaring anything. Never had a problem!