Flying to Hunt..Ship guns UPS or fly with them?

[TN VOL]

Hey guys..we are flying to Montana in a couple weeks to elk hunt! Anyone have any experience flying with a gun?? I’ve heard some ship their guns UPS then pickup at their destination.. any advice?? Which is better fly with guns or ship? Hope everyone’s season is going well!
Thanks!!

 

[aws1963]

I for one would not trust UPS. Have a weather delay on the shipping route and your firearms could end up never even showing up. On the other hand, I fly frequently for business and check a firearm (CCW) and have flown to WY for hunts always with checked firearms. I have never had an issue. In fact, frequently I get my case before the others arrive at the baggage claim. Just follow the airlines procedures 100%. My .02 worth.

 

[MJE2083]

I would check it on the flight. I've never shipped a gun. I suppose that there is a chance of loss with either one. I don't think one is better than the other if you're concerned about rough handling.

 

[jimss]

I fly to Alaska with firearms just about every year. I would never consider shipping my rifle. Who knows how UPS would treat your rifle in transit. It will also likely cost a small fortune to send UPS? Depending on the airlines and how many bags you have it will likely cost $60 at most on airlines. I have a heavy duty rifle case on wheels that is great for airports. All I do at the airport is check my rifle in, sign a form that I place in my locked case...then follow a guy over to x-ray to make sure the gun is unloaded and nothing funky is going on.....then pick it up at my destination. Make sure you bring padlocks. Most airlines require them on your rifle case. I had to buy a couple locks at the Anchorage airport once and it cost $18/lock!

Another tip.....gut the foam in your rifle case. Load your rifle case with your hunting clothes and other padded equipment and items. This will save you shipping charges on 1 bag!

 

[glass eye]

You can save on baggage fees by using an SKB golf case for your gun and pack your clothes and gear in it. Max it out to the 50# limit. Put a lock at both ends. You can find them cheap on ebay.

 

[genesis273]

Check the gun(s) on your flight. I wouldn't ship! Just follow the regs and you'll be fine, and will have the peace of mind knowing that you'll have them.

 

[nhn2a]

I flew to CO with my rifle last year. It was simple and uneventful but here is some advice I got that I found helpful.

1) Read and follow both the airlines and TSA policies on firearms. Don't assume they are the same.
2) Print both policies and bring them with you. Some agents don't understand their own policy.
3) Get to the airport early. Sometimes you have to check in at a specific special luggage line or service department that can take much longer than normal.
4) Remain calm if you run into any problems. Sometimes you have to explain to them how your only following their policies and it doesn't help to get angry.

Otherwise it's not too complicated. Enjoy the trip and good luck on your hunt.

 

[WNC2500]

I just returned from an antelope, and mule deer hunt in MT. I flew last year and this year with guns. It is so easy. Just check it as one of your bags. I agree with above about getting there early. You just need to declare the firearms, then TSA runs them through the XRay. Once you declare, you can then lock them. I have a Pelican case that holds two guns. It has worked great over the last two years.

 

[TN VOL]

Thanks for everyone’s replies and ideas! Gives me a lot of ideas to pack now..

 

[Gellar]

I fly with a firearm often. The only problem I’ve ever had was at Des Moines airport checking a firearm. The desk clerk did not know the rules for firearms and seemed appalled that we were going on a hunting trip. The situation was quickly taken care of and the firearm arrived with us in Anchorage.

 

[belshawelk]

I have flown with my guns many many times. I use a double pelican case. Never ever needed to be re sighted in.

 

[mdhunter61]

I always keep my ammo in a separate checked bag from my firearms (this may be required, I can't recall). Make sure you check your rifle after you get to MT - most of the time your scope zero will still be OK, but I have had to re-sight my rifle a couple of times.

 

[huntin' lunatic]

Check. Headed to Missoula tomorrow morning.

I flew to CO with my rifle last year. It was simple and uneventful but here is some advice I got that I found helpful.

1) Read and follow both the airlines and TSA policies on firearms. Don't assume they are the same.
2) Print both policies and bring them with you. Some agents don't understand their own policy.
3) Get to the airport early. Sometimes you have to check in at a specific special luggage line or service department that can take much longer than normal.
4) Remain calm if you run into any problems. Sometimes you have to explain to them how your only following their policies and it doesn't help to get angry.

Otherwise it's not too complicated. Enjoy the trip and good luck on your hunt.

 

[Dave N]

You can save on baggage fees by using an SKB golf case for your gun and pack your clothes and gear in it. Max it out to the 50# limit. Put a lock at both ends. You can find them cheap on ebay.

How are you putting your locks on? None of the cases I've found so far have a place for them. Different model? Only ones I've scrolled through have the regular locking latches that they "say" are TSA compliant. Maybe not with guns?

 

[el unit]

The double rifle Pelican case has worked great for me when flying. Be sure to allow extra time for checking the rifle(s) in at airport.

 

[BrentD]

I always keep my ammo in a separate checked bag from my firearms (this may be required, I can't recall). .

I do not think this is a good idea, and it is NOT a legal requirement.

If you pack your rifle and ammo separately, you have twice the chance of ending up w/o a servicable hunting rifle. You my have a rifle w/o ammo or ammo w/o rifle, neither will do you any good. Putting all your eggs in one basket increases, not decreases, the chances of successfully arriving at your hunt with a serviceable rifle.

 

[glass eye]

How are you putting your locks on? None of the cases I've found so far have a place for them. Different model? Only ones I've scrolled through have the regular locking latches that they "say" are TSA compliant. Maybe not with guns?

If you go back to my original post you will see where I circled in yellow. You will have to make a latch at both ends for the locks. Not hard to do.

 

[glass eye]

I do not think this is a good idea, and it is NOT a legal requirement.

If you pack your rifle and ammo separately, you have twice the chance of ending up w/o a servicable hunting rifle. You my have a rifle w/o ammo or ammo w/o rifle, neither will do you any good. Putting all your eggs in one basket increases, not decreases, the chances of successfully arriving at your hunt with a serviceable rifle.

TRUE.....I arrived on St. Paul Island Alaska to discover that my shotgun arrived but the bag with my ammo did not. It did arrive the next day on another flight, but firearms "MUST RIDE" I did not put this sticker on my gun case, it was put on there when I checked in my case. Read your airlines baggage policies. Most allow ammo to be packed together with the gun. However, when I fly on New Zealand Air, they do not allow ammo to be with the gun. Also NZ air requires you to remove the bolt from your rifle and pack it separately.

 

[glass eye]

Firearms receive special handling and you must show ID to claim it. This is a good thing, you don't want someone to sneak away with your guns. For this reason I suggest plastering your gun case with hunting and firearm decals.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I fly with mine in a Pelican 1750 with the ammo in the same case. I've never been charged extra fees doing it this way. I haven't found a need to try to hide the fact that I'm carrying a firearm in a case.