This site is an Amazon Associate and receives a commission for Amazon sales. December 20, 2022Guidelines For Air Travel with Firearms During the Holiday SeasonChristmas Day is just five days away. Many Forum members and readers will be traveling to spend the holidays together with their families and friends. This article will explain the rules for firearm transport when you travel by air during the holidays. Before you travel to an airport, it is important that you are familiar with the current Federal Regulations regarding gun transport. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), has a webpage that outlines the requirements for passengers who travel with firearms and/or ammo. You can visit the TSA Firearms and Ammunition webpage and read it from start to finish. You should also check the regulations of any airline you are flying with. There are some restrictions that airlines may have, such as weight limits. Here are the TSA FIREARM Guidelines 1. Respect the laws regarding firearm possession when you travel. They vary between local, state, and international governments. 2. For information and requirements before you travel internationally, please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. 3. Each firearm must be declared when it is being transported as checked baggage. Ask your airline for information about any restrictions or fees. 4. Firearms must not be loaded and stored in a hard-sided container. They can only be transported as checked baggage. 49 CFR 1540.5 states that a loaded firearm includes a live round or component of ammunition in the chamber, cylinder, or magazine. TSA personnel may request the key or combination to unlock the firearm container. Only then should the passenger be allowed to retain the key. To secure your firearm case you can use any brand of lock, even TSA-recognized locks. 5. Unloaded firearms with ammunition are subject to the same civil penalty/fine that loaded firearms. Information on civil penalties can be found at the Civil Enforcement Page. 6. Firearm parts such as magazines, clips and bolts, as well as firing pins, cannot be carried in carry-on baggage. However, they can be transported in checked baggage. 7. Replica firearms, as well as firearm replicas that can be used for toys, can only be carried in checked baggage 8. Rifle scopes can be carried in checked and carry-on baggage. TSA Ammunition Guidelines 1. TSA Ammunition Guidelines 1. 2. All ammunition clips and magazines for firearms, loaded or unloaded, must be securely packed or placed in a hard-sided bag containing an unloaded firearm. 49 CFR 175.10 (a),(8) outlines the requirements for ammunition transport in checked baggage. 3. You must declare to your airline small arms ammunition up to.75 caliber as well as shotgun shells of any gauge in a fiber (such a cardboard, wood, plastic or metal box) that is specifically designed to carry ammunition. 4. If the ammunition has been packed in the above manner, it can be transported in a hard-sided, locked container. If ammunition is packed in ammunition-enclosed firearm magazines and clips, they cannot be used. All ammunition clips and firearm magazines, loaded or unloaded, must be packed in a box or placed inside a locked, hard-sided case. 5. Check with your airline to determine ammunition quantities. NOTE: The guidelines above are reprinted directly from the TSA web page here: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition. Tom McHale has more tips for airline travel
Tom McHale has written a great article on the Beretta Blog entitled Ten Things You Should Know About Flying with Guns. Here are two of Tom McHale’s travel tips from that article: Weigh your gun bag and ammunition
Most airlines allow ammunition up to 11 lb. You will be charged more if your luggage weighs more than 50 pounds. Although this sounds like a lot, it was actually quite reasonable when you consider that my bag with shotgun, rifle and ammunition weighed in at over 50 pounds. You can also pack ammo in the same locking bag
Another area that is misunderstood, and full of internet myths, is this one. It is important that your ammo be kept in a safe container, and not loose. Technically, ammunition can be kept in magazines. However, I don’t recommend it. Although it meets the law storage requirement, too many airline and TSA agents may not approve. You can use a plastic ammo container or original cardboard packaging to keep it safe in the same lockable bag as your gun. *Please refer to the United States Code, Title 18, Chapter 44 for more information on firearm definitions.
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