Flight checking firearm

[gjlog]

I am going to Texas for a few weeks and wonder what sort of modestly priced case I need in order to check in a few shotguns. Any threads or suggestions on this?
Thanks,
gj

[tim]

Cabelas sells hard sided cases for long guns. Plastic or aluminum.

[grousemaster]

I am going to Texas for a few weeks and wonder what sort of modestly priced case I need in order to check in a few shotguns. Any threads or suggestions on this?
Thanks,
gj

all you need is a hard sided case that's lockable, they can be bought at Fleet Farm, Cabelas, etc....how much you spend is up to you

[OldmanFCSA]

Where you going and when?
I may have a truck and trailer going there first week of January.

[rockcreek]

Get the best case you can afford, and don't look out the window of the plane while the baggage handlers are loading the cargo or you will want to cry.

[tim]

Get the best case you can afford, and don't look out the window of the plane while the baggage handlers are loading the cargo or you will want to cry.

One of my superiors came back from a hunting trip and his aluminum case was smashed on one corner, must have gotten run over by a luggage truck. Scuffed the stock of the rifle, I think he filed a claim and demanded a replacment and new case. Not sure what ever came of it.

[minnesotatv]

Get the best case you can afford, and don't look out the window of the plane while the baggage handlers are loading the cargo or you will want to cry.

+1

last time I was at the airport while waiting for a flight I saw a Delta flight come in.
Once parked 4 baggage handlers showed up to unload some of the baggage. One
went into the plane and the other 3 stood at the base of the conveyor belt. As the
bags came down the conveyor one ******* picked up each bag - held it as high over
his head as he could - and then dropped it on the concrete.

Then another picked it up and pitched it into the baggage trailer (from about 8 feet).

If you value your possessions, buy the best luggage/case you can afford, and take
pictures of the case and your items before you travel - and after if there is ANY damage.

[jdege]

If you value your possessions, buy the best luggage/case you can afford, and take
pictures of the case and your items before you travel - and after if there is ANY damage.

Of course, remember that the airline's position is that luggage exists to protect the contents, and that they will not reimburse for cosmetic damage to luggage.

[KimberJoe]

Get a good case, I've had damage.

Go to youtube and search "united breaks guitars", it's good for chuckle at least.

[tazdevil]

Send it Fedex or UPS, they're responsible for handling packages properly. Not sure if there's any upcharge for firearms being shipped, but I know their insurer doesn't like paying out claims and Ups management follows damage claims very closely as a result (I assume Fedex does as well). They know each person that physically touched each package through tracking, unlike the airlines.

[gjlog]

I was thinking of using UPS or FedEx but then I would have to send it to a FFL dealer and the costs mount up pretty quickly, especially having to do it in both directions. A good case seems like a good idea. Not a plastic, Plano case, I suppose. Suggestions on makes?
gj

[minnesotatv]

I was thinking of using UPS or FedEx but then I would have to send it to a FFL dealer and the costs mount up pretty quickly, especially having to do it in both directions. A good case seems like a good idea. Not a plastic, Plano case, I suppose. Suggestions on makes?
gj

why do you assume you have to send it to an FFL?
are you transfering ownership?

[yuppiejr]

Midway USA will have the Pelican Storm 3300 scoped rifle case on sale Sunday for $149:

http://www.midwayusa.com/general.mvc/in ... fridayweek

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/474611 ... ls-polymer

A coworker of mine regularly transports long guns from AZ to MN and back in one of these cases and it's held up very well even in the hands of Delta's finest. You just need to get some TSA approved locks so they can inspect in transit without busting your locks and you are good to go.

[crbutler]

As long as its in the US, really the best thing to do is send it to yourself by US mail. You can mail long guns.

One thing I have done is mail them to the outfitter's address (to yourself - self, C/O TX outfitters...)

You can also have it delivered to general delivery at the local post office and pick it up there.

The use of UPS involves an FFL at one or the other end. Fed ex is not that way, but they insist on it being a next day package.

I use one of the storm cases in my hunting trips, and you would be surprised at some of the gouges in the case from the handling. They are tough, but they don't prevent damage entirely. Also, for what its worth, a scope that takes the recoil of a .416 Rigby without a lick, and never changes zero always needs readjustment after being in the case in the airline's care. Haven't had zero change with the post office.

[crbutler]

Also, DON'T get TSA locks for the gun case.

It's illegal.

You must be the only one with the key or combination. Read the TSA regs, its pretty clear. For my flight next week, Delta said no TSA locks, although in the past I did use them...