Anyone fly out of Huntsville with a rifle ? Did you use tsa locks or regular ? I flew out of Bham and they said they were going to cut my locks off because they weren’t tsa locks . On the return flight Idaho didn’t care ? I’m leaving from Huntsville in 2 weeks ? Thanks

Use non TSA locks.

Print out all Airline(Delta, SWA etc) and all TSA firearm regulations.

Be polite yet firm.

Put Apple AirTag in case to follow where it’s all.

Thanks

What’s the aversion to tsa locks? I’ve flown with guns numerous times and never had a problem.

Feels useless to me to use locks that someone else has keys to.

Because I don’t want some knuckle dragger with a room temp IQ to be able to easily get into my expensive firearms.

Yes a regular lock can be picked or cut, but don’t make it easy.

Send the gun separate to your destination? Is that possible? May be too much of a headache?

Technically, federal regulations require that only the passenger have the key to all locks on a checked baggage case containing firearms.

You can also ship the gun to yourself in care of someone else at your destination.

Flying with guns is really not that big of a deal.
By no means an expert but I’ve done it X5 over the past 15yrs.

Know the regulations, leave some extra time, enjoy your trip.

If you don’t use TSA locks you won’t have any locks on your case when you arrive. They WILL cut them off so that they can “inspect” the firearm.

Ammo needs to be in a different locked case.

If you are leaving the country you’ll need a 4457 form filled out and signed prior to leaving. It is required to entry other counties and to return to the US.

Also, the airport you fly out of is irrelevant when it comes to getting a gun through the check points. That being said I’d imagine Huntsville should be easy in comparison to ATL or others.

It may happen sometimes but in my experience ( my own and others I’m close to) it must not be often.

This, yes.

H'sv is easy to fly from. Get there early and give yourself enough time for the initial inspection and so forth.

The TSA lock statement is not true. Agents have told me they prefer you not to use tsa locks now so the agents can’t open it. When you check it in most will ask you to stay around a few mins while they x-ray etc i case they need to open case. I’ve flown out of about 10 different airports the last several years and have never had an issue. Ammo also does not need to be in a different case. Can be in the case with gun as long as it is in a factory box.

I too have flown globally for years with guns and from my experience my statement it true. It may not be what is written on the TSA or other airline websites however; I'm speaking from my firsthand experience and my numerous clients that I send around the world with guns each year.

This, print the TSA regs, leave a copy in the top of your case and one on your person. Declare a weapon at baggage check, make sure they have you sign the orange paper and put it in your case, make sure every possible point has a padlock, ammo in a factory container inside of the gun case, ask the baggage attendant where to wait (before or after security check point), TSA will page you and come get your keys, then return them after checking. I don’t use TSA locks because A. It’s technically against federal regs. B. I don’t want people being able to open the case along the way.

I haven't flown globally, but the times I have flown with firearms, I always use non TSA locks. My ammo goes in the same case as the firearms in the factory packaging. Never had an issue doing it that way.

Use non TSA locks and ammo goes in the case with the firearm. I’ve flown out of Bham, ATL, MEM, and DEN with zero issues. From my experience, they really don’t care that you have a firearm in a case. They’ve always acted like it’s not a big deal.

Huntsville has never been a problem. Declare your weapon to airline attendant/security at baggage check, open case sign card put in case lock with tsa locks. Put ammo in another checked bag. Fly.
Most airports the size of Huntsville are not a problem.
Denver has been a pain in the ass the last couple times I checked a weapon and ammo there, hauled me and my stuff to X-ray last year.

For some fun, have your friends dad give you some .45 ammo because he doesn’t need it anymore. Throw that in your duffel bag and tell him thanks for the gift. Problem is, I had ammo for a gun I did not have with me. I was in Texas, .45 was in my house in bama. Before boarding, heard my name over the intercom. Get in elevator with TSA, pretty sure we went down what felt like 40 stories, and an hour of questions later, they still couldn’t understand why I would have ammo, but didn’t check a gun as well. Finally just gave them the ammo.