Legal Disclaimer: Please understand that we are not lawyers and the information in this blog article is not presented as legal advice nor should it be construed as such. The content of this article is strictly meant to inform and entertain. If you need legal advice please consult an attorney. Laws change constantly and we make no promises that the information below is or will remain accurate. To protect your freedom, you must do your own research.

With the holiday season in full swing many of us will be needing/wanting to do some traveling soon for vacation or simply to visit the fam and friends. Be it for sport or for protection, traveling with weapons can seem daunting if you’ve never done it before. In the case of a weapon for self-defense, many people deem it absolutely necessary to have our carry gun with us no matter where we are.

So how do we go about traveling with our firearms? How do we legally walk into an airport with a gun? This can seem like a terrifying experience but as someone that has flown many times with various sidearms I can tell you - it’s not that difficult. Here are all the things you need to know before legally traveling with your gun(s) this holiday season!

Federal Law

Federal firearms laws give us the legal right to travel across state lines with our firearms. As per U.S. Code 926A:

“Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle:

Provided that in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.”

Basically keep your gun unloaded and locked in a case - preferably in the trunk or somewhere you cannot actually reach it from the driver’s seat. Yet another win for the feds here right? “Of course you can take your weapon for protection, just make sure it’s unloaded, locked up and nowhere near you!” Facepalm.

Driving with a Gun

To summarize this a bit more concisely than we did above - if we can legally own and carry a gun in our home state and legally possess a gun in the state we travel then we can carry an unloaded, locked firearm in our vehicle with us as long as it is not within easy reach. While the idea of having a weapon - potentially for self-defense on a road trip, locked in a case out of reach might seem absurd to us (mainly because it is), it is important to keep some of these federal guidelines in mind.

One thing to keep in mind is that you need to keep your firearm secure at all times. Make sure the gun is enclosed in a locked and sturdy case. Remember, “out of sight, out of mind.” If you must leave your vehicle at a stop then make sure your gun is locked in its case and then locked in the vehicle.

Carry Reciprocity

This is where the headache begins - If you are a concealed carry weapon permit holder (CCW) then it will be important to check carry reciprocity policies in the state you plan to visit. Essentially what this means is to check to see if the state you’re visiting recognizes your CCW and allows you to carry your weapon with an out-of-state CCW permit. Each state will have different requirements and some do not even recognize your right to carry with an out-of-state CCW at all. It’s best to check a Carry Reciprocity map so you can stay informed.

Flying with a Firearm

Before you head out on that Thanksgiving or Christmas vacay with your beloved family heirloom bolt-action or heck - even your favorite AR-15, it is important to know the rules and regulations. Here are some tips to avoid a headache when flying with your gun:

• Check the laws of the state you are flying to and ensure the firearm is legal in that state to avoid confiscation. *Cough, NEW YORK, cough*
• Unload your weapon and place it and unloaded magazines in a sturdy, lockable hardshell case.
• Make sure all ammo is in the original packaging it came in, then place it into the case. (TSA states that there is an 11 lb. limit on how much ammo you’re allowed to carry)
• Choose a case with at least 2 locking points and lock it with at least two locks, keeping the keys on your person. (Per TSA, these locks CANNOT be TSA locks)
• No ammunition or weapon parts will be allowed in a carry on. (Not even accessories)
• Upon arrival at the airport, go straight to the inside check-in counter and tell the agent you’d like to declare your firearm. (Or just say “check-in” no need to freak people out)
• You’ll be asked to sign a small index card with your personal and flight details and it will be placed INSIDE your firearm case.
• At this point expect a TSA officer (or the ticketing agent) to come inspect the case, ammo and weapons to ensure compliance and take the weapon to place it on the aircraft. (DO NOT FREAK OUT if they start to freak out)
• Do not belittle ticketing agents or TSA personnel or their lack of knowledge, they will always take offense to it as they deal with many people in a day so be calm, patient and courteous.
• You will be asked to wait as the firearm is either inspected or while it goes through an x-ray scan. If all goes well (which it should) they’ll thank you and let you know you can proceed to the TSA security checkpoint.

Here are our top tips:

AR15’s - Break down your rifle in half to make it easier to pack, it also looks less menacing to people who don’t understand firearms when they’re just in parts and not fully assembled.

Pistols - To conserve space and pack more items, consider placing your pistol in a holster. You can also take the slide off to pack everything more tightly.

Ammunition - Save your empty ammo packaging, it will come in handy for occasions like this. Even if you have to place a piece of tape to “seal” the box shut the inspecting agent will not mind as long as your rounds are not

Gear - If you’ve got precious cargo like optics, wrap them in spare foam or towels to prevent damage

Picking up your firearm

Upon disembarking the plane head straight to baggage claim and find the airport baggage claim office. When you arrive at the office, show your baggage check claim ticket to the employee there and tell them you are picking up a firearm. From there you should be handed your firearm personally.

Some airlines have begun to create a section for ‘larger sized’ luggages like golf bags, surfboards, musical instruments etc. Our firearm cases fall under that category as well. However, what we’ve been seeing more often is that if you travel with a smaller pistol case and not a larger rifle case, airport staff may not immediately recognize that it is a firearm case. That means your case may end up on the carousel which is extremely risky of getting snagged by someone other than yourself. So keep an eye on the carousel while keeping an eye on the baggage claim office or the “large luggage” area.

Once you receive your case, we recommend opening the case and briefly inspecting it on the spot in case anything is missing or has been tampered with at all. It is always better to check if anything is missing or broken in front of airline personnel but try to make sure not too many people are around to not cause undue alarm.

Choosing a Gun Case for Travel

When choosing the right case for your firearm there are several things to keep in mind. We want hard-sided protection - especially with air travel where the case may be thrown or dropped. Also, consider the weight. Many airlines have an extra charge over 50 pounds so be sure you can find something like in the lightest weight possible. Many companies such as SKS and Pelican for example, make extremely rugged cases that provide excellent protection.

Also consider something we already mentioned above - have multiple locking points. Two may be the TSA minimum but having a couple extra locks can keep prying eyes and sticky fingers out of your gun case. We recommend at least four whenever possible.

Don't Forget your Modulus Arms Build

Traveling with a firearm can seem like a total pain but it really isn’t if you have all your ducks in a row. You’ll get used to it pretty quick. Make sure to check the carry reciprocity map and follow all state laws and it won’t be an issue for you at all! Hey, by the way? Consider building a new AR-15 from an 80% lower for your next holiday gift idea! Gun building is a great hobby and makes for a great rabbit hole to get into. Travel safe friends!