I am leaning towards buying a TuffPak however I thought that ammo and the rifle could not travel toegther?

You"ll get mixed reports on this but I always carry my ammo in a separate locked ammo box that travels in my regular luggage. I’ve never carryied my ammo in my Tuffpak.

I always split my ammo up into two cases... Yes some ammo in tuffpak but not in tuff sak but bottom of the tuff pak...
Rifles are in soft cases, so technically not in same case.. semantics...

Mike

According to the TSA website it is okay to have them in the same cases. See the 8th bullet.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/a.../editorial_1666.shtm

It's OK with TSA, but South African Airlines doesn't allow ammo in the same case as the firearms.

GrayDuck:

This has been cussed and discussed ad infinitum in here, but the TSA publishes DOMESTIC US flight rules, not international flt rules. IF you are flying straight from the US to your destination you will PROBABLY (almost certainly) have no problems packing your ammo in the same bag as the gun case but IF you're landing somewhere else and changing planes on the trip or on the return trip, then you will be in violation of international flt rules for carrying ammo. Apparently SAA has become something of a stickler for the separate ammo and rifles rule with the ammo in a box. It is a relatively easy rule to follow and to me, it makes more sense to be safe than sorry but others insist they want to do it their way and more power to them. But if I'm flying with them and they're stuck somewhere while trying to sort the "ammo case dilemma" out, I'll hoist the first drink in camp to their independent spirit..........

Good point. Didn't mean to muddy the waters. I am preparing for a trip to AK but have been over here lately because there are so many people on this forum that have extensive travel experience. Even though I am not going to Africa there is a ton of knowledge over here to tap into.

Here's how I modified my "original" TuffPac. It took all of 5 minutes and cost $1.45. If you so modify yours, make sure to put the head of the rivets inside and the top will slide over with no binding. I used a pop rivet gun and a Dremel tool with a circular grinder. Notice that I ground off the corners of the aluminum plate so that it wouldn't "catch" on anything.

What is nice about the modification, I can lock one or both depending on the mood of the inspector and the phase of the moon.

The ductape strip right by the mod is used to secure the lock from bouncing around.

I will have to say my experince is that each airport is different, (I know it should not be this way, but it has been). Flying out of NY the have made me move my ammo from the Tuffpak to a seperate bag. The people doing the checking are not TSA, but the MTA Police come and check your gun, record serial numbders, etc. as well. Just part of living in the Liberal Northeast I guess.

Perhaps a Stackable "Mini-TuffPak"" adhered to one or both ends of the larger one by Mil-Spec HD latches is in order.
Attached but separable.

Similar to your idea, I have a Cabelas roller duffle that has an under compartment in which a two-gun (takedown, that is) aluminum case will fit in perfectly.

Take down case

Cabelas duffel

BTW, if you get the aluminum case, make sure you make some provision so that the gun(s) won't slide in the case if the case is dropped. AmeriCase uses velcro straps. I just bought another piece of foam and cut out the shape of my doubles and they stay securely.

One the way to RSA, I put the gun case inside the duffle (with ammo, too) and coming back, because of SAA and the gun guys at Tambo, I've had to ship the gun case separately (with ammo in the locked duffel in a metal box.) Cabelas makes a cordera cover for the case, btw. The aluminum case has both combination locks and I added a hasp type lock similar to my mod on the TuffPac. I'm a belt and suspenders kind of guy, I guess.

In the last few years I have ALWAYS had ammo in my Tuffpaks with my guns.

Trips to and from LA, Alaska, Canada, and 3 trips to Zim through SA, no problem.

Least amount of ammo carried @38 lbs., most carried 64 pounds.
I did carry some ammo in my other checked bag as well.

Don't ask, dont tell.

I loved the TuffPak for many reasons:

1 - Didn't scream "GUN CASE"
2 - I could stuff a LOT of extra stuff in there (clothing, boots, gear, etc.)
3 - Easy to carry around (wheels)
4 - Very tough

I put my ammo in a locked box (bank box I got at Wal-Mart) and put it in my other luggage (not carryon!)