I bought a golf club case with a full-length piano hinge and three locking hasps. One of the hasps caught on something and was torn off and some stupid luggage minion dropped the case and the barrel of my rifle (which was in a soft case inside with clothes around it) penetrated the exterior and was sticking out an inch or so when I reached Dar.

I bought a TuffPack upon return and have a dozen air trips with it and not incidents.

I have made 7 trips across the pond and have always used a regular Master Lock.

Yes, my rifles were missing for almost 30 days. They went to JFK, anti-gun hell and were seized by customs. But my case was never opened by anyone. It arrived at my FFL with my old Master Lock still on it. It was never inspected by anyone after it went thru SAPS in Jo-burg. Customs slapped big red stickers all over it but never opened it. Kinda scary.............JJ

Just a follow up note on the modification I posted pictures of above. Returned from Zim a few days ago and the modification held up just fine. Had no issues with the airlines or TSA, the modification held up to multiple airline transfers and camp transfers, etc. All in all, very pleased. That said, not once did anyone at the airlines or TSA hint that I needed a TSA-approved lock so not sure whether I would have had a problem in the first place just using the old lock. I elected to be safe rather than sorry, but in the end it may not have mattered.

In May of this year I returned thru Dulles and yes my TuffPack was among the missing. It arrived at my home the next day at 3:00AM . All in good condition no lock broken. Just lucky I guess

Here is my two cents worth. A "recommendation" by an airline, is not, and does not, change the current law on traveling with firearms. It seems to me that everyone on this post has missed the most important issue of all: Who is to have access to your firearms? If you carefully read the TSA regulations, NO ONE is to have a key or the combination (access) to your firearms, but you, unless you are contacted by TSA and specifically asked to provide it to them for inspection. If they cannot find you to inspect the case, it will not be shipped. Thus, they cannot just open it and inspect it by you putting a TSA approved lock on it. Moreover, a broken or unlocked case containing firearms will subject you to severe criminal penalties. There are no exceptions. If you modify the Tuffpak, you are, in my legal opinion, breaking the law by allowing others, including the TSA, to have unfettered access to your firearms without following the federal laws and contacting you first for permission to inspect your firearms case. If you buy a Tuffpak with a TSA approved lock on it and you ship your rifles in it, then you are breaking the law as it is written. It's that simple. There is a reason for the TSA exception to hard cases containing rifles, and it should be very obvious as to why it should not contain a TSA approved lock on it. As to all of your other luggage, having TSA approved locks on them is perfectly legal and acceptable. But not on a rifle case. Go read the regulations carefully. You can find them at www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm

. . . that explains the four door black sedans lurking around my house.

I have flown with a lot of different guncases, aluminum, and the Pelican, which is a good case but heavy.

The Tuf-Pak, by its construction, is the lightest, that holds the most, that is the strongest.

I have used mine to Africa 3 times, [on my last Safari I used 3 Tuf-Pacs], to Canada, and to LA.

I did have a stock broken on my double on the way from Dulles to TX.

It was the first time I had traveled with my doubles not broken down.

There might have been some "on Purpose" rough handling... but I cannot prove it, just a feeling I got after dealing with a certain person.

No matter, I still thing the Tuf-Pak is the best rifle case to use.

If I was flying tommorow, my rifles would be in a Tuf-Pak. Without any TSA Lock.

UEG: I think TSA skirts that law, at least in Jacksonville. Reason being, that on two occassions, thee's been a little "love note" in the form of a TSA letter inside by rifle case at my destination. It was when I used a riflecase with integral luggage-type locks. They just picked them, took a look inside and locked it back up. jorge

Having tried about everything, I settled on the tuff case as the one for me..I like the fact that I don't have to open it up and expose my guns to the world. I just lift them up to the serial number and drop them back in...

I used a golf case one year and it got crushed. I used a heavy Cabellas 3 gun monster and the airlines bent the locking bar going and coming and I had to use a hammer to get my guns out. and they literally crushed a cornor on another metal case..

The tough case holds a lot of jackets and clothing that also protects the rifles in their soft cases and when I get to the Sea Cliff in Dar, I put everything I don't need in the tough case and check it into the hotel safe for safe keeping while I am in our Selous camp. The soft cases carry better on the charter flight and keep the weight down, and that is important..

All in all, the tough case has worked better for me than any other case that I have used over the last 40 years..I guess I had better modify mine.

I will simply put a hasp on the side of the top and bottom and lock it up.

Jorge: Then the TSA has broken federal law. They have absolutely NO right to open a firearms case without first contacting you and getting the key or combination. The law clearly states that they must not ship the firearm if they cannot locate you first and obtain the key or the combination before opening the case. To place a TSA lock on the gun case invites them to simply open it without following the law and contacting you first, and also puts you in the position of violating the law as well. The 'recommendation' of Northwest Airlines is NOT based upon the law. Anyone who retrofits their cases or puts on TSA friendly locks in order to allow TSA to open the firearms case(like regular checked baggage) without first contacting you and getting the key or combination is in violation of the law. We have enough government intrusion as it is, without being complicit with the TSA, as based upon some non-binding 'recommendation' from an Airline that is anti-gun in the first place.

UEG: They basicallly told me that they "try" and page you via the PA, then if you don't answer, they try and unlcok the case. THEN if they break it and can't lock it back up, the guns don't go. Great outfit huh? jorge

Yes, potential criminals is a better phrase. Perhaps they need to re-read the law. The laws do NOT allow them to open or break into the firearm case, if they cannot get in touch with you. An open or unlocked firearms case subjects the owner to criminal liability, which they have done for you by breaking into the case in violation of the law. The law REQUIRES them to not ship the case, but they have no legal or statutory right to break into that firearms case. Until the law is changed (which it has not been changed) they are not allowed to get into your firearms case without first obtaining your key or your combination. If they cannot contact you to do so, then the firearms are not to be shipped. But non-contact does not give them the right to subsequently break into or try to open the case. The law is very clear and someone in Florida needs to make sure that the TSA people understand the law and comply with it.

I have read so much over the last year I don't know which way to turn. I have a Tuffpack and took my first trip to South Africa last year. Things went very smooth, no difficulties or confusion. After reading these posts for the last year I don't know if I should modify my Tuffpack, leave it original(non-TSA locking lid), spend another couple of hundred dollars on another guncase, modify my case and use a non-TSA lock, modify my case and use a TSA lock, modify my case leaving the original lock in place but have an alternative if they break it, modify case and lock both locks?

Sniper: If you're as unclear as you say you are, then please carefully re-read my posts and then read the TSA regulations that I have posted a connection to. Once again, it is CLEAR that the TSA CANNOT open your firearms case without FIRST contacting you AND subsequently obtaining the key or the combination that is in YOUR POSSESSION ONLY. It is also clear that the TSA CANNOT subsequently OPEN your firearms case if they CANNOT contact you and get the key or the combination from you. They are then required to stop the case from shipping/flying. That's ALL they can do under the law. They CANNOT subsequently open your firearms case by picking or breaking the lock. To do so puts you in peril of violating the law for having firearms in an unlocked, secured firearms case, and the TSA has broken federal law by so doing. If you put a TSA approved lock on your case and ship your guns in it, you are allowing them to break the law and open your case without contacting you first. This is a completely different scenario from their ability to search your other checked baggage and to cut off or break non-TSA approved locks off of your other checked baggage, which they routinely do. The statutes and laws make a specific exception for gun cases, and you are the ONLY ONE who can possess the key or the combination to that firearms case. The reasons for that are very obvious, otherwise there would be no exception for firearms cases in the very first place. If you do otherwise, and modify your firearms case to put on a TSA approved lock or use a Tuffpak with the new TSA lock built into it, you do so at your own complete peril if you subsequently carry firearms in it, in spite of the 'recommendations' from Northwest Airlines or anyone here on AR. Once again, if you use the Tuffpak to carry anything OTHER THAN firearms with a new TSA lock Tuffpak or your old case modified to allow you to use your own TSA lock, you're ok, as long as you DON'T CARRY ANY FIREARMS IN IT. The laws are plain, simple and easy for everyone to understand. Please read them.

I was planning on taking my case as is and unmodified, I just hate the fact that it seems like this is always looming in the background.

It will loom even BIGGER if people do incorrect and illegal things by fearfully taking some 'recommendation' as gospel truth, and as the law, and by modifying their gun cases or by blindly using TSA approved locks on the same in violation of the law.

1115, if you had reversed your hasp so the loop was on the main box, you would have even less problem sliding the top on.

Brent

I agree with UEG, however the risk we take is that the guns just don't get shipped because "they couldn't contact us". They have us over a barrel. Having said that, UEG's point is that we should NOT be letting them get away with this. A documented letter to a congressperson or Senator would be appropriate rather than just thinking 'Boy, I can sleep better at night knowing that these folks at TSA are in command". I have repeatedly said on this forum that I see no reason for TSA to open a gun case. They know what's in there! They can Xray it! I wonder if we would all be taking this "lying down" if a Democratic administration had created the TSA. I suspect not!
Peter.

Everyone has to make their own decision. I respect the views of UEG and the others that have taken the time to educate themselves and the rest of us on what the regulations actually provide. In the end, however, I believe that it will matter very little what the law is when a marginally high school educated TSA employee decides your case needs to opened, you are not around to open it and they cannot open it and therefore refuse to allow it to be loaded or bust the case open. I guess you can feel morally vindicated while you hunt with a loaner gun from your PH. As for me, I elected to go with what I perceive (IMHO) to be the safer approach -- stick a TSA lock on it with the expectation that the TSA is not going to complain about someone trying to accommodate them. Call me a realist.

UEG- The problem is they(TSA) break the law EVERY DAY. I agree with your interpretation of the law but as a pragmatist, I like to arrive at my destination with my gear. If the laws are so "plain, simple and easy", why does TSA contradict them EVERY DAY?

If I remember I have had to return to TSA and open my case 3 different times.
They will either page you or call the gate you are flying our of or send a rep to get you.

The great thing about the Tuf-Pak is that because of its shape and construction it is less lickly to get crushed or otherwise damaged by the airlines.

Also it is difficut to break into woth normal hand carried tools, very quickly and quietly, and it does not look like a guncase, so maybe a thief that is in the baggage holding area will be more lickly to break into a conventional rifle case.

Myny times in the US and at Joberg, my Tuf-pack have been stacked with the golf clubs/baby carriers etc at baggage pickup.

ANYBODY can get in a case with a TSA approved lock, they are very weak.

This will be my final word on this as you each have to do what you feel is best. If you let them break the law and enable them to do so even more easily, then they will continue to do so. We have the NRA, SCI and other organizations that can, in a big way, address this problem for us. The TSA breaks the law because we are all allowing them to do so without anyone contacting our government representatives or calling on hunter's and guns rights organizations to stop it for us. I for one, will not break the law by putting any TSA approved locks on my firearms cases. If you want to break the law, then that is up to you, but remember that you may have to explain why you did. If, as suggested, we all contacted the NRA, the SCI, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, (and the list goes on and on), TSA will stop breaking the law at their discretion. To put TSA locks on your firearms cases because someone 'recommended it' is not good enough in my opinion.