I will be flying Delta Air Lines to a hunt this Fall. Atlanta to Billings. I have never taken a gun on air travel before. My understanding is that the gun goes in checked luggage - locked. The ammo goes in checked luggage in another bag and must be in the original manufactures box.
I'm concerned about the "original manufactures box" - there is no such thing for a wildcat. The brass headstamp is R/P 35 Whelan. I consider myself to be the original manufacturer - but I don't want to have to argue that with a gate agent.

Anyone have experience with this?

Some Ideas
1. Find some R/P 35 Whelan boxes to use
2. UPS the ammo out ahead of time.
3. Take it in a plastic case and hope they don't check it

Any other advice on this adventure is appreciated.

Thanks

In reality you should have no problem.

The topic has been reviewed regarding travel to Africa in "Weight of Ammo" thread and others.

I pack mine in in plastic boxes with labels on them and have never had a problem.

What you hunting in Billings?

Good Hunting
Steve

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Every man dies, but not every man really lives!!

Hello T

I don't remember but think they say something like 'manufacturer's original packaging or equivalent'. The plastic boxes they sell for reloaders seem like better than original, to me. I have not had any trouble with that, although I have not been flying with the guns for a few years, mostly going by truck.

Tom

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I would do as the others suggest and put your ammo in a plastic box for that most whom reload use and lable it accordingly. I fly in Alaska commercial and outside fairly regularly and I have never even had that checked.

The ticket agent may ask to see the firearm but that is usually as far a it goes.

Pat

As I understood it, it doesn't have to be the "original box", just one originally designed as an ammunition box, so any old .30-06 paper box or the plastic MTM style will do.

Also, as I understand, a soft (paper) box must be in a hard suitcase, but a hard (plastic) one can be in a soft suitcase or duffel.

As stated, you can't go wrong with plastic.

Delta has been my regular "hunting" airline for years. My ammo has never been looked at. I do, however, carry my ammo in factory boxes or plastic ammo containers (factory, handloads & wildcat handloads).

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Phil- Life Member NRA & SCI

Get a plastic box, and print out some stickers on your computer to make these plastic boxes original ammo boxes.

I am sure "trigger Ammo Company" of GA, U.S.A Loads .35 Whelen.
BB

Fly Southwest Airlines! I use my green boxes all the time since I only use handloads. They've never said anything, I think they stick to the standard DOT regulations, which only require a container designed to carry ammo so the rounds don't touch. On the Internet at southwestairlines.com they have the internet specials R/T are under $220 nation-wide for most destinations. Happy hunting!

Thanks for the replies.

I'm headed to the "river breaks" area. I have a tag for buck and doe deer and an antelope. My first trip out west. I've got more gun than I need but I'm taking it anyway. Tried for an Elk tag. 338 Hawk, 210 or 225 partition

To add to what others have said--I've flown with guns domestically a dozen times now and no one has *ever* asked to see my ammo. In my experience you are much more likely to have a hassle over inspecting and tagging the guns.

One clerk proudly told me how she'd made 4 FBI agents tie a tag on each of the 36 guns they were taking to a SWAT course. (This was supposed to console me for having to put tags on both of my rifles--tied, with string, to the trigger guard, a requirement that appears in no regulation or airline policy anywhere.)

My favorite story about flying with guns came from a guy who had flown from San Francisco to Seattle to take a pistol class. As he described it, the clerk in SF acted as if he'd told her he had a rattlesnake wrapped around a bottle of ebola virus.

On the way back, the clerk in Seattle asked him,

"OK, is the gun unloaded?"

"Yes."

"Is it locked in a hard case?"

"Yes."

"Is the ammunition separate?"

"Yes."

"Is it clean?"

Passenger does double take, clerk bursts out laughing. Just a tale of two cities...

John

Here is a horror story. I was picking up my e-ticket,(airports will only be named on request). I had a .45 in a hard case in my checked baggage. As the agent was processing my ticket I told her that I had a handgun to be tagged. She had a deer in the headlights look for a moment. I opened the hardcase for them to tag and we signed the orange tag. I put the case in my bag and added zip ties to the locks. She put the bag on the conveyer and issued my ticket to me. At no time did they request ID for the ticket. The exact same thing happened on my return home. Scared looks and no ID check. It seems that having a pistol in front of them fried all of their logic circuts.