Heading out to South Africa this week, does anybody know where I can purchase the new TSA Locks? they don't have them in K-mart, and thats basically all we have in this town, however I am flying out of Dallas, and can pick some up there, but from what store? or is it okay for me to use my own locks? need some info. This is my first trip to Africa, Thanks for any info.

You can use your own locks, but they make you wait until they inspect everything in your case. It would be a good idea for you to watch them anyway. The last two trips I took with my guns, they checked them in my presence and I had TSA locks.

You may be able to buy locks in one of the airport stores. They have a store next to the airline check in areas in my local airport that sells TSA locks. Although you said new TSA locks. I may be missing something there.

Those TSA locks look awfuly flimsy to me and I don't want anyone (including TSA or someone that has a TSA master key) in the gun case without me being around.

I would go with normal locks.

You can pick some up in the Dallas airport terminal inside of some of the bookstores, etc.

Home Depot had them last year. I haven't looked lately though.

quote:

Originally posted by dirklawyer:
You can pick some up in the Dallas airport terminal inside of some of the bookstores, etc.

True, but, by then it is too late. You can't get to the stores without clearing security with your boarding pass. You can't get your boarding pass without checking your luggage.

I guess you can buy them on the way out so that the locks that will be destroyed on the way to Africa can be replaced for the trip home!

Thanks for the info. guys, although you got me wondering about those Flimsy TSA locks now....hmmm, I just might use my own. I take it they don't open your gun case in the Airport in Joberg without your presence? ...This is going to be some experience for me.

I don't think they have the TSA keys in J-burg. You might want to hire a meet and greet to get you through customs. Save some time after a long flight.

I already arranged for the meet and greet party to meet me and take care of my paperwork, pay a little extra but I guess worth it. I just didn't know if there's some unsuspected issues I would have to deal with until I got into the public area where they will meet me.

I would lock my gun cases with my own locks, not TSA locks. The regulations require that you, and you only, have the keys to your firearms case. That doesn't include the TSA.

The TSA locks are not to prevent theft of the guns only to restrict access to authorize personnel. Anyone who wants to steal them will take entire case and open them later. Masterlock has good ones and are readily available.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
I would lock my gun cases with my own locks, not TSA locks. The regulations require that you, and you only, have the keys to your firearms case. That doesn't include the TSA.

That is also my understanding of the regs, I have never used the TSA locks on my gun case and have never had any problems.

Most of the TSA locks are rather puny, with about 1/8" shackles. Try the following link for TSA locks with 1/4" ones. Still won't stop a well-equipped thief, but there's not much that would. Still, it's a start.
http://www.padlocks4less.com/luggage.html

You can get TSA locks almost anywhere, Wal-mart, Home depot, Lowes, etc. Any TSA agent, Europe , Africa, Mexico, etc., has the ability to open any TSA lock. How hard do you think it will be for the "bad" guys to get their hands on one, besides they are not real substantial as previously stated. Locks are to keep the honest folks out anyway, not the criminals. On my last trip I accompanied my bows to where the TSA agents were inspecting bags with locks in Dulles,{Washington DC} mine had the TSA locks, the agents just produced a key, went through my stuff and locked it back and sent it down the {dark Hole} that you hope arrives at your destinations. Baggage with real locks, they would call the name on the bag over the loudspoeaker, of course the names were not understandable over the loudspeaker, gave them a very short time to present the key and then out with the bolt cutters and in to the bags, for the rest of the bags journey,,, no locks, regardless of what the regs say. If you think they will not open them without you being there, you will be very upset and very wrong. TSA locks are good for keeping a bag from accidentily opening,,, not really for security. drwes