Ok, so one day you have to have tsa locks on your rifle case and the next day you can't have tsa locks on your rifle case. My SKB case came with tsa locks on it. One of the airlines I will be flying (it was either United or SAA) states that tsa locks are not acceptable so I called SKB and they sent me new latches that are not tsa compatable.
I installed them on my rifle case so now it has 2 tsa locks and 2 non tsa locks. I should be able to lock (or not lock) a combination of them that will be legal. And they thought they could outsmart me!

TSA locks by definition means that the TSA has a key that opens your lock. According to the US Code of Federal Regulations that is against the law.


Title 49: Transportation
PART 1540—CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY: GENERAL RULES

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 114, 5103, 40113, 44901–44907, 44913–44914, 44916–44918, 44935–44936, 44942, 46105. Source: 67 FR 8353, Feb. 22, 2002, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart B—Responsibilities of Passengers and Other Individuals and Persons
§ 1540.111 Carriage of weapons, explosives, and incendiaries by individuals.
top

(a) On an individual's person or accessible property—prohibitions. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, an individual may not have a weapon, explosive, or incendiary, on or about the individual's person or accessible property—

(1) When performance has begun of the inspection of the individual's person or accessible property before entering a sterile area, or before boarding an aircraft for which screening is conducted under this subchapter;

(2) When the individual is entering or in a sterile area; or

(3) When the individual is attempting to board or onboard an aircraft for which screening is conducted under §§1544.201, 1546.201, or 1562.23 of this chapter.

(b) On an individual's person or accessible property—permitted carriage of a weapon. Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply as to carriage of firearms and other weapons if the individual is one of the following:

(1) Law enforcement personnel required to carry a firearm or other weapons while in the performance of law enforcement duty at the airport.

(2) An individual authorized to carry a weapon in accordance with §§1544.219, 1544.221, 1544.223, 1546.211, or subpart B of part 1562 of this chapter.

(3) An individual authorized to carry a weapon in a sterile area under a security program.

(c) In checked baggage. A passenger may not transport or offer for transport in checked baggage or in baggage carried in an inaccessible cargo hold under §1562.23 of this chapter:

(1) Any loaded firearm(s).

(2) Any unloaded firearm(s) unless—

(i) The passenger declares to the aircraft operator, either orally or in writing, before checking the baggage, that the passenger has a firearm in his or her bag and that it is unloaded;

(ii) The firearm is unloaded;

(iii) The firearm is carried in a hard-sided container; and

(iv) The container in which it is carried is locked, and only the passenger retains the key or combination.

(3) Any unauthorized explosive or incendiary.

(d) Ammunition. This section does not prohibit the carriage of ammunition in checked baggage or in the same container as a firearm. Title 49 CFR part 175 provides additional requirements governing carriage of ammunition on aircraft.

[67 FR 8353, Feb. 22, 2002, as amended at 67 FR 41639, June 19, 2002; 70 FR 41600, July 19, 2005; 71 FR 30507, May 26, 2006]

I refreshed my recollection on this issue today. I agree with what Fjold posted. Key lock or nonTSA combo lock for gun case. TSA locks are for other luggage.

When I have traveled with rifles using something other than my tuffpak, I use regular masterlocks. Then inside the case I put an additional open set of locks, that I have made cutouts in the foam for, along with a note requesting that the new locks be installed if the others were cut. Never have had a set cut though.

We've been through this very issue many times before, and Fjold's answer is correct. Non-TSA locks on rifle cases-that's the law.

I understand and agree with the interpretation--but I wonder why Nalpak offers TSA locks as an option on the Tuffpak?

it may be the law, however, neither TSA ,nor, the airlines have ever said a thing about the TSA locks on my gun cases: been back about a week from Zim

Nalpak offers the option because TuffPaks are used for other equipment besides firearms.

UEG got me on the right track as far as the the TSA locks on gun cases. I got away with using the TSA locks on my gun case a couple of times and thought it was fine as I had no problems. Vaughn explained that I had just gotten away with it and that did not make it legal or a wise thing to do. I now use a combination lock. My motto when traveling internationally with guns is "It will probably be fine" is not fine. Go by the book and don't take chances particularly when you can avoid a potential problem by buying a $5.00 lock.

Mark

I've given up on trying to guess what the ticket agent will want --

I just take two regular locks and two TSA locks with me and if nobody says anything I use the TSA locks, otherwise I use the regular locks.

As with all international travel, just be prepared, flexible and in good humor.

It's not what the ticket agent wants or does not want. It's what THE LAW (as CLEARLY quoted above) says. We already saw that, when one of our AR friends, a few months ago, didn't sign and place an unloaded firearms tag in his rifle case, (by following a ticket agent's advice), and TSA wanted to throw the book at him. Remember that one? But what the hey, if any of you want to take the risk of being charged with violating federal regulations and possibly other unwelcome outcomes, like our AR friend was, by all means, go for it!

No TSA locks on gun cases! That's the law, and just because you got away with breaking the law in the past, doesn't mean you will continue to be so lucky in the future.

The point is the rules change by the day. My gun case now has both kinds of locks so no matter what the idiots require next, I will be prepared.

The non-TSA lock rule has never changed. You should always carry a copy of the TSA regs and your airline regs in your carry-on and do not be afraid to politely show them to ticket agents and/or TSA inspectors. If that fails, ask to have a Supervisor respond.

In over a dozen international trips with firearms since 9/11, I have never had a serious issue and have asked for Supervisors when a counter agent is confused. The Supervisor immediately set the agent right and complied with the regs and laws.

BTW, my first trip after 9/11 with firearms was ten days afterwards; talk about everyone being confused, both going and returning from a 21 day Tanzania safari!