Gents:
Forgive me if this has been hashed out prior but at Dallas I will buy a short TufPak to keep under the airlines 62-inch limit. Some say TSA locks and others say "no." I'd like your opinions and reasons so I know what to buy.
Thanks and a good new year to all.
Cal

I've flown with one back and forth to Alaska from Dallas about a half-dozen times with a regular Tuffpak. Never a problem, and Alaska Airlines doesn't charge anymore than just a regular bag - it's in their sporting goods exemptions.

NEVER put a TSA lock on guns, the regulations say that the passenger, and only the passenger, should be able to open the luggage, or case, with firearms.

Putting TSA locks on any guncase is asking for trouble and is an incredibly BAD idea. I have travelled internationally with my standard TuffPak for 15 years and never had it measured nor been charged overage for size or weight. And remember, you can always ask politely to speak with a supervisor if the counter clerk is an ignorant idiot. Double negatives do apply in this regard.

I use a Tuffpak 1050TSA with a regular padlock - not a TSA padlock. No problems with any airline about size.

The case will be weighed, but not measured.

No TSA lock.

Get the vending machine style (Tuffpak's terminology not mine) lock.

Hi Cal
I purchase 4 locks keyed alike, lock the case with two and put the spare locks in side in a padded bag with a large lable: " To whom it may concern if you have to cut the locks to inspect contents please relock with these" This has worked for me twice when I have left Canada and flown through the US to SA.

Happy New Year. Will you be at SCI in Reno?

No,

Hi Cal,

I use the paranoid approach. Do I want someone else to open my guncase when I am not present? No. If someone has a question about my gun or guncase, I want to be there and have control of access to the case and gun.

Matt

Thanks for the input, mates.

Returning from an Australian hunt in June with my .600, my rifle case arrived in Anchorage the day following my arrival. In LA TSA cut off the padlocks to inspect the case and relocked it with TSA locks that were on the SKB case. All was fine and safe.

John: I will be in Dallas only. I do hope our paths cross someday.

Cal

quote:

Originally posted by John Hipwell:
Hi Cal
I purchase 4 locks keyed alike, lock the case with two and put the spare locks in side in a padded bag with a large lable: " To whom it may concern if you have to cut the locks to inspect contents please relock with these" This has worked for me twice when I have left Canada and flown through the US to SA.

Happy New Year. Will you be at SCI in Reno?

Great idea!

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
Putting TSA locks on any guncase is asking for trouble and is an incredibly BAD idea. I have travelled internationally with my standard TuffPak for 15 years and never had it measured nor been charged overage for size or weight. And remember, you can always ask politely to speak with a supervisor if the counter clerk is an ignorant idiot. Double negatives do apply in this regard.

I would agree this is an incredible dumb idea if anyone ever had a gun stolen or been arrested for not controlling the lock...but to the best of my knowledge, that is not true, so calling it really stupid is a bit strong. Many AR members have flown with TSA locks and never had a problem. On the other hand, flying with only a personal lock leaves you kind of stranded if TSA cuts off your lock.

I have a standard aluminum gun case. I once had my lock cut off because I flew from Canada to the US but stopped in a different city before flying home (TSA doesn't inspect guns in Canada, but you do clear Customs in most Canadian cities, so if you connect through a city in the US, TSA may want to inspect your case). I now use four locks, one for each latch. I put two TSA locks and two of my own. If TSA cuts off the two locks I own, I still have two TSA locks to secure my case. Perhaps the Canadian case stands alone in its circumstances, but it is a real problem.

The other lesson I have learned is pack nothing in your gun case except guns. Since I adopted this policy, I have never been asked to open my case.

Since you felt compelled to quote me, perhaps you can indicate where I used the word "stupid"? Would you agree that the "knowledge" you claim of what TSA has and has not done is extremely limited and based primarily on what you have personally experienced rather than anecdotal information you have heard or been told by others?

Those who fly with TSA locks on their gun case are in violation of TSA regulations, which TSA finds necessary to continually rewrite. "Travelers should remain in the area...to take the key back after the container is cleared..." Latest revision: 24 November 2012 Bold letters by me.

You, however, may use whatever locking device or combination thereof that floats your boat, but personally, I believe your supposed solution is ridiculous. I've flown with my TuffPak into and out of Canada, as well as Africa 15x, without issue. Oh, and I always pack additional clothing/equipment in it.

I have all ways used non TSA locks for my gun case and have never really had an issue.

This past summer when returning from Africa I had a medical emergency on the plane and the pilot made an emergency landing in PR and I was put in the hospital, btw never get medical treatment in PR as they will try to kill you. My gun case went on ahead of me to Atlanta and customs had to cut the locks off to inspect the guns. I had no other locks in the case so the taped it up big time as it took me hours to get all the tape off. I had a copy of my 4457 in the gun case so there were no issues when I retrieved my guns. The biggest issue was with Delta not knowing where my gun case was but somehow I got a hold of the lady with customs that inspected my guns and she knew exactly where they were, with Delta Cargo office.

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
Since you felt compelled to quote me, perhaps you can indicate where I used the word "stupid"? Would you agree that the "knowledge" you claim of what TSA has and has not done is extremely limited and based primarily on what you have personally experienced rather than anecdotal information you have heard or been told by others?

Those who fly with TSA locks on their gun case are in violation of TSA regulations, which TSA finds necessary to continually rewrite. "Travelers should remain in the area...to take the key back after the container is cleared..." Latest revision: 24 November 2012 Bold letters by me.

You, however, may use whatever locking device or combination thereof that floats your boat, but personally, I believe your supposed solution is ridiculous. I've flown with my TuffPak into and out of Canada, as well as Africa 15x, without issue. Oh, and I always pack additional clothing/equipment in it.

Do you connect to another city in the US before you arrive in "Silicon Valley" when traveling from Canada?

If so, TSA will inspect your gun case. They may or may not be able to locate you. Trust me, it happened to me when I traveled from BC to Phoenix via Denver. TSA cut my locks off because they wanted in my case. They replaced my locks with TSA locks, BTW.

My solution does not allow anyone in my case unless they cut off my two personal locks; obviously anyone with a TSA key for my locks can open the TSA locks. But I until my locks are cut off, you aren't getting in my case.

So exactly how is my solution ridiculous? What if your gun doesn't make it with you? That also happened to me once. Customs didn't cut off my locks, but if they did, they could have at least locked it with the two TSA locks (we always use TSA locks for our checked bags; Customs seems to have all the TSA keys).

I use sets of non TSA locks that use the same key. I leave the extra one in my gun case right out in the open +/- a note when I remember.

AnotherAZWriter-

Please note: It is NOT the TSA that inspects your guns/luggage when you return to the USA from OCONUS; it is U.S. Customs.

On one return flight from africa my TuffPak went to a different port of entry city than I did. It took me a week to locate it in the SFO "lost" luggage department of Delta - it was properly tagged and marked with my home address, so go figure the lost part? It was passed through customs in Nashville and sent on to SFO. Customs did not break into my TuffPak, which uses their standard firearms lock, the "vending machine" round key locking system where there is nothing to cut off.

I always carry extra locks for my Pelican ammo box - inside along with the ammo - in case some fool decides s/he needs to cut the locks on it. This is most likely to happen in africa and there is no guarantee they will use the replacement locks to secure the ammo box. I also carry extra TSA locks for my duffle bag, in my carry-on. The simple fact is that TSA locks are not secure, which is why TSA regulations do not call for them on gun cases. They want only the traveller to posses the key to the gun case. I do know of incidents where TSA cut padlocks off aluminum gun cases. I do not know of cases where they have broken into TuffPaks with the vending machine locks, although I have heard of one case in 15 years but that is only anecdotal and I was never provided proof.

I am glad to know that TSA did secure your gun case after they forced entry into it, even if it was with available TSA locks - which I'm certain you were able to remove with a simple pair of pliers.

Anything that could confuse the simple mind of a TSA agent, such as having both TSA and commercial locks on the outside of a case, should be avoided as it only invites more attention as an unusual situation. I would think you would be just as safe if you put a second set of locks (not TSA) inside your gun case.

But as I said above, I don't care what you do with your property; I do care if you provide erroneous info to those who ask.

BTW, I guess you couldn't find where I used the word "stupid", yes?

Have a happy and prosperous new year!

LionHunter:

If you fly into SFO from Canada, you are not dealing with TSA, as you likely are not stopping in a different US city first - that is where the biggest problem comes in.

For what it is worth, when you clear US Customs in a Canadian city and then connect through a US city that is not your ultimate destination, TSA will scan your gun case. And then they may want to get into it. Travelers should be prepared for that. My solution does that. Whether others do what I do is not really going to make or break my day; I am simply suggesting a foolproof way to ensure guns don't fly unsecured.

You have a great New Year too!

I would definitely take extra TSA locks for your ammo box. They have mangled them on my last two trips.

Definitely NOT a TSA on the gun case.

US code requires that the passenger is the only one with the key or combination to your gun case. Therefore you should not use a TSA lock.

Overseas is of course a different matter.