Hard Case for Rifle?

Good advice here. I was curious about the TSA lock thing, so I emailed them about it. Here is their response:

Thank you for your e-mail regarding travel with firearms using Transportation Security Administration (TSA) - recognized locks.

On flights that originate in the United States, passengers may transport a firearm in accordance with 49 CFR ァ1540.111 under the following conditions:

the firearm must be unloaded;
it must be in checked, not carry-on, baggage;
it must be in a locked, hard-sided container; and
it must be declared to the airline.

Travelers may use any kind or type of lock for securing firearm cases, including
TSA - recognized locks. However, TSA does not recommend or endorse any specific brand or type of lock to use on firearm containers.


We encourage all travelers to familiarize themselves with TSA Travel Tips prior to their trip. Our Web site, TSA | Transportation Security Administration | U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has information about prohibited and permitted items, the screening process and procedures, and guidance for special considerations that may assist with preparing for air travel. Passengers can go directly to these tips at www.TSATravelTips.us.



Travelers must go through different clearance procedures when crossing international borders, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) strives to provide a high level of security and reduce inconvenience and delay.

Travelers departing a foreign country are required to comply with the customs and immigration exit procedures of that country. Passengers and their baggage are also screened for security according to standards established by the government of that country. As sovereign entities, foreign countries may establish their own security requirements for airports and air carriers that are not necessarily the same as those required in the Unites States.

Upon arriving in the United States from a foreign country, passengers and their baggage are first cleared for entry into the United States by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors. CBP inspectors cover matters of customs, immigration, public health, food inspection, and plant and animal health. After clearing CBP procedures, travelers may exit an airport or connect to a U.S. flight.

The CBP entry process does not include security screening for passengers making connecting flights in the United States. Before boarding a connecting flight, passengers and baggage arriving on international flights are required to pass through TSA's security checkpoint. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act established a strict requirement that Transportation Security Officers screen all passengers and baggage on flights originating in the United States and that checked baggage be screened by explosives detection systems.

International passengers may need a significant amount of time between flights arriving in the United States and the departure of connecting flights in order to accommodate retrieval of checked baggage, clearance through CBP entry procedures, and passing through TSA's security checkpoint. For this reason, we encourage international travelers and schedulers to allow ample time between arriving and connecting flights.

We encourage all travelers to familiarize themselves with TSA Travel Tips prior to their trip. Our website, TSA | Transportation Security Administration | U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has information about prohibited and permitted items, the screening process and procedures, and guidance for special considerations that may assist in preparing for air travel. Passengers can go directly to these tips at www.TSATravelTips.us.



We hope this information is helpful.

TSA Contact Center

This may all be well and good but unfortuantely the airlines have their own ideas. I have personally had to scramble to find non-TSA locks to replace the TSA locks that were good enough on the way down but not on the way back. Better safe than sorry, DO NOT USE A TSA LOCK any you will have no problems.
 
I wonder too, when it says TSA recognized locks. What does that mean? Does that mean what we call a TSA lock, one that can be opened by a TSA agent? Or does it mean a lock that TSA recognizes as simply being a brand of lock that is acceptable to them? My advice is still to not put a lock that TSA can open without bolt cutters on your gun case. If the gun was properly inspected and locked in the presence of a TSA agent, there is no need for them to access it. I mean thats the whole point of going thru all the rigamarole in the first place is it not?
 
I mean thats the whole point of going thru all the rigamarole in the first place is it not?

Your making way too much sense ses, if only the world worked based on logic and common sense.
 
Need a double case that will stand up to abuse from the airlines. Any suggestions?
Thanks.

I use the Pelican 1750 and have flown international and domestic with this case for a few years now. It has also done tens of thousands of kilometers in my Toyota and survived a few falls as well. Cannot fault it.

It has facility to except 2 locks, so I have four padlocks with the biggest shackle that will fit through - two of these are back up and they are all keyed alike.
 
Tuffpak, Pelican, or Cabela's.......now, which one?

I went through this last night...

I had the Cabela's double rifle case, Pelican 1750, and the Storm 3300 all laid out on the floor at Cabela's side by side trying to make a decision..

They were selling the Cabela's case for $199, the 1750 for $239 and the 3300 for $249...

The Cabela's case seemed plenty rugged.. but when put next to the 1750 and the 3300 it was the obvious light weight of the bunch..

Cabela's latches were all metal.. but seemed pretty thin.. and might be pretty easy to bend.. whereas the 1750 and 3300 latches were more robust..

The Cabela's case and the 1750 had 4 latches each.. the 3300 has 6...

The Cabela's case and 1750 were comparable in size.. the 3300 is slightly bigger..

The 1750 in my opinion had the most rubust looking wheels.. they were well protected, and were wide and flat.. the Cabela's case and the 3300 have thinner, more exposed wheels..

The 1750 has metal reinforced holes for padlocks.. the Cabela's case and the 3300 do not have metal reinforcing the holes..

All three were "heavy".. but none so heavy that I will need to worry about getting them in under the 50lb checked bag weight limit when loaded down with 2 scoped rifles and other accessories... of the three the Cabela's was the lightest though...

The 3300 has rubberized handles.. the Cabela's case and the 1750 have handles in the same locations as the 3300, but they are not rubberized...

The 3300 has push-pull type latches.. the Cabela's case has metal "turn" type latches.. the 1750 has pull only "butterfly" type latches..

At the end of the day I went with the Storm 3300..

Overall the 1750 and 3300 seemed to be better made, more sturdy, etc and were the clear front runners (albeit more expensive than the Cabela's option)... I figured for $10 more than the 1750, the 3300 has more room.. I liked the latch system it has the best.. and I liked that it had 2 more latches and 2 additional pad lock holes than the others.. little things like the rubberized handles were also nice.. but really didn't influence the decision much...

Now I just have to decide which two rifles to cut the foam to fit and take to Africa next year :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I appreciate this thread.
going on first trip to africa. Need to take 2 rifles.
God-willing, it won't be near the only flight I make with guns, so difference
in prices of $250-$500 aren't a real big deal.
Thought I had my mind made up on a Pelican Case.
But, then looked at Cabela's Bullet Proof Heavy Duty.
Then I became unsure.

So, I visited this thread and saw the Tuffpak and now I am completely unsure.
Never saw a Tuffpak, but it seems like a great option.

My son and I will use the gun case as my 1 piece of checked luggage and his suitcase for both
of us, along with our carryon to finish it off. Looking at the Tuffpak, I see where you can get all
kinds of extra stuff in it also. So, on Delta, if we share our luggage this way, No luggage fees.

Tuffpak, Pelican, or Cabela's.......now, which one?
I just took a Tuffpak to RSA, I'm impressed with it, is it better than my Pelican or SKB cases? I couldn't say, never had any damage occur with any of them. Even had two rifles that went everywhere except my destination in a SKB case and never lost zero, they were gone on the trip longer than I was! The nice thing about the Tuffpak was the room for all your other kit. Made it nice and convenient plus it looks like a set of golf clubs rather than a rifle case. Rifles arrived perfectly fine, inspection at airports were a breeze.
But as stated, there are a bunch of good ones out there, matter of preference, but I see my Tuffpak making a lot more trips.
Cheers,
Cody
 
Last edited by a moderator:
i went with the pelican and am happy with my decision. 4 years ago??
 
+1 for the Tuffpak.
 
The nice thing about the Tuffpak was the room for all your other kit. Made it nice and convenient plus it looks like a set of golf clubs rather than a rifle case. Rifles arrived perfectly fine, inspection at airports were a breeze.

This is the difference to me and especially the other kit. So nice to have that extra space when you need it. I also like that I can put any gun(s) in it with out having to cut or change foam.

There are other good cases out there, including pelican and others, but none have the extra space that the tuffpak does. I expect it to be the last rifle case I will ever own.
 
Pelican cases with out TSA locks. The best case you can get
 
image.jpg

Cabela's case on the left. Two rifles plus extras fit nicely. Four trips overseas with no issues! The brown suitcase next to it is a. Pelican!
 
IMG_0901.jpg
I used a SKB Double Rifle Case it weighed 38# with 2 CZ550s in it, I also added two addl SKB Locks for a total of four plus two TSA pad locks (maybe a little over kill) outside of a few minor scuffs it did a great job protecting the rifles inside from the Gorillas
 
Last I heard TSA locks are a no no on gun cases. Has that changed?
 
Last I heard TSA locks are a no no on gun cases. Has that changed?

Still a no no.

But the rules are that no one but the owner can have access to the case. So in @Rob404 's example it's all good since he has at least one non TSA lock as it is access that is the no no, not the locks themselves.

I'm assuming the SKB locks are non TSA.
 
If all goes well next summer, and I head off to Namibia again, I think I will use the same old SafeT Case aluminum hard case I bought for my first trip over 30 years ago. It still works and has done a good job of keeping my guns intact. Technically its slightly oversize per airline rules, but no one has ever bothered to measure it so I guess its close enough. I suspect they are more concerned about weight than a few inches one way or the other.
 
Our Tuff Pack has held up well to over a dozen overseas trips.
 
Still a no no.

But the rules are that no one but the owner can have access to the case. So in @Rob404 's example it's all good since he has at least one non TSA lock as it is access that is the no no, not the locks themselves.

I'm assuming the SKB locks are non TSA.
Two of the Latch locks were TSA the other latch lock were keyed the same but were not marked TSA, the other two were padlocks, I noticed and inspection sticker on the case when I transferred flights thru Amsterdam, the next inspection was Tambo and I opened the locks for inspection, on the return trip thru France I noticed no sticker and back to my final destination back in Minnesota I opened my Gun case for inspection,,I went to Africa in 2014 so these new laws change with the Seasons it seems
 
Last edited:
Two of the Latch locks were TSA the other latch lock were keyed the same but were not marked TSA, the other two were padlocks, I noticed and inspection sticker on the case when I transferred flights thru Amsterdam, the next inspection was Tambo and I opened the locks for inspection, on the return trip thru France I noticed no sticker and back to my final destination back in Minnesota I opened my Gun case for inspection,,I went to Africa in 2014 so these new laws change with the Seasons it seems

Remember that TSA rules only apply here in the States. Other countries have other rules.

And lord knows that local government officials and airline employees don't know the rules half the time.

Last trip here in the states with a gun I had to tell the guy at TSA I had a shotgun not golf clubs. This was after declaring and being escorted over. He then told me I couldn't use the Tuffpak because the case had to be lockable. I told him that's why it had a lock. :) Then when I opened it he asked if the soft case was a case. I said yes. He told me the rules were that they swab the case for explosives and I needed to take the case out of the case. :rolleyes: I wasnt going to argue and point out maybe it was the actual case he shouls swab (he only swabbed the softcase).

The long winded point is that even the actual rules dont mean much.

This guy was really nice by the way, not a TSA Nazi, but he simply didnt have a clue,
 

Forum statistics

Threads
57,895
Messages
1,242,468
Members
102,275
Latest member
Amp Wellbeing
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Grz63 wrote on Werty's profile.
(cont'd)
Rockies museum,
CM Russel museum and lewis and Clark interpretative center
Horseback riding in Summer star ranch
Charlo bison range and Garnet ghost town
Flathead lake, road to the sun and hiking in Glacier NP
and back to SLC (via Ogden and Logan)
Grz63 wrote on Werty's profile.
Good Morning,
I plan to visit MT next Sept.
May I ask you to give me your comments; do I forget something ? are my choices worthy ? Thank you in advance
Philippe (France)

Start in Billings, Then visit little big horn battlefield,
MT grizzly encounter,
a hot springs (do you have good spots ?)
Looking to buy a 375 H&H or .416 Rem Mag if anyone has anything they want to let go of
Erling Søvik wrote on dankykang's profile.
Nice Z, 1975 ?
Tintin wrote on JNevada's profile.
Hi Jay,

Hope you're well.

I'm headed your way in January.

Attending SHOT Show has been a long time bucket list item for me.

Finally made it happen and I'm headed to Vegas.

I know you're some distance from Vegas - but would be keen to catch up if it works out.

Have a good one.

Mark
 
Top