Opinion
Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- I just completed a trip via commercial air (SW Airlines) to and from MDW (Midway Airport, Chicago) with my usual complement of gear. At MDW, they don’t have an X-ray machine, so all luggage is detail-inspected, manually!
There was no issue with any of my equipment, and my luggage all went through normally, arriving at my destination on the luggage carousel, right along with all my flight’s other check baggage.
With me, I transported two pistols, several blades, and my FS/M4/SRO Version, along with assorted magazines and ammunition.
Here are some things I recommend:
TSA requires “hard” cases for all guns in check baggage. Cases must be “hard,” lockable, and locked.
For my pistols, pistol magazines, and blades, I use Travel Armor cases. These are specifically designed for commercial air travel and TSA thinks they are just fine.
Never a problem!
For my M4 (with Steiner P4Xi, mounted), I use a Beretta CX4 Case. It is “hard” and lockable. TSA thinks it is also just fine.
It is not substantial enough as a “stand-alone” case, but it fits inside my 36″ Eagle Creek Roller Duffel, along with my underwear, etc. I’ve traveled this way with a number of M4s, as well as with my Robinson Arms XCR/M (308), and my POF Revolution rifle (also 308)
I’ve traveled like this on hundreds of flights, without an issue.
I travel with “plain vanilla” luggage which does not look like a “gun case”
Some details.
The Beretta CX4 case can be ordered from Beretta by itself (without the CX4), but it comes with molded-in dividers that are designed to accommodate the CX4 Carbine. The dividers need to be cut-out in order that an M4 can fit (upper and lower separated). I took mine to a local auto-body shop where they have a router that does the job in a minute or two.
The Beretta CX4 Case is for air travel only. When I get to where I’m going, I put together my M4 and put it (along with several spare magazines) into a low-profile carry bag for the remainder of my stay
In the past, I’ve used tennis-racket cases for this purpose. They work fine, but wear-out pretty fast.
I’m now using Savior’s 31″ “Covert Case.” It readily accommodates my M4, RA/XCR, POF Revolution (with stocks folded), with optics, and a 30-round magazine, inserted.
The Savior Case is light, well-designed, low-profile, and extremely well made. I go in and out of hotels with it, and no one gives me, nor it, a second glance. Of course, I continue to refine my act.
But, the forgoing serves me well!
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Beretta CX4 Storm Original Hard Case
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Eagle Creek Orv Trunk 36″ Wheeled Upright Duffel
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Savior Equipment T.G.B 30″ 34″ Discreet Tactical Rifle Soft Case
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Travel Armor
/John
About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor John Farnam will urge you, based on your own beliefs, to make up your mind in advance as to what you would do when faced with an imminent lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance if any. Defense Training International wants to make sure that their students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or in-actions.
It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to the Planet Earth. Mr. Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com
I have used a standard hard shell SKB golf case for decades between the US and Africa. Inside I put two Gun Guard 10470 single rifle cases. I have no trouble transporting up to 4 long guns and plenty of ammo in this manner ( scopes off) and everyone ( except TSA) always assumes I am transporting golf clubs…
John, The Savior case looks nice, except for one glaring problem, which unfortunately almost every other manufacturer in existence of carry cases exhibits: the only colors for their material they believed to exist, are desert camel Brown, black, some sort of olive drab green! Intelligent case makers for foldable rifles and pistols with braces, understand that the best colors for concealability in the modern era are junior high and high school, and even college-level, colors: a variety of Blues, including cobalt blue, purple, burgundy’s, lime green, luminescent pink, and pretty much every other hue Of the color range! The near… Read more »
The Savior case in the video looks like a fine case, but not very covert. First, of course, it comes in your choice of Coyote Tan or Tacticool Black. The shape might be somewhat similar to a “tennis racquet case” but most racquet cases I’ve seen (on tennis courts instead of firing ranges) are more tapered. The shoulder strap is clearly intended for carrying more weight than a tennis racquet.
This “covert” case might fool a sleepy sheep, but screams gun case to anyone who is looking.
Trust me. Here in Washington state, those soft cases won’t do. Southwest ain’t haven’t it. I once miss a flight because of it. I learned the hard way. Never again. Just use a hard case, just in case you run into a hard ass, so you don’t miss your flight. Hope this helps. P. S. They don’t work in Los Angeles either.
Many manufacturers now sell pistols in lockable hard plastic cases, but I have seen videos of people who were not allowed to bring their firearm with them on a flight because the hard case was not rigid enough when closed and locked to keep TSA from bending at the sides enough to insert a finger into it. My Sig Sauer pistol case is unfortunately that flexible. It’s a stupid rule, but a rule that can screw up your travel plans nonetheless. I hope manufacturers are noting these problems and putting a little more plastic into their cases. Another issue I’ve… Read more »
Zip ties on luggage containing guns are common with certain airlines (and perhaps certain airports) — apparently in response to the one instance where someone transported a gun in checked luggage, then took it out at the airport and fired.
Having something accessible to use cutting them is a good idea. Otherwise most zip ties can actually be opened by lifting the ratchet with a fingernail or anything small enough — generally the heavier the zip tie, the easier they are to open without cutting.