Flying with your rifle

I want to fly with my rifle, but I can't find any hardcore that is in stock or available for a 58 inch rifle. Any suggestions? How does everyone fly with theirs?

Something like this. You would have as them to direct you to a dealer with one in stock.

And don’t skimp on the case! I bought an aluminum Winchester double sided case rated for air travel. The airline that took me to Fairbanks lost it for a day then when I got it it was busted up! One of the two rifles in it was broken. The one above looks good. Good luck on your flight.

My brother lost several guns on a flight to Alaska.. I think he shipped two, maybe three, and they didn't show up for several weeks or months, and by the time he got them back he said they were a rusty, beat up mess--case didn't survive whatever happened. These were modern guns. I believe his insurance came through for him in the end (he sells insurance), but he had to use a different gun for his Alaska hunting. So I would second the notion of not skimping on the case! Unfortunately I don't know what kind of case my Bro had, so I can't advise..

Just hold it between your legs. Free's up both arms.
Robby

Buy the best case you can. Take duct tape with you to the airport and duct tape it shut around the locks after the case is inspected. Pack duct tape in your luggage for the flight home.

Back when I was flying with rifles, the case was stenciled with my name, address and phone number. Also the case was labeled "Rifle Bolt Not Enclosed", thus reducing the temptation to steal the gun.

Some airlines are better than others about guns and not losing or damaging them. Might do a Google search to see if that turns up anything.

FishDFly said:

Buy the best case you can. Take duct tape with you to the airport and duct tape it shut around the locks after the case is inspected. Pack duct tape in your luggage for the flight home.

Back when I was flying with rifles, the case was stenciled with my name, address and phone number. Also the case was labeled "Rifle Bolt Not Enclosed", thus reducing the temptation to steal the gun.

Some airlines are better than others about guns and not losing or damaging them. Might do a Google search to see if that turns up anything.

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Once your case is taken to inspection you typically won't be allowed to touch it until you reach the final destination so duct tape might not be an option.

If the barrel can be removed then you won't need the long case. One option would be to build your own.

If it wasn’t for you wanting a 58” case I would seriously consider a ‘Tufpak’ case. Unfortunately they will only hold a 50” long gun. Tuffpak 1050 Gun Case, Key Lock Version

Magungo1066 said:

I want to fly with my rifle, but I can't find any hardcore that is in stock or available for a 58 inch rifle. Any suggestions? How does everyone fly with theirs?

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The other option is to build a case and ship your rifle in advance, either USPS or FedEx. More folks are going that route now, that ensures your rifle gets there before you do.

FishDFly said:

The other option is to build a case and ship your rifle in advance, either USPS or FedEx. More folks are going that route now, that ensures your rifle gets there before you do.

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I have been told folks were doing this, and even with guns that normally require an FFL to ship (supposedly don’t need the FFL as you are shipping the gun to yourself, but this needs to be confirmed), when traveling within the US, but it’s a whole different game with international travel.

Flying with gun is not too great a problem if you follow the rules:

1) Look up and print out a copy of the TSA rules for checking in a firearm. I know muzzleloaders are not considered firearms in some areas, but for simplicity, just act as if every TSA and airline agent is an ignoramus.

2) Look up and print out the rules or laws for any other country you will be flying to or through.

3) Look up and print out the rules for each of the airline(s) you will be traveling on. The rules can be very different, and you must be able to comply with all of them. For this reason alone, try to do all your flying on the same airline.

Why not take the barrel out of the stock & use a shorter case??? How can you get the BP to where you are flying??? My experience is it's not worth it to "fly" your gun because of all the red tape & risk of damage. Some airline employees will wreck your gun on purpose. If I can't drive there with my gun I just use the outfitters, but that may not be possible if the outfitter isn't a MZ guy. Good luck!

Old Hawkeye said:

Why not take the barrel out of the stock & use a shorter case??? How can you get the BP to where you are flying??? My experience is it's not worth it to "fly" your gun because of all the red tape & risk of damage. Some airline employees will wreck your gun on purpose. If I can't drive there with my gun I just use the outfitters, but that may not be possible if the outfitter isn't a MZ guy. Good luck!

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Most 58” muzzleloaders are full stock guns. How does taking barrel out of that stock help make it shorter?

With the best cases damage to it’s precious cargo is unlikely, but getting lost for a while is always a possibility, so have a backup plan. If traveling with others, have a few bring a second gun, although the outfitter may say no, depending on transportation at your destination. Talk to the local people you will hunting with and listen to what they suggest.

Personally, found the TuffPak I posted a link to a few posts back to be great. Will carry multiple guns and other stuff, but only holds up to 50” gun, so not an option for OP. The one I used survived multiple flights and make it to Namibia and back. What I really like about it, is that it doesn’t scream, ‘hey, I’m carrying a gun inside’.

Sorry Dibbuk, but that's not necessarily so. Knowing the law and/or rules or even having a copy in your possession isn't proof against getting stopped by the TSA. I was traveling to visit family a few years ago and brought a firearm along as I had done often in the past. It was disassembled and packed in an approved case and I had separated a couple of the small parts that were essential to it's operation and packed them separately in my carry-on, to reduce the probability of theft. None of those parts were usable as a firearm by themselves. I declared the weapon, had it inspected by a TSA Agent and told him about the separated parts. He said "Good idea!" and signed off on the inspection. TSA Security picked up the parts in my carry-on when they X-rayed the bag and asked what they were. I told them. They refused to allow me to board the aircraft, even after I showed them the signed-and-approved inspection document. Forty minutes and two levels of TSA supervisors later, I was allowed to board the plane without
the parts, having removed them and locked them in my vehicle in the parking lot. That was not a ML firearm, but the experience is valid information, and the TSA does not treat muzzleloaders any differently. I made the flight -- barely.

Go to the TSA website
Firearm parts, including magazines, clips, bolts and firing pins, are prohibited in carry-on baggage, but may be transported in checked baggage.
Seems pretty clear. Dont bring any parts on board. The TSA website actually spells it out

Dibbuk said:

Flying with gun is not too great a problem if you follow the rules:

1) Look up and print out a copy of the TSA rules for checking in a firearm. I know muzzleloaders are not considered firearms in some areas, but for simplicity, just act as if every TSA and airline agent is an ignoramus.

2) Look up and print out the rules or laws for any other country you will be flying to or through.

3) Look up and print out the rules for each of the airline(s) you will be traveling on. The rules can be very different, and you must be able to comply with all of them. For this reason alone, try to do all your flying on the same airline.

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Printing out a copy of TSA rules is good for ensuring that you are in compliance but no well trained TSA officer should accept your copy as valid. It is simply too easy to fake or alter print out documents for them to be trusted. Be prepared for a perhaps lengthy wait while a supervisor (who is hopefully not busy doing other things) takes the time to check their official copy/site to confirm the validity of anything they are handed.

When I was a very active NRA and CMP Highpower Rifle competitor I would take my gear along on business if there was a weekend match within a hundred miles of my engagement. Some people take their golf clubs and get in a round of golf, I got in a lot more rounds. I found I could get all the essentials, including a Garand or M1A, in a hard sided golf club case. The protective camoflage was enhanced by a bumper sticker reading "I'd Rather Be Driving A Titleist" (a brand of golf balls.)

When checking in I would make arrangements for the case to be held at the special baggage counter, with things like live animals and medical shipments. Some airports take good care of guns, but some do not. Las Vegas was great, as were Anchorage and Oklahoma City. Denver was and is bad, they just come through with all the other stuff, with no security at all.

I recall seeing ads for a ML length hardside case in Muzzle Blasts, the NMLRA magazine.

The New Zeland guys when they fly with their target ML they use homemade cases made from plywood. I they were very nice cases and well thought out. They used screws to keep the lid on, no lock that I could see. I know they have flown to the US with these homemade cases.

Fleener