What Type of locks for Gun Case and International Travel?

[Mike B.]

Government employee, I presume. Guess I struck a nerve. Thanks for the chuckle.
Meanwhile, the horse cadaver is still being thrashed. LOL

Far from it but I have to deal with Rural Development, HUD and the IRS daily. I just don’t live in a bubble I guess.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Far from it but I have to deal with Rural Development, HUD and the IRS daily. I just don’t live in a bubble I guess.

Live on the east cost and fly out of those airports. You'll understand how I look at how these goony birds are running the show. Had a TSA guy tell me to get my boarding pass from a kiosk and just throw my gun case on the conveyor. I'm sure that would have worked. It's the same way with locks and the bible, everyone has a different interpretation and theirs is correct and yours isn't. I'll stand by my original post. There is no rule written in granite, only advisories. It's up to the individual reading what someone posted or trusting the web for information. In this case, the left hand doesn't know what the other left hand is doing.
This is from AI if anyone else wants to continue beating this cadaver.

No — for a firearm case, don’t use TSA locks. The federal rule says the case must be locked and “only the passenger retains the key or combination,” which is why a lock that TSA can open is a bad fit for the firearm case itself.

Use a hard-sided case with non-TSA padlocks that only you can open, and make sure the case cannot be pried open enough to access the firearm.

Practical setup​

• Put the unloaded firearm in a hard-sided case.
• Lock every locking point on the case.
• Keep the key or combination with you at all times.
• If TSA needs access, you’re supposed to be present to open it.

Where TSA locks can be useful​

A TSA-recognized lock may be fine on the outer suitcase or luggage, but not on the firearm case itself, as long as the firearm container still stays locked with a lock only you control.

Bottom line​

For the gun case, choose a strong non-TSA lock, not a TSA lock, because the rule is about exclusive access by the passenger.

 

[Mike B.]

Good grief, so don't believe the TSA website that you can use TSA locks, but we should just go and believe whatever AI tool you just used because it knows better than the Transportation Security Administration government website? What question did you ask it? Did you ask, can you use TSA locks on a gun case? Ask ChatGPT if you can use TSA locks on a gun case and see if you can use them. Then ask Grok, then ask that same question to others. You are the definition of stubborn as you are the one beating the wrong dead horse here.

 

[Flipper Dude]

I’m not sure what the rules are, but I know for a fact that you CAN fly with TSA locks on your rifle case. Done it 13 times now. Never a question or an issue. My SKB case had built in TSA locks.

 

[Tbitty]

I’m not sure what the rules are, but I know for a fact that you CAN fly with TSA locks on your rifle case. Done it 13 times now. Never a question or an issue. My SKB case had built in TSA locks.

Flipper Dude proves you can use TSA locks.

I have never used anything except Masterlock keyed-style (non tsa) for my dozens of flights with firearms and never a question or issue. So, I can say equally confidently you can use Non-TSA locks.

This dead horse has been beaten to a pulp so many times over, I don't know why anyone engages in argument one way or the other. The various TSA and Airline company websites all use different language and often have contradictions. If the person at the counter says you need to do X thing, that's probably what you'll end up doing unless someone else gets involved.

Use the locks you want, you will probably be fine from a check-in standpoint. Have a spare set of the other kind if you want to be sure.

There, did I solve this for everyone yet?

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I have the tougher one to get - Global Entry. GE also includes the easier to get TSA Pre-check. I think GE keeps them from being so suspicious and from going through my bags as often as other people. You might look into getting GE. I would bet you can schedule the appointment with CBP at the Sioux Falls airport. It is an in-person short interview after you submit all the paperwork ahead of time.

it is not worth the cost to me as I only fly once a year and that is to Africa, no where else

 

[Hogpatrol]

Flipper Dude proves you can use TSA locks.



Use the locks you want, you will probably be fine from a check-in standpoint. Have a spare set of the other kind if you want to be sure.

There, did I solve this for everyone yet?

Not yet, we need to keep this going until that horse is stinkin' and rotten. Unfortunately the "expert" that started this is the one telling everyone to bring their own guns, then use a TSA lock on their gun case, the ones the baggage gorillas have the keys for in their pockets. Can't make this stuff up.

In the meantime, I think I'll start a thread on why Berger bullets are better for easily killed plains game.

 

[Tbitty]

Not yet, we need to keep this going until that horse is stinkin' and rotten. Unfortunately the "expert" that started this is the one telling everyone to bring their own guns, then use a TSA lock on their gun case, the ones the baggage gorillas have the keys for in their pockets. Can't make this stuff up.

Yeah, it never made sense to me to leave my firearms accessible to anyone with a TSA master key. Thats why I use masterlocks with a key that stays on my person.

I fully understand people can cut/pick locks, but it's at least a step more difficult than using a key you or I could buy off Amazon right now. But many, many people choose to use the TSA locks and I have no issues with them making that decision for themselves.

FWIW - Directly from the TSA website, "any brand or type of lock" is allowed. So everyone here is right that they can use their lock of preference, and wrong to say you can't. But all of that may depend on the person standing in front of you at the check-in counter.

 

[coreydb]

I use keyed Master locks. TSA Security checks the rifles and places an inspection card inside the case right at the counter. The same process upon the return. TSA locks are unecessary.

 

[Flipper Dude]

My last 3 flights out of Houston TSA never looked at my rifle prior to it going into the system. Actually no one looked at them in my presence. I placed the red card inside myself.

 

[Hogpatrol]

My last 3 flights out of Houston TSA never looked at my rifle prior to it going into the system. Actually no one looked at them in my presence. I placed the red card inside myself.

Were they domestic or international flights? I've had the same experience with domestic.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Last trip out of Dulles, I had some sketchy looking items in my checked bag so I asked the Emirates rep to fetch me a TSA guy to inspect that bag and my gun case. Didn't want to get any calls after they left my possession. Eventually one came, checked out everything, put the inspection cards inside and a sticker on each bag.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Were they domestic or international flights? I've had the same experience with domestic.

Africa in fall of 24. Delta I believe. Canada last fall and again last week. United and AirCanada.

 

[Philip Glass]

Have to disagree on the "rules", because there are none, only advisories. If multiple government websites are checked, there are only what some employee on a specific day, at work, decided to enter something on a government website. At best, their postings are ambiguous, contradictory and confusing. An example is "Only the owner has the key and access to the gun case". This totally rules out TSA locks.
We now return you to another clusterfark thread on gun case locks. Resume dead horse beating.

True, most ticket agents have no idea what any of the rules are. I too am tired of beating the dead horse. I’m tired of people who’ve been twice (or in the case of one guy- never) telling me I’m wrong. I’ve given up with some people but they the hill I’ll die on is key locks. To each his own.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

Here in So Dakota things are pretty simple, you check in your rifle case and sign the card then the agent puts the card in the case. You put the locks on, then you take the case to a TSA agent 50 feet away who will have you unlock the case open it and check everything and do an explosives swab test. Simple unless he has not warmed up the machine that checks for explosives and you have to wait at 3:00 AM for your 5:25 AM flight.