Going to spend a week over the Holiday's with my bro in SC. Apparently they have a whitetail problem and a neighbor with a lot of property wants my help in culling a few.

I'll be flying Alaska Air.

Should I UPS my rifle now or take it with me on the flight?

and

Regardless I need to buy a new gun case that's burly enough for travel and meets either UPS or AK specs. Any idea's on brand and where I should pick it up at?

Thanks!

You need someone with a Federal Firearms Licence on both ends to ship it.

Traveling with the rifle is no problem. Read the regulations for the airline you are flying and the TSA website. Process is pretty simple the security folks take a peek in your presence to make sure its not loaded, no ammo, and the case is locked where nobody but you can get in. I traveled with a handgun this summer not really a problem. Then it just rides in the bottom of the plane.

Check the South Carolina laws for weapons transport because some states require the firearm be in a case while in transport. Michigan is like that where it has to be in a closed soft or hardcase while in transport in a motor vehicle.

Brood. I've got a bomb proof 2 rifle (or rifle and shotgun...) case you can borrow if you don't feel like buying one right now. It's even pressurized so your scope doesn't get messed up.

Private individuals can ship long guns without the use an FFL. SKB makes great cases and travelling with a firearm isn't too tough.

BTW---Alaska Air is pretty used to folks checking in firearms.

good luck!

Make sure that the case locks on both ends, not just the front. I ran into a real SOB TSA a-hole in El Paso a couple of years back. Ended up taking a wild cab ride in search of a gun store with a case. Damn near missed my flight home. The El Paso TSA jerk didn't care that I had flown out of PDX with the same set up just a week before.

I won't fly with a rifle case that doesn't have 4 locks on it. 2 on the front and 1 on each end.

Brood----Seastrike is kind enough to offer use of his and I have a double aluminum (both back and front open so it's not double wide) with wheels and locks that you are welcome to borrow. Cabelas also has a good selection but if you want something different let me know I could help order one for you.

+1

FFL's are NOT required for people to send firearms to private parties or themselves.

Greg,

One thing we learned from taking handguns to AK is that you CAN place the gun case within another bag AFTER it is checked by TSA. Because of the size, this probably won't help you with a rifle but for handguns it will save you the "additional baggage" charge.

-AP

Absolutley, thats what I did this summer, just put that locked pistol case right in there with my clothes then I zipp tied the bag handles shut.

RvW, are you sure about not having to have a FFL. I'm not sure about shipping companies like UPS or FedEx but I know the mail wont let you ship any gun parts. I tried to mail a reciever to the manufacturer to get some barrels fitted and the people at the post office refused to send just the reciever. I had to pay a gun shop to ship it to the manufacturer.

Cool-Sounds like the underbelly of the plane is the way to go.

SS and RvW-I may just take you up on the offer if'n I don't get my own.

Thanks again all!

I have flown back to WI a few times and it hasn't been an issue, just follow their directions and expect to wait in line a little longer(unless they changed their procedure in the last 4 years).

Have fun shooting the SC rats. . . I hear there are lots of them. ...

As long as they dont transfer luggage between flights, or you dont get held up somewhere picking up the baggage, or do you have to sign for a firearm?