Flying With a Handgun

Flying with a handgun sounds intimidating the first time you do it, like the moment you say “I need to declare a firearm,” someone is going to SWAT-roll out from behind the Delta kiosk and dive-tackle you. In reality, once you understand the rules and walk in with confidence, it becomes one of those oddly normal travel routines, right up there with taking your shoes off at TSA. I’ve flown with my handgun for countless matches, including big trips like prepping for World Shoot, and the process is smoother than most people think… as long as you follow the steps.

Firearm Travel Laws You Must Know Before Flying

Before I even pack, I always refresh myself on the three worlds of firearm travel: TSA (federal), airline-specific policies, and state reciprocity laws. It takes a few minutes, and the USCCA reciprocity map makes checking state laws almost too easy.

Before any major match (especially if it involves crossing multiple states), I pull up the map to confirm where my permit is valid, what the transport rules look like, and whether the destination has any quirks that could get me in trouble (like magazine capacity limits). Meanwhile, TSA’s firearm guidelines and my airline’s firearm travel page help me avoid surprises like ammo weight limits or carrier-specific rules.

How to Pack a Handgun for Air Travel

Packing is where things start feeling “official.”

Choosing a TSA-Compliant Hard-Sided Gun Case

My handgun always goes into a hard-sided case, something like a Pelican or anything equally indestructible, with solid, non-TSA locks. The key detail that surprises new travelers is that the locks must be ones only I can open; TSA should never be able to pop into your gun case on their own.

Why You Must Use Non-TSA Locks on Firearm Cases

I unload the gun completely, lock the slide back, sometimes drop in a chamber flag just to be extra friendly, and place the empty mags alongside it in the foam (and I usually tuck an AirTag in the case as well, so I can track it at all times on my phone).

Packing Your Gun Case Inside Checked Luggage

Then, instead of checking the hard case by itself, I tuck it inside my normal zippered suitcase. This keeps everything discreet and gives the handgun case a ride that’s cushioned by my clothes, match belt, holster setup, and whatever random tools I inevitably throw in. I then lock the zippered suitcase with a TSA-compliant lock.

Flying With Ammunition vs Shipping Ammo Ahead

Ammo is its own adventure, and depending on the match, I either fly with it or ship it.

TSA and Airline Rules for Flying With Ammunition

Flying with ammo is allowed as long as it’s packed in proper boxes, typically plastic containers designed for cartridges, but make sure it is never loose. Airlines usually cap you at around 11 pounds, though it varies, so I check the limit before packing.

When Shipping Ammo Is the Better Option

For bigger matches, especially where I’ll be burning through serious rounds, shipping to my destination is much easier. Sometimes I’ll mail ammo ahead to the hotel or match director, and other times I’ll use a service like AmmoSquared, where my ammo balance can be shipped to wherever I need it without dragging a small brick of 9mm through the airport.

How to Declare a Firearm at the Airport

Once I’m all packed, I head to the airport and walk up to the ticket counter like a normal human who just happens to have a locked firearm in her suitcase. I smile, stay calm, and say, “I need to declare an unloaded firearm in my checked bag.” There’s no whispering the word “firearm,” and there’s no need to make it dramatic.

Firearm Declaration Cards and TSA Inspection Process

The agent hands me a white, bright orange, or red declaration card, asks me to sign that the firearm is unloaded, and then usually asks me to open the suitcase and the gun case for a quick visual inspection. I simply open the case, show that it’s unloaded, and let them look without ever touching anything myself. The declaration card you just signed will typically be laid by you into the lockable hard case where your handgun is. Once they’re satisfied, I lock everything back up, zip it closed, and hand the bag off.

Depending on the airport, they may send me to a TSA screening area or just ask me to wait nearby for a few minutes in case TSA wants to inspect the bag. If TSA does need to check the case, they’ll call me over so I can unlock it. They shouldn’t cut locks when you’re standing right there, so staying within earshot is part of the routine.

Picking Up Checked Firearms at Your Destination Airport

When I arrive at my destination, whether it’s a local match, a major championship, or an international event, my suitcase usually does not come rumbling out on the regular baggage carousel.

Where Firearm Luggage Is Returned

Instead, I walk over to oversize luggage or the special baggage office (or the occasional instance airport police will bring it over to you. They typically check my ID before releasing the suitcase, which I appreciate because it ensures only the rightful handgun-toting competitor walks off with the bag. I resist the urge to unzip anything until I’m well away from the airport because nothing says “free unwanted attention” like fiddling with a gun case near baggage claim.

Carry Laws After Landing: What to Know Before You Load or Carry

Once I’m at the rental car or hotel, that’s when the reciprocity rules matter most. Before I load the handgun or move it from the suitcase to a holster, I make absolutely sure my carry permit is valid in that state and that I understand their rules on transporting, carrying in vehicles, informing law enforcement, and even things like magazine restrictions. Some states are simple and shooter-friendly; others… well, let’s just say you don’t want to assume anything. In less friendly jurisdictions, the smartest move is keeping everything unloaded, locked, and separated until you’re legally at a place where possession is clearly allowed.

Tips for a Smooth, Stress-Free Firearm Travel Experience

After flying with my handgun countless times, I’ve learned that the trick is always the same: stay organized, stay calm, and treat the process like part of your competition routine. There’s no reason to panic, whisper, or project “suspicious energy.” If anything, the more confident and prepared you look, the smoother everything goes. Using solid locks, labeling your suitcase discreetly, staying near TSA during inspection, and double-checking your maps and rules keeps you out of trouble. And if a ticket agent or TSA officer seems unfamiliar with the process, patience goes further than frustration. Sometimes you’re not just checking a bag, you’re gently educating someone at 6 a.m. before your first coffee.

Flying With a Handgun Gets Easier With Experience

Flying with a handgun truly becomes second nature with practice. Once you’ve done it a few times, the mystique fades, and it becomes as routine as packing your belt or zeroing before a match. Whether I’m traveling for a weekend USPSA event or prepping for something legendary like the World Shoot, the system stays the same: lock it, declare it, check your laws, and move with confidence. Everything else is just part of the journey.

Until next time… “Make ready and sling some lead on the range!”