L. Weapon Transportation

How do I transport my firearms on a commercial airliner? It is very simple. Bring firearms to the airline ticket counter unloaded with actions open INSIDE your locked luggage.

The luggage must be a hard case with a lock on it. Or if it's a soft case, the firearm must be in a locked container inside the luggage. Rifles are transported in a hard rifle case with lock. Samsonite makes inexpensive but effective hard case luggage with a combination latch in varying sizes that are perfect for packing your clothes and handguns.

Rifles and shotguns require a long gun case. Pelican makes an excellent product that allows a standard padlock to be applied.

When you arrive at the ticket counter, tell the agent you want to declare an unloaded firearm. Most agents will ask you to open the case and show them that the weapon is unloaded. They will then place a copy of the declaration in your case with the firearm and staple another copy to your ticket jacket. All airlines are a bit different in the form they have you fill out, but NO TAG IS PLACED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE LUGGAGE. The agent will then leave your weapon case UNLOCKED and will have your bag screened through the X-ray machine. Ask the agent to please lock your weapon case following the screening procedure. You are entitled to actually watch the agent lock the case so you are confident it was properly locked before being placed back inside your luggage (in the case of a handgun).

When you arrive at your destination, proceed to the Baggage Claim area. Your luggage will arrive with all other passenger luggage on the luggage carousel. If you are transporting a rifle or shotgun in a long gun case, the case may be hand carried, due to size or shape, to your airline's Baggage Claim Office located in the Baggage Claim area.

What about transporting ammunition? Transportation of ammunition is allowed by the airlines. However, they have weight and quantity limitations. Each airline seems to be different. Contact your airline to confirm any limitations. We suggest you contact them at least twice to confirm the same information. As with any data, it is only as good as the person giving it to you. A seasoned ticket agent knows much more about airline policies and is more likely to give you the correct information than a newly hired agent or agent in training. When transporting a handgun and ammunition, consider the following: Placing the ammunition in the individual boxes of 50 across the bottom of your case, then placing your clothes on top and then your handgun on top of the clothes, visibly and physically separates the ammunition from the handgun. When transporting a long gun, the long gun ammunition can be placed in the same fashion in your luggage case and the long gun transported in a separate long gun case.

A better choice is to simply purchase ammunition from Front Sight's Pro Shop at normal retail prices. Any savings you may find elsewhere will be eaten up in shipping costs or hassle of transportation.

Please Note: Due to problems with unreliable shippers in the past, Front Sight is only able to accept shipments of ammunition from purchases through our Pro Shop (702.897.9107). Therefore, Front Sight cannot accept delivery of your ammunition from any other source than Front Sight's eProShop. Front Sight is not able to store your unused ammunition, so please make appropriate travel and storage arrangements.

You can call our Pro Shop at 702.897.9107 to order ammunition.

Again, we recommend you purchase your ammunition and equipment needed for the courses at our Pro Shop. You are less likely to have any problems and your experience will be much more enjoyable. Call the Pro shop at 702.897.9107 for more information and prices.

Where do I store my firearms? Front Sight recommends that you keep your firearms in your possession at all times. When transporting in your vehicle, keep firearms unloaded in an inconspicuous case, and locked in your trunk. Keep firearms unloaded and in an inconspicuous case when transporting from your vehicle to your room. DO NOT DISPLAY YOUR FIREARMS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. DO NOT CARRY FIREARMS THROUGH CASINOS. USE PROPER DISCRETION AND COMMON SENSE AT ALL TIMES WHEN TRANSPORTING FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION. DO NOT LEAVE FIREARMS IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM UNATTENDED.