Airline travel with PCP's & pellets

[TCups]

Can anyone with direct knowledge about airline travel with PCP's fill me in on the "Do's and Don'ts" of traveling with a PCP air rifle.  Specifically, can the reservoir remain charged or partially charged with the unloaded air rifle in a gun case?  What is the minimum pressure below which recharging might be difficult for an AA 410?  Finally, are one or more tin's of pellets a "no, NO!" for security in a carry on bag?

Thanks.

[imadogman]

Here is some info:
http://www.pilkguns.com/airtravelwithairguns.shtml

[imadogman]

Tommy,  As an employee at an airport, I get to watch TSA daily.  I suggest that you find another way to send your pellets.  Taking them through screening might cause you a lot of trouble.  As educated shooters, we see pellets as being no more harmful than a pocketful of pea gravel....they probably just see them as "bullets".  I know that you must send firearm ammunition in a separate locked container (checked bag), and I am guessing that it makes no difference to them that pellets are not cartridges.  The best way, would be to ask them first, and get written permission if it is any different than a firearm, and even then, you might meet up with someone who sees it differently.
Could you mail your pellets to your destination?

[Gene_SC]

Does this mean you can carry pellets in your gun case that is checked in and not a carry on? Can you put a lock on your gun case and if so will they break it tp open the case for inspection before gun case is loaded on plane?

[TCups]

Thanks much Dave.  Excellent advice.

[tyrrund]

Are you flying in for the texas shoot? That the reason for air travel? If so dont worry about your air tank Im going to have 2 Nitrogen tanks for use.  Ken

[imadogman]

Gene, Assuming that airguns follow firearms regulations, you can't pack ammunition inside the case with the gun. You must have it in a separate locked case from the gun. I doubt that they would differentiate pellets from real ammunition, but I could be wrong. If they don't consider them to be ammo, then you could put them in your checked luggage with your clothing (although I think that they would see them on a CTX (x-ray) machine and inspect it by hand.

By todays airline standards, that means paying for an additional checked bag.

Also, in the past, you could lock your case and they were okay with it as long as you declared it to be an Unloaded Weapon. You could put the tag INSIDE of the locked case and send it through.

Now, (at least at my airport), they will look through the gun case while you are standing there at the CTX. They hand search it and re-lock it. Not sure if you have to use locks that TSA can open or not. In the past, you could use your own lock, and they would ask for the key if they wanted to look inside again.

It is just not real convenient.

Dave

[Gene_SC]

Dave, I sincerely appreciate your info on the subject.

Thank you very much.

Gene

[daved]

I had ZERO hassles when I flew in for the last shoot from Seattle.  I bought an SKB 2 gun case specifically because it's TSA approved, they asked for my key in Seattle and DFW, checked it out and relocked it.  Total added time, maybe 5 minutes.  I had a bunch of pellets in my other checked bag, along with my Chrony and even my belt knife, which happens to be a switch blade :-).  Never got any questions on any of it.  Pellets ARE NOT cartridges, and aren't treated as such.  You could probably take them in carry on, but you can certainly put them in your gun case.  

In the case of PCP's or CO2, no filled pressure vessels are allowed.  Shooting my guns empty was the biggest hassle, especially since I'm pretty sure they never bothered to check, even though both rifles had gauges on them.  BTW, rifles for that trip were my Cyclone and my S400.  This trip, I'm probably taking 3, the Cyclone, my S200, and my Diana P5 Magnum.  Those and my pellets will all go in the same case I used last time.

No trouble refilling your 410 from empty, Tommy, just be sure you cock it first.  With no pressure in the tank, the hammer spring will hold the valve open unless it's cocked.  Later.

Dave

[imadogman]

Dave, Thanks for your input. Good real life information. As an airport employee, I can't discuss security matters, or I would tell a few stories of what I have encountered on the job. Nothing serious, just silly stuff that you would shake your head at.

I have only travelled with my shotguns, and I usually already had ammo at my destination (Usually from a previous trip by personal vehicle), so I never shipped any.

I think that you should also consider this when traveling by air. The Airlines all have a lost/damaged luggage liability limit. It used to be about $1200, but I just checked Southwest Airlines, and they are showing a $3300 limit now. You can buy additional insurance, but it is very expensive. I have friends who travel with shotguns that are worth $10,000 or more, and they just take the chance. (Of course, they must have a fair amount of pocket money in order to buy those guns, so maybe it isn't such a concern for them.)

When the limit was $1200, it wasn't too hard for me to exceed that amount, if I shipped two guns in one case. $3300 is more reasonable.

The airlines all have baggage information on their websites. Some of it may be useful for travelers.

Have fun,

Dave

PS Use a STRONG guncase. I have seen how the Ramp Rats throw the bags around. Our office is underneath a bag make-up area, and they drop a lot of stuff on the concrete floor above us.

[kcurrie]

I flew American from Austin to RTP, NC with a 2240, red dot sight and plenty of pellets in my luggage. When I arrived in RTP I had a TSA paper in my luggage so they obviously checked it. No issues.

I believe it is airline specific on how they want them treated when flying-- assuming you get past the TSA.  I wouldn't attempt carry on under any circumstances.

[kiwi]

make shaw the gun is near empty of air becuse if its in a unpressurerised
cargo hold things could get very interesting

[DanoInTx]

If the cabin is pressurized the cargo pits are pressurized, I think the reasoning behind not allowing compressed gasses is the "potential" explosive hazard related to high pressure gasses in the event of sudden cabin depressurization or fires, etc.  So as long as you aren't wearing a oxygen mask the guns should be fine, but I sure wouldn't want to be sitting on top of one if a cargo door blew off!!!  Then again if some catastrphic failure happened while in flight I think you'd have some serious other issues besides airguns to worry about.  I remember flying not too long after 9/11 when they would take away cigarette lighters, but didn't care if you had a pocket full of matches.  I guess nothing has to make any sense, but we still have to follow the law and of course avoid any difficulties catching our flights.  I think I'll just drive to the April Shootout of the NTAGM instead of flying, besides I'd have to take off and land at the same airport, and the airport is in the opposite direction of our shootin' spot:)  Can't wait to see you all there!!!

[DanoInTx]

tyrrund - 3/12/2009  6:11 AM

Are you flying in for the texas shoot? That the reason for air travel? If so dont worry about your air tank Im going to have 2 Nitrogen tanks for use.  Ken

Yuppems, I do believe that they are coming to see us Ken.  Should be a real nice shootout day!

[daved]

So does that mean I'm going to have to take a cab from the airport?  Since you're going to be picking me up anyway, you might as well fly in too, at least your car will already be there :-).  

Actually, it's getting harder and harder to transport any kind of pressurized container, I know the Post Office doesn't allow it, I'm pretty sure FedEx doesn't either.  I THINK UPS still allows them, but ground only, and they ship as Haz Mat.  It's getting to the point where it's easier to ship a firearm than a PCP.  Later.

Dave