Traveling on airlines with airguns
I have a chance to go to MN this summer, to visit my girlfriends family, her sisters husband is a avid hunter. He’s a PB but I got him really interested in airguns, but he can’t quite afford a decent one right now. It would be great to bring my AA and AF rifles up with me to shoot/hunt with him on acres of beautiful land.
But is it a major hassle to get AG’s on planes these days? Is it better just to FED X everything before hand? Also wondering about scuba tanks, and was wondering if he could just just rent a couple tanks from his area while I’m out there, make it alot easier. Anyway wondering if anyone has any experience in traveling with their AG’s via the airlines, I’ve never attempted it
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I also read a story that airgun reviewer/writer Jim Chapman wrote when he flew to TX to help freinds rid some big property of critters. He said when he flys with his AAerb extra, he just tells them it’s a firearm. Seems the grief and confusion starts if he calls it a airgun, and the hassles begin, again with the whole deal with anything pressurized. Maybe it’s also the luck of the draw to as who you have to deal with, but as I said, I’ve never done it before.
It’s not just the pressurized issue that may come up. Even if it’s got no air in it, they want to be able to look inside the air reservoir to make sure you don’t have it packed full of contraband. So just in case, be ready to tear it down for them.
Of course, it does depend on who your dealing with at the airport. Different airlines have different regs. I watched the guy I was flying with check in his two Rapid’s lickety-split, with no issues whatsoever. They thought they were firearms.
I can’t remember whether or not he had sent the bottles ahead in the mail or not. I want to say he did, but I’m not totally sure about that.
BUTCHER45.. You know I read that same story somewhere about the guy with the AF rifle at the airport. I do remember he couldn’t take his bottle, and had to work something out real quick, gave the bottle to his wife or something who FED xed it to where he was going, forgot the details. But yeah they don’t like pressurized anything on planes.
I also read a story that airgun reviewer/writer Jim Chapman wrote when he flew to TX to help freinds rid some big property of critters. He said when he flys with his AAerb extra, he just tells them it’s a firearm. Seems the grief and confusion starts if he calls it a airgun, and the hassles begin, again with the whole deal with anything pressurized. Maybe it’s also the luck of the draw to as who you have to deal with, but as I said, I’ve never done it before.
Revwarnut… Hey thx for that link for the airgun shop in Twin Cites, it worked fine when I clicked on it. I’ll definitly forward that to my buddy.
Seems you’re not that far from my girls family, they live in town called Buffalo, just N/W of the Twin Cities in Wright Co. Not a big town, but maybe you been thru there? I’m out in So Cal. Maybe I’ll have my buddy call the airgun shop to see about tank rentals. We won’t be out there till beginning of July, but I’ll keep you posted, who knows maybe we can all hook up, I’m up for anything, (but ya gotta bring your guns) 😛
And you’re talking to a real brew hound, although I’m not sure I’ll make it to the brewery…
There was a guy that did a write-up about having a bad experience trying to get his AirForce bottle on the plane. They wanted to inspect the INSIDE of the air reservoir (for contraband, no doubt) and we all know how fun it is to get those suckers apart on a moments notice. I don’t think they allowed it on the plane.
I suggest you send your air reservoir ahead of you via UPS, and take the rest of the rifle on the plane if you want. I use a UPS store owned by a knowledgeable lady, and brought her business card with me to Oklahoma just in case the Oklahoma UPS I dealt with to send it back gave me grief (which they did).
B&B Supply is the only dedicated airgun(and archery) shop I know of in the Twin Cities area. It is very, very small in size, but he carrys a lot of good new and used airguns and does work on them too.
The website seems to be down, perhaps it is no longer used.
B&B Supply
4501 Minnehaha Avenue South
(Walk in)(Online)
Minneapolis, MN 55406
1-612-724-5230
http://www.b-bsupplyco.com
There are plenty of paintball shops and dive shops for tank filling though.
Straightshooters is an online store, but based in St. Cloud, MN.
http://www.straightshooters.com/
They have a blog, so maybe you could ask about tanks there.
Welcome to MN!
What part of MN are you visiting?
I doubt we will have a chance to meet, but glad to have you here anyhow.
I live in the southern limit of the Twin Cities area south of St. Paul in Hastings, MN area.
Anyhow, toss down some of the local brews like, Summit, Schells, etc.
http://www.schellsbrewery.com/home.php tour the Schells brewery if you are near New Ulm, MN. (free samples at end of tour…)
http://www.summitbrewing.com/home.php
I prefer the Schells beers myself, less “hoppy”, so less bitter.
Can’t beat the weather here in MN in the spring through summer.
Lots of squirrels and good sized (except the puny little red ones..)
Fishing is pretty good too!
Great info, appreciate the comprehensive reply! Yeah I’m thinkin if my buddy in MN can’t find scuba tanks to rent, I’ll prpbably ditch the idea, to much stuff to send otherwise. But damn, I’ve been out there before, it’s airgun heaven! Hopefully things work out…
I used Fedex, not cheap but aways was there on time and they did insurance !!
Not sure what the rules are now.
Any tanks need to be empty.
Call around the area scuba shops. Most do rentals but some are scared to do non-certified non-scuba air.
MN is great. I grew up there !!!
After 911 I shipped mine ahead.
This is what NW air says;
Northwest accepts handguns, BB guns, rifles, and shotguns as checked baggage, with certain limitations and requirements.
Northwest accepts one of the following in lieu of one piece of baggage included in the baggage allowance:
One (1) rifle case containing no more than four (4) rifles/shotguns, one (1) shooting mat, one (1) noise suppressor and tools.
In addition to one (1) of the above items, Northwest accepts small arms ammunition up to a maximum of 11 pounds (5 kg). Guns and ammunition may be in the same piece of baggage. However, ammunition must be within its own packaging.
All firearms must be locked in a suitable crush-proof / hard-sided container manufactured specifically for firearms or hard-sided suitcase.
Ammunition must be in the manufacturer’s original packaging or a container specifically designed for ammunition. Ammunition with explosive or incendiary projectiles will not be accepted.
Due to TSA regulations, gun cases must be properly locked. Often gun cases require further TSA inspection.
To avoid the breaking of passenger’s gun case locks, NWA recommends the use of TSA approved locks. TSA approved locks (Searchalert) come with a tool that enables TSA screeners to open the lock without damaging it.
Northwest does not accept liability for loss, damage, or delay of firearms, handguns, and ammunition. Excess valuation insurance may not be purchased for transport of firearms, handguns, and ammunition.
Just try to tell TSA that my Talon is not a firearm !!!!!
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BUTCHER Quote: “So just in case, be ready to tear it down for them.”
Well, tearing down my AF rifle is one thing, but I’m not gonna be ‘tearing down’ my AAs410 anytime soon for anybody lol, I’m just learning this thing.