Flying with multiple, valuable handguns?

After the last time I flew and the incident I had with TSA slicing open an unlocked suitcase, breaking a souveniour from the Vatican and taking a bottle of pain pills from a checked bag... it will be a cold day before I ever fly with anything of value or even fly unless it's more than an full day's drive.

I think if they feel the need to search your checked bags then they should be required to track you down and offer you the right to be present when they search it. While I cannot take credit for it, I am always amused when I hear TSA referred to as Totally Stupid.
Lastly, even if my experiences with TSA had not been so bad I would still have little desire to fly anywhere. The entire quality of service in the airline industry has (pardon the pun) taken a nose dive. It is not too much of a stretch to liken the current flight experience to travelling on a Greyhound bus with wings.

My suggestion to the OP is to send them ahead to your destination.

Greyhound bus with wings
Thats so true

they used to say that about SouthWest, but sadly they are one of the last airlines with any service and pride left. I have known people to Demil their guns, some even going so far as to make the guns unsafe to fire unless certain parts are put back in (who is going to sue you if the slide of your stolen firearm embeds itself in their cheek.

What about carrying the heavier guns with you and shipping the lighter ones via UPS. That's what I'd do. I'd probably ship at least one long gun via UPS too. Just to be sure I arrived destination with at least one of each type weapon.

Would love a web site for those GPS dots. A great idea.

You cannot ship a firearm from a UPS store. You CAN ship it from a depot however. Federal law requires you to declare it to the carrier.

Some airlines have a maximum per case limit on firearms check with your carrier before flying.

You can get a gun floater policy from Sportsmans Insurance Agency. They provide worldwide, all risk coverage. You have to join one of their affiliated organizations to qualify but that's easy to do. I belong to the ATA. You have to provide them a list of guns and accessories ahead of time and they set the rate based on replacement value. They will insure all your guns, not just trap or skeet shotguns, accessories, gun cases, etc. You just have to itemize everything ahead of time.

If I was going to ship a large quantity of handguns, I'd try to find a local and remote FFL who would do it and put everything into a large Pelican case for them. They can ship handguns via USPS. If I ship a handgun, it costs me $75 for Fedex overnight. An FFL can do it for about $10.

Google "flying with guns" or "flying with handguns" and read all the stories. What Alex45acp says about locking your guns inside a suitcase and cabling it to the main suitcase is a very good idea. I've read about that on other forums.

Here's a good story to start with - US airline 'loses Netanyahu bodyguard guns'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10536793

I recently flew with 5 handguns, a rifle, and a shotgun. The process leaves much to be desired. In retrospect, the biggest recommendation I can give is to invest in a quality transport case. I used Plano cases and one came out broken to the point that anyone could have pried it open and taken a gun out. Never again. Pelican is high on my list. I have also been considering an SKB since the company itself will insure contents for $1500.

Make sure the case is something large enough that a sticky fingered employee can't easily conceal. The pistol case I used was bordering on too small in that respect and that made me a bit uncomfortable when I turned it over.

People often say that you will be able to be right there as TSA inspects your weapons. This is definitely NOT TRUE at all airports. After I declared my firearms and relocked my cases I was chased down for the keys when TSA wanted to open the cases and check for explosives residue. When I requested to accompany the agent I was told that only airport personnel were allowed back in that area. This was flying out of SJC for what it is worth.

I think there is a miss-information here... I keep hearing about the 'evil' TSA personnel 'acquiring' the items in your check luggage... I suspect who you really have to worry about is those baggage handlers and other mystery folks once the check bag goes past the TSA.....

as for all those non airline locks that go on the declared firearm checked bag... don't be fooled, the TSA and probably some other folks 'down below and along the line' can open anything and most of the time with out doing damage. The first time I flew with a pistol the TSA check in guy put the declaration tag on the outside of the locked box which went in my luggage when I got to my destination the tag was inside the box and there was a note in my luggage saying someone had 'inspected it for my protection'... Somebody down the line decided they wanted to look at my Walther PPK I guess.

Another point... there are no secrets when flying... anybody working for the airlines with access to one of those computers they are always looking at knows you have a gun in your checked baggage.

DSB1829
Sorry buddy but you allowed a federal violation to occur
see it's illegal for ANYBODY not specifically authorized to have a 'weapon' in a weapon free zone, that in includes the TSA flunky, they have to have YOU open the case so they can inspect it and maintain the keys , and no, you can go back there, with an escort...

sorry buddy you got smoke blown....

Shadow,
I was thinking the same thing, but I had my TSA rules there with me and read them while I sat there wondering about some goof backstage playing with my guns. I was unable to find anything that specifically states that you have the right to be present at the inspection. Of course it plainly states that TSA may not keep your keys.

I'm posting from my phone, so I can't post the citation, but the law concerning access to the guns is that they are REQUIRED to be locked in a hard sided case and ONLY the owner is to have custody of the keys/combination. Relinquishing the keys or combination to the locks to anyone, including TSA agents is against the regulation.