Where did you get your air travel lock box?

[atxgun]

I'm obviously in Austin but would be willing to travel as far south as Cabela's if need be.

Are there any shops around town I should check out?

[Cosmo 9]

Go to Cabelas web sight and check out their "Secure it handgun safe". It looks just like the Center-of-mass lock boxes.

Call to make sure they have it in stock before you drive down. If you have to order it I suggest that you go to Center-of- mass
that way if you ever need another box you can have it keyed to use the same key!

[Rex B]

Plastic box works fine.
Mine came from Academy, $2.99

[DMG]

I travel with the same plastic case that the gun came in. I should have a small hole in which to fit a small travel combination lock, or some other way to secure it. David G.

[ELB]

I also usually use a plastic gun box with foam padding. It doens't have a hole, but the carry handle is "split", so when the box is closed, it forms a complete handle. I just put a regular padlock around the two halves of the now complete handle, and it is locked.

[AggieC05]

I had the center of mass medium case and it was great, that was until I left it underneath the seat of my wrangler in kauai.....

[atxgun]

Perhaps I was misinformed or things have changed? I was under the impression you had to have a metal box with a lock only you had the key to. Comments on this? Links to regulations?

[jdrudd]

I also use a cheap padded plastic box from Academy, less than $5. I've flown with a handgun 5-6 times the last 6 months. Mostly Southwest. Never had any problems. there is a card you fill out, declaring you have a firearm. Open suitcase, tape card to plastic case. That's it. Once I was asked to open the case, I guess they wanted to make sure it really had a gun in it. It just has to be a hard, locked case. Ammo can be in same suitcase, but not in locked case. No more than 11 pounds of ammo.

[ELB]

Perhaps I was misinformed or things have changed? I was under the impression you had to have a metal box with a lock only you had the key to. Comments on this? Links to regulations?

"Hard-sided case," plastic or metal, and only you can have the key. If TSA needs to open it, they have to have you come to them to give them the key or combo. I always wait until my bag has been screened before going to the gate. Also, one of the forum members here was a TSA screener -- he notes that TSA screeners are NOT supposed to handle the firearm. They are only supposed to be looking for other things that look funny on the Xray. This has been my experience --when they have wanted to look in the gun case, they ignored the pistol and looked at a little bag I had in there with my spare Surefire batteries, pepperspray, etc.

Here's the TSA link:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here's the verbiage, with some emphasis and comments by me:

Traveling with Special Items

Firearms & Ammunition
Photo of a firearm improperly packaged 9go to link to see this)
Photo of a firearm improperly packaged.

You may only transport firearms, ammunition and firearm parts in your checked baggage. Firearms, ammunition and firearm parts are prohibited from carry-on baggage.

There are certain limited exceptions for law enforcement officers who may fly armed by meeting the requirements of Title 49 CFR § 1544.219. Law enforcement officers should read our policies on traveling with guns.

The key regulatory requirements to transporting firearms, firearm parts or ammunition in checked baggage are:

* You must declare all firearms to the airline during the ticket counter check-in process.
* The firearm must be unloaded.
* The firearm must be in a hard-sided container.
* The container must be locked. A locked container is defined as one that completely secures the firearm from access by anyone other than you. Cases that can be pulled open with little effort do not meet this criterion. The pictures provided here illustrate the difference between a properly packaged and an improperly packaged firearm.
* We recommend that you provide the key or combination to the security officer if he or she needs to open the container. You should remain present during screening to take the key back after the container is cleared. If you are not present and the security officer must open the container, we or the airline will make a reasonable attempt to contact you. If we can't contact you, the container will not be placed on the plane. Federal regulations prohibit unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft. TSA locks are not approved for securing firearms.
* You must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
* You can't use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard). (Some airlines are fussy about this -- I put my loaded magazines inside a regular cardboard ammo box, with some padding. Works just fine).
* You may carry the ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as you pack it as described above. (Some airlines have regulations against having ammo in the same case. You have to read each airlines' rules to find out. Southwest is one of the least onerous.)
* You can't bring black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms in either your carry-on or checked baggage.

We and other authorities strictly enforce these regulations. Violations can result in criminal prosecution and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation.

Airlines may have their own additional requirements on the carriage of firearms and the amount of ammunition that you may have in your checked baggage. Therefore, travelers should also contact the airline regarding its firearm and ammunition carriage policies.

Also, please note that many other countries have different laws that address transportation and possession of firearms. If you are traveling internationally, please check with the authorities at your destination about their requirements.

[Cosmo 9]

I'm not trying to knock the guys that use the plastic cases but I've seen the videos of the ramp rats going through the luggage as they are loading and unloading the plane. I put the cable of the C-O-M case around my slightly reinforced pull out handle of my rolling suit case. They would have to work pretty hard to get if off.

$35.00 to protect a $700.00 investment seems like money well spent to me.