Have Garand Will Travel

[Garanditis]

Hi all,

I'm travelling from Long Island NY (gun owner's hell) to Colorado in July. My brother is in Colorado, owns several firearms as well, and he and I would like to put some rounds down range while I'm there. He's never fired a Garand - poor soul. I've been looking at the airline(Delta), TSA, and La Guardia websites for travel rules because I've never transported a firearm. My plan is check the rifle in a locked hard case as required and purchase ammo online and just ship it direct to my brothers home in Colorado. The NRA website goes so far as to say that although checking the rifle in a locked hard case follows federal law, that NY/NJ area airports have known to give gun-transporting travelers a hard time (with threat of arrest or arrest). Living in this bastion of liberalism, I'm not surprised. It's an illness and "they" have to feed the beast every once in a while. Anyway, any tips? Does anybody strongly recommend to just ship the firearm separately, for any logistical reason? And if I should choose to purchase the ammo and travel with it, does it fly well (any ill affect with the pressure/temp variance)?

Just tapping into expertise from folks who have traveled with firearms.

Thanks,
Jim

[bruce]

Contact the airline you will use. Find out what hoops you must jump through. Jump. Ammo... have it delivered by UPS/FedEx. Or, have your brother purchase the ammo and have it delivered to his home on your behalf, if it is legal in his state of regulation/residence. Above method has worked with me when traveling with a revolver. Have not yet done so with a rifle. HTH. Sincerely. bruce.

[Garanditis]

Thanks Bruce - In order to keep the agents calm at La Guardia, I figured it would probably be better to make alternate arrangements for the ammo. I found it hard/impossible approaching this topic without making a political statement ... b1

[bruce]

Understand thoroughly and completely. No problems with anything you said. Be extremely careful how you express yourself to anyone connected with the airline, etc. Don't give them a a verbal brick throw. It would be a shame if someone were able to create trouble for you simply by some extreme interpretation of a innocent statement. Sincerely. bruce.

[Garanditis]

The airline and TSA have similar requirements; the airlines basically parrot the TSA regs. In my case, the local jurisdiction NY, specifically the city, are the ball busters. But, in order to flesh out all the rumor mongering, I contacted the policing authority over the airports, which is the Port Authority. Had a nice chat with a sergeant who explained that all the internet "war stories" over travelling thru the NY area airports come down almost exclusively to folks travelling with improperly secured handguns and/or ammo. I intend to travel with unloaded, NY legal rifles in a locking hard case, with no ammo. The sarge said this is perfect, just declare at check in, one of his guys will inspect the action to ensure it's clear, some paperwork is filled out and I'm good to go. Because I am a Long Island resident, I don't have to have a permit for the rifle (unlike NYC which requires permits for rifles and shotguns). Also, the state of NY considers a gun "loaded" if the ammo is accessible and within reach of the firearm. So I wouldn't even bother travelling with ammo thru NYC, even though TSA and the airlines allow it with conditions.

I know, I know, get the heck out of that (g)un-friendly state. When my son reaches college .... t-minus 4yrs