How to Traveling with an Airgun

I checked out some earlier threads. I think the advice to treat airguns like traditional firearms and to declare them as such is sound. However, if an agent identifies the rifles as ariguns, how do you establish the tanks are empty? I know with a CF tank you just empty it and take off the regulator. But how do you empty a fixed tank on non-bottle guns? I suppose you could dry fire it until no air comes out, but TSA still would not be able to look and see if it is empty like a CF tank with no regulator. Also, how do you demonstrate that bottles for airguns are empty?

I know folks fly with airguns and my search skills no doubt are deficient. Thanks for any tips.

Mike

Mod edit: moved to Knowledge Center forum

John, thanks. Will do. I travel with shotguns regularly [no ammo], but not yet with airguns so this is new.



Mike

Put your pellets in a separate checked bag if possible. Also never refer to it as ammunition. TSA doesn't care about lead rounds, but if cased with an explosive charge behind it that round turns into ammunition. So you don't have any. Also it's a no no to bring it cary on. Most of all don't offer ANY information not asked for. It will only lead to confusion and added time to your check in.

Thanks for the travel tips...

Do you have any tips for domestic travel? I'm heading to EBR in a few weeks.... still deciding whether to ship my rifle to AoA or take it with me. I'll be traveling from Portland, OR on SouthWest Airlines.

Thanks!

Carl

I’ve flown with air rifles before and was never hassled. Some tips:

Good solid case with places for at least two padlocks

Padlocks must be ones that only you have the key(s) for. NOT TSA locks. 

Gun should be depressurized 

When checking in report to counter and say you want to check a gun. Do NOT say air rifle or air gun, it will confuse them. 

You do not have ammo if asked. Lead pellets are not ammo by their definition. 

You will fill out a short one page form, open up the case so the airline person can see what’s inside, then lock it in front of them. While the case is open but before you lock it, take a photo of the gun in the case, then another photo of the case after its locked. 

They’ll then check it just like any other luggage. You pick it up at baggage claim for large bags like if you had checked golf clubs. 

The times I’ve done it I had no problems and it added about ten minutes to my check in time. 

Easy...

Thanks for the info, Mike! Do I need to remove the bottle from the RedWolf? How about the battery?? 

No, just make sure it’s depressurized. What battery?

If you want to be hassled and delayed just say Airgun or Air Rifle. If you want to go through easily, say “gun”.

No, just make sure it’s depressurized. What battery?

If you want to be hassled and delayed just say Airgun or Air Rifle. If you want to go through easily, say “gun”.

Click to expand...

Gotcha... thanks!

No, just make sure it’s depressurized. What battery?

If you want to be hassled and delayed just say Airgun or Air Rifle. If you want to go through easily, say “gun”.

Click to expand...

I've never had an issue calling it an air rifle. I think the more important thing to remember, as you stated is not to offer any conflicting information. So if you start with calling it a gun don't waver. The same goes if you first address it as an air rifle. 

Is there any weird requirements when driving with an air rifle in a vehicle. I know riles must be unloaded but an air gun is not technically a rifle. Just wondering if there is any issues charging the air tank at home before driving someplace?

That all depends on the state and local laws where you are traveling. In CT pellet and BB guns are classified as firearms and dangerous or deadly weapons. You need a permit to transport them in a car.

Would you kindly post the portion of CT state law corroborating your claim? As far as I know traveling in the continental US with a firearm, so long as you are able to legally own one doesn't require any extra or special permission or permits. 

To answer the question no, there are no special requirements when driving with an airgun. Mine are often in the back seat of my car, as they are now after spending yesterday shooting at a friends house. 

https://www.cga.ct.gov/PS98/rpt%5Colr%5Chtm/98-R-0904.htm

https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_943.htm#sec_53-206

Sec. 53-206. Carrying of dangerous weapons prohibited. (a) Any person who carries upon his or her person any BB. gun, blackjack, metal or brass knuckles, or any dirk knife, or any switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, or stiletto, or any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or more in length, any police baton or nightstick, or any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument, shall be guilty of a class E felony. Whenever any person is found guilty of a violation of this section, any weapon or other instrument within the provisions of this section, found upon the body of such person, shall be forfeited to the municipality wherein such person was apprehended, notwithstanding any failure of the judgment of conviction to expressly impose such forfeiture.

https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_529.htm#sec_29-38

Sec. 29-38. Weapons in vehicles. Penalty. Exceptions. (a) Any person who knowingly has, in any vehicle owned, operated or occupied by such person, any weapon, any pistol or revolver for which a proper permit has not been issued as provided in section 29-28 or any machine gun which has not been registered as required by section 53-202, shall be guilty of a class D felony, and the presence of any such weapon, pistol or revolver, or machine gun in any vehicle shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section by the owner, operator and each occupant thereof. The word “weapon”, as used in this section, means any BB. gun, any blackjack, any metal or brass knuckles, any police baton or nightstick, any dirk knife or switch knife, any knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches in length, any stiletto, any knife the edged portion of the blade of which is four inches or more in length, any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, as defined in section 53a-3, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument.

A BB gun or Air Rifle has to be seen as a dangerous weapon in the context of what's being done with it, per your first link. Traveling with one in your vehicle will be fine. Otherwise they wouldn't allow them to be shipped in any vehicle.

BB guns and air rifles are specifically listed as dangerous weapons in CGS § 53-206, which prohibits people from carrying dangerous weapons without a permit. They are not in the list of dangerous weapons in CGS § 29-38, which prohibits carrying dangerous weapons in a vehicle without a permit, nor are they specifically listed in CGS § 53a-3 under the definitions of “deadly weapon” or “dangerous instrument” used in the penal 

You need to be more diligent when answering questions dealing with what is and isn't lawful. 

And actually, if you look at the specific set of exceptions it is clearly stated:

(6) the carrying of a BB. gun by any person upon such person's own property or the property of another person provided such other person has authorized the carrying of such weapon on such property, and the transporting of such weapon to or from such property.

Here is a more interesting read on the CT laws for air rifles:

https://www.cga.ct.gov/PS98/rpt%5Colr%5Chtm/98-R-0898.htm