So I actually had issues with the TSA in Oregon and delayed my flight by 5 min. Almost missed it because of them.
I flew to Oregon with a standard Plano hard case and I bought 3 TSA approved locks from Amazon.
Minnesota TSA said all good and sent me to Oregon. Get to Oregon to hunt the land I was invited to and a total bust, no birds, bad place to stay… train wreck all around.
Anyways…
I arrive to the airport 1.5 hours before flight.
TSA inspects my gun and case and my case doesn’t pass the inspection. I was confused because Minnesota TSA said it was fine.
The guy unlocks the case (not the TSA locks, just the case locks-the ones that are built into the cases… trying to not get confusing here). He flexes that case open and sticks his fingers in there and touches the barrel. Says the case won’t pass inspection because he shouldn’t be able to touch the gun with the locks still being on there. That I need to get a new case that’s heavy duty and sturdy, as to allow zero flex, and If I could get some locks that fit really tight on the case, so even with the case itself unlocked, the tighter locks wont allow the person to even move the case lids open a little bit.
I’m very confused at this point because Minnesota TSA passed me just fine, and at this point I have about 1 hr before my flight leaves, not boards… leaves.
So I’m faced with 2 options… abandon the gun there or run into town and potentially miss my flight to get a suitable case.
Call a ride and speed to the nearest sporting goods store and buy the most heavy duty, durable, unflexible gun case they have and I buy like 8 different locks. Considering I have no time for mistakes.
Put the gun in the new case and abandon my old one there (I liked that case too) try the different locks until I get the ones that fit incredibly tight on the case. Head back to the airport and head to TSA.
I now get the guy that’s totally cool and just makes sure the case is locked, gun is not loaded and has me sign the empty firearm slip and sends me on my way.
Luckily they notified my plane to let them know what was going on and they delay the flight like 5-10min.
I get there and of course everyone is staring at me pissed. Headed back to MN glad to be done with it.
So based off that experience…
Get yourself a nice durable case that has no flex to it when there’s locks on it. Make sure you get some TSA approved locks that fit tight on it so no one can undo the locks and pry the case open and touch the gun.
I guess you don’t technically need the TSA approved locks but it will be one less potential issue.
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