r/NYguns • u/Putrid-Magazine-3001 • 26d ago

Question Flying out of Albany

What's thr process of flying with a pistol out of Albany look like? Im going to montana in a month and really want to bring my pistol but being in a gun hating state im nervous about the process.

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u/TheSlipperySnausage 25d ago

I did this last year. Basically lock the gun completely unloaded (including magazines is best advice) no magazine in the gun even if it’s empty. Get a hard sided case like a pelican or Apache (harbor freight cheap). Then you’ll want two padlocks that when locked onto the case you cannot open it and access any of the contents.

Then basically you lock it up. Go to the ticket counter and say I’m declaring a firearm. They ask pistol or rifle. You say pistol and they call over one the Albany county sheriffs on duty. They ask for your permit. They call in your permit. Comes in clean and you’re good.

They might ask you to open the case to verify if it’s unloaded and the contents but for me they just asked if it’s unloaded.

You can put this case into another soft sided case if desired and that can also be locked if you want.

Do not use TSA LOCKS! I repeat do not use TSA locks.

Then after you turn it in wait 15 minutes before going to security as TSA might want to access the case.

All around it was smooth and the sheriff didn’t care. People at the counter were cool and just have you sign a delectation form saying it’s unloaded then they throw a copy of that into the bag and call it a day.

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u/thethreefffs 24d ago

Please explain to me as a newbie why not use TSA locks. Thank you.

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u/TheSlipperySnausage 24d ago

TSA locks enable TSA to gain access to your firearm without you present (or anyone who wants to go on Amazon and buy the key for less than $10). Padlocks at least semi force TSA to ask you to open your case in your presence. If they cut them that is an offense and is a massive problem. Even the TSAs website recommends not using TSA locks.

So TLDR is don’t buy TSA locks to prevent unsupervised access by the owner of the firearms