I always thought this was a pretty amusing statement.. Theoretically, all ammunition contains at least one potential projectile..

As others have said, you have to be in compliance with local gun laws at the airport. I've traveled with long guns in checked baggage between relatively rural airports and have never had a problem.

You do want to stay with the TSA until they clear your gun case. They typically will screen it at the "oversize baggage" station. The TSA people I've dealt with have been uniformly nice and helpful, but if they decide they need to open your case, you'll need to be there with your keys.


At your destination, they used to just put them on the baggage belts, but there seems to have been a policy change in the last year or two and your gun will be delivered to the baggage office (or sometimes the oversize baggage belt) and usually require you to actually ask for your item, vs leaving it out.