On my way back from MSY to DEN last year, my bag with pistol in it was sent on to Frankfurt. United didn't find it, but I got a call two days later from Lufthansa telling me they had my bag and were putting it, unopened on the next non-stop to Denver.

Why wouldn't your errant bag make it back to you if misrouted. . . in the US?

The dilemma is that over half of the airline folks INSIST that the declaration should go INSIDE the hard guncase with the firearm(s) inside the locked suitcase. I've tried to explain that the TSA like to be able to see the declaration without opening the gun case but have been met with so much heated resistance that I've given up training the trainers. I just smile and do as I'm told. I make more flights that way.

Some airlines have the notice on their website (Delta, for exampe), so you can fill out two of them for just this situation.

One goes inside, one goes outside.

Baggage claim isn't sterile.

A mis-routed bag with a tag for a different airport should never get on the baggage claim carousel.

Why on earth would you identify a firearm is in your luggage on the outside? The TSA doesn't personally pack it on a plane with a camera following them.

Minimize the opportunities for interference
 

Because the TSA is so inconsistent is the reason why. Sometimes they demand one method, sometimes the other. So you do both in order to minimize your interaction with them.

Small cases (revolvers, for instance) that you can pack in a larger case, get one inside the hard case, and one inside the larger soft case in which it is packed.

Large cases (shotguns, rifles) are pretty obviously gun cases, there is no disguising it. One goes inside, one gets taped to the outside.

However, even this precaution won't save you from the other means of TSA incompetence and inability to comply with FARs on firearm transportation. Such as failing to screen the cases at the check-in desk, and requesting that you give them the keys so they can search it out of your control, which is the most common one.

Neither are the gate areas.

They're at least supposed to be. You can walk from the street to baggage claim without going through security, though. It wouldn't be that hard for a terrorist to walk into baggage claim and find a misdirected bag and put his bomb in it. Sure, he probably would have to try many times but it would be basically risk-free.

18 USC 925(a)(1) states:

The provisions of this chapter, except for sections 922(d)(9) and 922(g)(9) and provisions relating to firearms subject to the prohibitions of section 922(p), shall not apply with respect to the transportation, shipment, receipt, possession, or importation of any firearm or ammunition imported for, sold or shipped to, or issued for the use of, the United States or any department or agency thereof or any State or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof.

Does that work?

I stand corrected.

You wouldn't. In fact, its a violation of federal law to do just that.

I'll be traveling on US with some firearms. What all is on the form the ask you to fill out when you declare the firearm?

Most have a signature and date line, along with flight number and destination. Some have employee number. Southwest has address and phone.

The US form isn't available online, you have to obtain it and complete it at the airport. In PHX, this means giving yourself up to an hour extra time, as the GA finding the form isn't always the swiftest process, and the TSA can be very obtuse when it comes to examining the case.

From their site:

"US Airways will allow passengers to transport firearms in accordance with Federal Law.
Items of shooting equipment will be accepted as checked baggage only.
A passenger who presents checked baggage that contains a firearm must declare the weapon and sign a written acknowledgement that the firearm is unloaded.
Firearms must be packed in a manufacturer’s hard–sided container specifically designed for the firearm, a locked hard–sided gun case, or a locked hard–sided piece of luggage. Handguns may be packed in a locked hard–sided gun case, and then packed inside an unlocked soft–sided piece of luggage. However, a Conditional Acceptance Tag must be used in this case.
Baggage containing firearms must be locked at all times and the key or lock combination retained by the passenger.
A Firearm Unloaded Declaration form (available only at the airport) must be signed and placed inside the bag or gun case.
Checked ammunition may not exceed 11 lbs/5 kg per person. Ammunition clips with ammunition loaded are not accepted. Ammunition must be packed in the original manufacturing package or constructed of wood, fiber, plastic, or metal and provide separation for cartridges. Ammunition may be checked in the same piece of luggage as a firearm. No additional documentation is required.
There is no limit to the number of items contained in rifle, shotgun or pistol case, up to 50 lbs/23 kg, 62 in/157 cm in maximum.
A passenger who presents a firearm to be checked to an international destination must be in possession of all required import documentation for their international destination city and any international transit points. It is the responsibility of the passenger to acquire the required documentation from the applicable government entity prior to travel (usually a consulate or embassy). Firearms will not be accepted for transport if international import requirements have not been met."

Images from older, completed forms online:

http://www.arkansascarry.com/uploads...rways_back.jpg

and

http://thegunzone.com/images/declarationform.jpg