Paintball Guns in Checked Luggage?
 

So one of my younger staff finally managed to stump me, The Resident Very Experienced Business Traveler, on a travel question. He's away in a town where he has family, and wants to bring a paintball gun from home on his flight tomorrow to keep in his apartment as several of our folks apparently like to induce paint welts on each other occasionally.

How might he get this on the plane? Obviously it can't go in carryon bags, but can he just check it and declare to TSA/the airline/etc? I know it's possible to check rifles but not having one myself I have no idea of the associated documentation and/or general hassle, and AFAIK you don't need any special license for paintball guns.

Is this easy enough to do with checked bags, or should I just tell him to ship it? Any experience or insight appreciated.

Ship it, avoid the very likely hassles (and confiscation) to ensue if you don't.

Checking it is fine. You'll have to remove (or have removed) the regulator on the tank and ensure it's empty (assuming a compressed air tank). Some airlines don't care if you remove the regulator, but off the top of my head, I can't remember which those are.

As far as the gun itself, check away, airlines don't care and it's not a firearm.

I've checked mine on ~25 trips and never had a problem. For further questions see: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/guns.html

"Paintball guns are allowed in checked baggage and are not subject to the container requirements of firearms. Customers must declare the paintball gun to the Customer Service Agent at the ticket counter. Compressed gas cylinders are allowed in checked baggage or as a carryon only if the regulator valve is completely disconnected from the cylinder and the cylinder is no longer sealed (i.e. the cylinder has an open end). TSA Security Screeners must visibly ensure that the cylinder is completely empty and that there are no prohibited items inside."

Most airlines are similar to that.

Very good, thanks for the detailed reply.

What about shipping it international?

Bumping this thread. Just brought mine to Poland. No issues, no problems, no questions. I didn't bring my tank though.