U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Frequently Asked Questions
  4. When traveling with a unit, how can I transport weapons and ammunition?

When traveling with a unit, how can I transport weapons and ammunition?

  • The unit must declare weapons and ammunition to the aircraft operator. 
  • Weapons must be unloaded. 
  • Weapons must be collectively secured in a crate and banded or individually locked in a hard-sided case. 
  • Ammunition must also be securely packed in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes, or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. 
  • Firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition must be completely and securely enclosing any ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder or holster). 
  • You may carry ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, if you pack it as described above. 
  • A unit representative must submit the unit's official travel orders and an inventory of weapons and ammunition being transported. 
  • The unit representative must certify to TSA in writing that the weapons are unloaded. 
  • Contact us through X (Twitter @AskTSA), Facebook Messenger (http://www.fb.com/AskTSA), Apple Business Chat or by texting "Travel" to AskTSA (275-872). You can also contact the TSA Contact Center at (866) 289-9673(link is a phone number) or fill out an online form with questions you have regarding TSA firearm regulations and for clarification on what you may or may not transport in your carry-on or checked baggage. 

You have been selected to participate in a brief survey about your experience today with Transportation Security Administration. If you would like to take the survey please indicate by clicking the button below. Then feel free to complete the survey at your leisure after you are finished with tsa.gov.