Shooting Equipment

Shooting equipment is allowed as checked baggage only. It must fit within the very specific criteria that we outline below.
•Declare to the Delta representative that you are checking a firearm
•Declare the existence of a firearm to security personnel if there's a security checkpoint before the Delta counter
•All firearms must be declared by the passenger to a Delta representative at the main ticket counter
•Present firearm(s) unloaded and sign a "Firearms Unloaded" declaration
•Firearms must be packed in a locked 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
•Maintain entry permits in your possession for the country or countries of destination or transit
•Ensure small arms ammunition is packed in the manufacturer's original package or securely packed in fiber, wood, plastic or metal boxes and provide separation for cartridges
•You are responsible for knowledge of and compliance with all Federal, State or local laws regarding the possession and transportation of firearms. For more information about this regulation you can visit the TSA website.

•If you are transporting a firearm to the United Kingdom, a permit from the United Kingdom is specifically required. You must contact the United Kingdom for more information about securing this permit
•Until further advised, passengers departing Brussels, Belgium are not allowed to check weapons including, antique, sporting, hunting or toy rifles in their checked baggage
•Customer must be 18 years of age or older
•All firearms checked as baggage must be picked up at the Baggage Service Office upon arrival at your final destination. ID will be required to claim your checked firearm

The following types of ammunition are not accepted:
•Gun powder; such as Pyrodex or Black Powder
•Ammunition with explosive or incendiary projectiles
•Ammunition, including case, exceeding 11 pounds (5 kg) gross weight per passenger

Pistols and accessories must be included in one case and contain:
•Pistol telescopes
•Noise suppressors
•A small pistol tool case
•No more than 11 lbs. (5 kg) of ammunition, including case

Rifles and shotguns must be packaged as follows:
•One hard sided case containing up to four rifles, shotguns, shooting materials, tools

•The case must completely secure the firearm from being accessed. All areas designed to be locked must be locked
•Locked cases that can be easily opened are not permitted. Be aware that the container the firearm was in when purchased may not adequately secure the firearm when it is transported in checked baggage.
•One hard sided case containing up to five handguns, one scope, tools
•One bow and quiver of arrows and maintenance kit enclosed in a case or container strong enough to protect the bow and quiver from accidental damage
•No more than 11 lbs. (5 kg) of ammunition, including case

An excess baggage fee will apply if checking more than one gun case.

Quoted:
I always print and carry the Delta checked bag firearms guidelines just in case but the counter clerks are pretty knowledgeable and I haven't ever needed to explain anything.  Regarding, picking your luggage up from the Baggage Service Office and showing ID, I've never had to do this with a firearm that was inside of my regular checked bag.  I assume that only applies to long guns shipped in separate cases that look like gun cases.

Quoted:
I declare it and usually transport my ammo in the box it came in from the factory (inside the case with the firearm) and have not had an issue.

Usually they have brought me to the oversized luggage scanner and I stand there while TSA x rays the bag.  That way if there is an issue I'm standing there with the keys.

Other times they just throw it on the conveyor with the rest of the luggage.  I've had airlines have put my phone number on a tag, and have been called by the airlines asking for the keys to the locked box inside the luggage so the TSA didn't have to cut them off.  It was a pain in the butt but it saved me the cost of a couple padlocks.

Lately someone has either delivered my luggage to me personally or when I flew delta, as someone mentioned i had to go get it from the Delta luggage office.  It has always been zip tied, sometimes with an good one, others with one that fell off as soon as I touched it.

Quoted:

How recently have you flown with a gun? That has been Delta's procedure since shortly after that asshole shot up the Ft. Lauderdale baggage claim. Your bags will be marked with a CAGPT tag (i.e. "steal me") and will not come down the carousel unless someone screws up. When you pick up your bag, it will be secured with a zip tie, either a huge one around the whole bag or, in the case of returning to MSP, just an inconspicuous one securing the zipper.

I actually like the procedure aside from the insulting and pointless zip tie nonsense, but that gets cut off and thrown in the trash before I even walk outside.