Locks for Pelican 1750 or Nanak 995 to prevent the TSA knuckle or finger in the case?

[slowjunk]

Hi, I look to travel with a rifle case and it is the first time on an airline. I am buying either a Pelican 1750 or a Nanak 995 and I would appreciate a recommendation for non-TSA locks to go in the padlock holes that will ensure success when traveling in the airlines.

The key things is that in the following thread Frank mentions having problems with the TSA trying to stick their fingers in the case after unlatching it. He mentions having proper sized locks to prevent this. What padlocks would be best?

Suppressors - Airline travel with a suppressor?

Who has travelled with a suppressor? I'm looking at a match which is far enough away that air travel is the only option. Does anyone have a recommendation on how to transport the suppressor? I don't like the idea of having it in the rifle case knowing of instances where TSA has cut the lock off...

www.snipershide.com

I watched a great video by DeviantOllam and he recommends Abus 83/45 locks but those have a 5/16” (8mm) and I have read that the Pelican case hole is not big enough to accommodate a 8mm shackle. The Pelican sight says the hole is 8mm so perhaps tolerances are tight or loose on hole diameter. I saw a video where they showed a 8mm shackle lock not fitting, but I have read on this sight a post that those locks are recommended. To me it is an open point.


I really look for help on this from people‘s person experience.

 

[NiteQwill]

This is my experience and my experience only.

I fly with my guns A LOT (either for competition or work). In the last 2 years, I have flown upwards of 99+ times with firearms all over the country. Yep, I'm tired of flying...

I use TSA locks. Why? Because the TSA will break your locks and DGAF. The screening procedure is not consistent between airports and can be very easy to creating migraine headaches. It just makes my life easier to use TSA locks (I use Nanuk locks). I carry regular combo locks in my bag if I need to use them (I never have).

Additionally, normal locks can and do get ripped off by baggage handling or machines.

I use a Nanuk 995. It's bombproof.

 

[USK308]

+1 on what @NiteQwill said. TSA will definitely will not GAF about any lock you put on. In the time I have flown, checking a firearm, I will usually put the firearm lock through the rifle or pistol as appropriate, as an additional measure, to protect my investment/money, along with the TSA locks on the hard-sided case.


When I fly out, here at DEN, I will escort the weapon to the TSA scan and then secure the weapon or luggage and walk with the agent, back to where it is placed on the conveyer belt (for my own sanity).

 

[slowjunk]

This is my experience and my experience only.

I fly with my guns A LOT (either for competition or work). In the last 2 years, I have flown upwards of 99+ times with firearms all over the country. Yep, I'm tired of flying...

I use TSA locks. Why? Because the TSA will break your locks and DGAF. The screening procedure is not consistent between airports and can be very easy to creating migraine headaches. It just makes my life easier to use TSA locks (I use Nanuk locks). I carry regular combo locks in my bag if I need to use them (I never have).

Additionally, normal locks can and do get ripped off by baggage handling or machines.

I use a Nanuk 995. It's bombproof.

I like how the Nanuk 995 is offered with TSA locks built into it. It seems some people really insist on using non-TSA locks, especially the security researcher I mentioned in my original post. It seems TSA locks get accepted though.

By the way, what is the biggest padlock shackle diameter that will fit the Nanuk 995 case lock holes? I looked on the website and they list it as 0.03inches which seems far from what is in the pictures. Then I see some other mentions that a 8mm shackle diameter will fit. Thanks.

 

[NiteQwill]

I'm telling you... They will cut or rip your locks off and your gun won't fly if it can't be secured. That is the risk you take. I have experienced that. My SBR with suppressor was left behind because my locks were destroyed and my case could not be secured. It took 3 days to recover my gun. YMMV.

But if you insist on locks. The cheapest combo master lock will be fine.

Don't overthink it.

 

[slowjunk]

I'm telling you... They will cut or rip your locks off and your gun won't fly if it can't be secured. That is the risk you take. I have experienced that. My SBR with suppressor was left behind because my locks were destroyed and my case could not be secured. It took 3 days to recover my gun. YMMV.

But if you insist on locks. The cheapest combo master lock will be fine.

Don't overthink it.

I appreciate the advice from people with clearly tremendous travel experience. The only point I did like about putting a padlock on it is from the point of view DeviantOllam brought up. He says he flies up to 100 times a year with a firearms and says the use of the lock is to prevent/detect tampering following the TSA screening therefore he is OK with a lock being cut. It seems like a great idea to use the Nanuk 995 with the TSA locks and then maybe a small easily cut lock to see if the case is opened after initial TSA screening; do you ever do that or is it a bad idea?

 

[NiteQwill]

I appreciate the advice from people with clearly tremendous travel experience. The only point I did like about putting a padlock on it is from the point of view DeviantOllam brought up. He says he flies up to 100 times a year with a firearms and says the use of the lock is to prevent/detect tampering following the TSA screening therefore he is OK with a lock being cut. It seems like a great idea to use the Nanuk 995 with the TSA locks and then maybe a small easily cut lock to see if the case is opened after initial TSA screening; do you ever do that or is it a bad idea?

I don't use the included TSA locks on the latches cuz if you lose the key you're SOL at your destination unless you want to destroy you case to open it. All combo locks for me.

The locks on cases don't prevent any tampering from anyone older than a 10 year old. If someone wants to mess with your gun, they will. If someone cuts your lock, and they can't secure it, your gun doesn't fly.

A lot of airports DO NOT allow you to be present during the screening process in my recent experience: Las Vegas, LAX, Austin, Portland, Memphis, Nashville, Newark, JFK, Tampa, etc. So they take your case and throw it on the conveyer belt and it gets pulled in a rear screening room. You do not know the outcome of the process until you land (I put an airtag in my gun cases to track it). If they CUT your lock and have no way of securing it, it will not fly.

Just food for thought.