Dude, where’s your car safe - Packing Tips when Traveling, Bro

Oh the places you’ll go. So many things to see, and you should consider carrying - legally. There’s a lot of information to cover and I’m not a lawyer, so this isn’t legal advice. This is a few notes and tips on how to cover your own ass. With some exceptions, you can usually bring a firearm with you on your travels.

Travel Case with precut foam

Cheap (price not quality) Apache case from Harbor Freight and precut foam bought online. It locks so it’s good for most domestic travel. Check state laws about driving with a loaded firearm inside the vehicle.

Apache Case

Small cheap case with pluck foam; worked to send it to SIG for warranty work.

Pelican Case with Magpie DAKA

I love this modular Magpul DAKA foam. Can change It around for whatever you want to bring.

Pelican Vault with Magpul DAKA

Another Layout

Cheap Plano Case

Quite capable for basic road travel.

Magnets - sometimes

When on road trips through states that allow it, keep it within reach and comfortable.

Biometric Safe

For when it has to be left this is attached somewhere in the car.

It shouldn’t be so tricky, but depending on where you are or where you want to visit, it’s important to research and understand the local laws. They vary wildly by state and sometimes county. Also don’t be part of the problem and DON’T let your guns get stolen out of your car. It happens too frequently, and your Glock sticker in the window isn’t smart. So lock it up or take it with you - have a plan, know the rules, and go about your way uninterrupted.

When driving, understand if you can have it with you in the vehicle loaded or if you need it locked up while driving. I like to use gun magnets to hold my pistol on a longer drive, and otherwise it’s usually on my person. Unless I need to lock it up, in which case I keep a safe in my vehicle.

When flying, check with your airline and know the laws at your destination. Usually it just means checking a bag, arriving early and sitting around available in case security wants to open it. I’ve been told you don’t have to use a TSA Approved lock, and you might not want to use one because you would want to be able to watch anytime someone wants to look and or touch your stuff. The biggest thing to take note is that while you can’t have loaded magazines in a gun, you can have them in a case with a gun. Also you can’t have loose ammo in the case - it must boxed in original packaging, ammo boxes, or in magazines for transportation.

No matter how you travel, it’s worth it to invest in decent cases for transport. They are the first in line in keeping your valuables valuable and safe. I love my Savior soft bags, I have several Harbor Freight Apache cases that are cheap and you can order foam to fit them online in various and custom confirurations. If you want top tier quality and adaptability, I can’ recommend the Magpul DAKA Case foam inserts for the Pelican Vault series. It’s modular, and allows you to change it up depending on what you’re bringing with you. Plus it has wheels.

No matter what, discretion is key to keep things uneventful.