Texican Shooting/Traveling with Guns by Aircraft, Car

WaddWatsonEllis · March 28, 2010, 05:30:23 PM

Hello,

I am going down to Texas to see kin and thought that I might shoot at a SASS match while there.

So I have these questions;

First, I will be in Fredericksburg and San Antonio ... probably using a rental car. Any good suggestions for a shoot?
If you do suggest a club, do you have their website?

Secondly, I am probably flying commercial down to Texas, and then renting a car to drive around inside the state ....

Is there any FAA regs for carrying guns?

Also, is there any regs about carrying guns while driving in Texas?

Thanks for your help!

Caprock Louis · March 28, 2010, 05:44:04 PM

Welcome to the Republic of Texas
First of all it ain't California and all your rules are just reversed in Texas. Texas has the Castle law. You are free to have and hold as many firearms as you wish in your home as long as not a felon. This law has been interpreted to include the vehichle you are driving in. Therefore if you can get it on the plane from California you are ok

I understand there are some 300 shooters so it should be a great event for you

So welcome to the land of the free if we can keep the federales out

Caprock Louis

lost deep in the heart of Texas

WaddWatsonEllis · March 29, 2010, 09:21:56 AM

Caprock

What event?

What shooters?

I am going to be down there the last week in September/first week in October ... still somewhat flexible on dates.

Texas Lawdog · March 29, 2010, 03:59:09 PM

There is a CAS shooting facility near Fredricksburg, named Tim Star Ranch. Texas Jack's Outfitters is also in Fredricksburg and they can fill you in Tin Star Ranch and any shooting clubs in the area.

WaddWatsonEllis · March 29, 2010, 08:15:52 PM

Mea Culpa,

I am going to Mason, actually, and I thought that Fredericksburg would be the best airport.

I emailed the B&B I am going to, and they said that I would be best to fly into San Antonio and then drive to Mason.

Just as well 'cause I want to go to the Covey Chapel Cemetary to pay my respects to the original Wadd Watson Ellis, my great grandfather.

Don't know whether I should look for a club in the San Antonio area or take my chances around Mason .... I know there are three clubs in the San Antonio area, but Mason?

mestiza letty · March 30, 2010, 01:10:42 AM

Watson,
Do some research on the airline's restrictions on flying with firearms. This info is available on their websites. They also will vary so look at most restrictive and make your choice based on that? Be prepared to pay extra & stand in crummy lines so your patience will be tried

My suggestion would be NOT to make any stops if at all possible so you don't have to worry about the "meatheads" handling your cases NEVER know what's in them. Get a hard plastic Pelican or metal LOCKABLE case with a key lock that you have the only access to. This will be also explained in the regs posted from the airline's website. Some airlines will have a minimum number of firearms allowed at a time when flying. My suggestion, buy your ammo when you get to Texas it may be a whole lot cheaper. ABSOLUTELY NO BLACK POWDER EVER in case you are taking BP revolvers, if so make sure that all residue from your powder horn, nipple wrench, etc. is cleaned too, or you'll have them bomb dogs on 'ya.

Good luck & this will enlgihten your experience traveling with firearms in this day & age!! Common sense ain't the norm...
Letty

WaddWatsonEllis · March 30, 2010, 08:39:28 AM

Letty,

Good advice ... a member from my CA shooting club is going to 'loan' me his gun case (that he uses to fly with himself).

I shoot .45 Schofield, so am not sure of a source for that in the San Antonio area ... I am just beginning to set up this trip, so have plenty of time to find a source. I agree carrying live ammo is just not kosher ...

I am probably going to fly Southwest ... but almost any flight from San Francisco has to go through a hub ... I may not have to change aircraft, but there is the chance that the luggage will have to be 'readjusted' so that the weight and balance of the aircraft is correct ...having been a 'smurf' (ground handler who loads aircraft), I know of what you speak. I always tried to get rifle cases and such to the top of the load, but there were many who were not so careful.

Black Powder; we are in agreement. I am leaving it all behind: only carrying cartridge weapons (i.e. 2 Schofields, an 1863 Remmie Pocket Pistol converted to S&W .32 short, a Model 73 and a Model 87 shotgun.

I am assuming that I can carry all my leather in with my normal luggage.

From what it sounds like, my principal worry is leaving and entering a California Airport ...

mestiza letty · March 30, 2010, 09:26:34 AM

Watson,
Sounds like you have a good plan together for this. Southwest if I remember was pretty liberal on the maximum number of firearms you can travel with.
I was flying to Greenville/Spartenburg last summer to vist my LEO dad and contemplated taking my Ruger Single Sixes along.
Decided it wasn't worth the hassle for me, but that was my decision though.
Just thought I'd give you a heads up on the info I found out. Sounds like you'll have LOTS of fun.
The boys in Texas will steer you right in finding the .45 Schofield ammo I imagine.
Good luck to you!!
Letty

WaddWatsonEllis · March 30, 2010, 09:30:18 AM

Letty,

Small World!

My parents are buried in Mauldin cemetary ... and lived in Simpsonville!

mestiza letty · March 30, 2010, 08:45:47 PM

Dad is actually in Anderson,SC. Maybe 45min drive, lovely place on Lake Heartwell. Went shooting, then boating, shooting some more, etc. Dad gets a kick out of pissin' off the bass fishermen doing 100mph + in his hydroplane skater, done scarin' me after the age of 10 going that fast over water. Just plain fun....
Had a great time & nice folks in the south, he's a California boy himself, retired there about 10 yrs ago now.
Hope I get invited back

WaddWatsonEllis · March 30, 2010, 09:08:05 PM

I was raised just east of East St Louis, Il. My father retired from the military and moved to Greenville the same year I graduated from High School.

I never became a good ol' boy, and subsequently never really fit in. My brothers and sisters spent enough time in the schools down there to 'fit in', and think of it as home.

In retrospect, being 'drafted' (since my draft number was #2, I joined the Air Force) was probably a blessing in disguise 'cause it got me out of the South.

I have watched the sun come up over Lake Hartwell, watching it from the Georgia side .... but in the late 60's, it was more of a big mud puddle than a recreation site ... you could count the number of boats seen on it in a weekend on one hand ...

It is interesting, CAS has a video going right now about a shoot in Simpsonville. Go Figure!

mestiza letty · March 30, 2010, 09:40:43 PM

I have watched the sun come up over Lake Hartwell, watching it from the Georgia side .... but in the late 60's, it was more of a big mud puddle than a recreation site ... you could count the number of boats seen on it in a weekend on one hand ...
I did learn that Lake Hartwell had been recently expanded, perhaps 15-20yrs ago? Funny how your "home turf" changes over time & find out others enjoy the same areas you escaped

I feel the same way about So Cal.
It is interesting, CAS has a video going right now about a shoot in Simpsonville. Go Figure!
[/quote] You'll have to make that one next time

Letty

WaddWatsonEllis · March 30, 2010, 10:17:46 PM

Like many lakes dammed up for the water supply, they left entire towns down there ... farms et al. So it used to be not uncommon to be flying along the lake and have your lower unit kiss a chimney at 50 KPH , and tear the whole transom off ... so expanding especially if the expansion also deepened it a bit might be a great improvement ...

My parents are gone, and none of my family now lives in the area ... plus I was already graduated, so didn't make the number of friends that would be worth going back for ... so not much reason to return; Texas will be much nicer.

Wadd Watson Ellis, my namesake and great grandfather, is buried in Covey Cemetary near Dilley, and I have about 140 years worth of extended family between Dilley and Mason ...

In fact, where I am staying is where my second cousin has taken the old Ellis Ranch and used the bunkhouses to make it a bed-and-breakfast right on the LLano River ... so I get to Kayak in the morning, nap through the heat of the day on the porch, do a little shooting, and pay my respects to a great grandfather I never got to meet ... and maybe do a shoot with a San Antonio SASS Club ...

mestiza letty · March 30, 2010, 11:42:31 PM

Sounds like great fun ahead

WaddWatsonEllis · March 31, 2010, 12:16:23 AM

Letty,

I just went to a little corner taqueria that has the best food ... must have been all that talk about the San Patricios ... but had two of their ceviche tostadas and I am too full! But too full in a good way!

My kinda fun ... I am not a big city night life kinda guy ... the thought of doing some paddling and just kickin' back on a porch sounds so nice ... especially since my great grandfather and all my uncles put this place toghether ... can't steep myself in history much more than that!

I have been marginally employed for the last several years ... never felt secure enough to take a vacation. So ... now that I am retired, I think I am 'gonna take that sentimental journey'