I'd never transported a gun on an airplane and was very leery of doing so. We went north on vacation four weeks ago and I brought one of those inexpensive tan lockable rifle cases, empty, with me.. I asked the airline folks and a TSA fellow at Fort Lauderdale and all agreed that there was no problem just so the gun was empty, the case was lockable and locked and there was no ammunition in the case. When we got to Boston the case was taken to the Baggage Office, where I had to identify myself before getting the (empty) case.
When it was time to come back to Florida I put the rifle in the case and we all went to Logan Airport in Boston. The Delta lady at the counter wanted to look in the case so
I unlocked the case, showed her the rifle and locked the case. She had me fill out a tag with my name and cell phone number so that the TSA could call me, in the airport, so I could come and unlock it if they wanted to look in the case. Nobody called.
In Fort Lauderdale the case came around on the carousel, it wasn't taken to the Baggage Office. 
Both locks had been broken, and inside the case was the TSA form "Notice Of Baggage Inspection" that says, among other things, "...the screener may have been forced to break the locks on your bag." and "...however TSA is not liable for damage to your locks..."
Since the airlines require the case to be locked, and the TSA may break the locks; I think I must be prepared to buy a new case for thew return trip if I travel to a match.
joe b. 

Don't forget they're US Government employees and were hired in a hurry. Most of 'em couldn't even hold a minimum-wage job if they had to really WORK for a living. I encountered a lot of this type when building nuclear plants, we were required to hire a certain percentage of "indigenous workers" in order to get the state and federal people to approve the projects. The incompetence, not to mention the actual stupidity and laziness, cost a LOT of unnecessary expense.
Too bad, Joe

If you really want to see a circus of errors, you should be around when a federal agent is traveling. Naturally we must fly armed. The pathetic TSA people just don't know whether to spit or go blind. I have had, on several occasions, to tell them their own procedures for handling an armed passenger. Traveling armed is hassel enough for me, there are not any conditions I can imagine that would tempt me to travel with one or more of my Shilohs with me. I'll take the train or drive thank you.

Well Brent, Do you have anything to show off from your trip?

ihe last time i had a gun in the air was 1965 and the only way a plane is going to hurt me is to fall on me. glad you had a nice trip and are back safe. regards,ben is a tan some  animal or a condition?

in va we call them farm animals,glad you had a nice time . regards,ben.

no fence. just herd them with a small stick. regards,ben,

    ME