i would personally trust the USPS to handle them better and more securely than an airline. any gun of reasonable weight, you can get it across the lower 48 priority mail insured for $25-30 which is what you'll pay at the airline for an extra bag fee. i've never had a gun lost or damaged by USPS. airlines, the horror stories abound, not to mention the pure hassle. got a buddy who's from MT and goes back hunting all the time. he just finally left guns up there with friends so he doesn't have to go thru DFW with them. his brother lives in chicago and said it's even worse.
regarding USPS, in right at 900 pkgs of junk i've gotten rid of on ebay, there's never been one lost or damaged. USPS gets a bad rap.
roger
