Its within the bounds of the rules, however last time I flew Delta out of MSP I'm pretty sure out rifle case got opened on every flight/connection. We had our knives and a few other odds and ends in with our rifles, I watched a couple cases go through and ours get singled out and searched and heard "false alarm" from the guy checking it. Not a big deal, but if they search your stuff and its jam packed in there a certain way that don't really care how it gets put back in there. The windage on mine was off about 14" after the flight, the other rifle was fine. Next time I fly I'm going to be a little gun shy about it.