Rifle cases

Gryphon Black · Post by **Gryphon Black** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:30 pm

We need a case to carry two or three long guns to the range with. We'd also like it to do duty as a serviceable bugout box, if we have to grab a few guns and leave town fast.
We've seen a few airline rated cases, and they seem a little overbuilt for what we need, and priced comensurate with that. But the other ones seem underbuilt, and unlikely to survive ordinary wear and tear.
For the range, we'd carry two lever rifles, or maybe those plus a pump shotgun. For bugout, we'd probly have one rifle, one 12gauge, and a pistol or so. Couple boxes of ammo, but not a lot of lead in the case itself.
We saw SKB cases that we liked, but they didn't have the right size, and we saw a welded aluminum case apparently made for Cabela's, also well made, but a little heavy. It would be good if Milady could heft it, packed with rifles, and she is slowed a bit by painful hands.
There was a pistol case on the shelf made by Pelican, and they seem to be making waterproof boxes that I liked the build of, but no rifle cases on the shelf to inspect.

What do y'all use?
What should I steer clear of?
What isn't worth the price?

Not in a terrible rush, and not afraid to pay a couple dollars for the right equipment, just don't wanna pay for something I don't need, and I'd like to hear what the voice of experience says.

thanks, Gryphon

deerwhacker444 · Post by **deerwhacker444** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:39 pm

I have never used one of their rifle cases, but I've bought a couple of their small cases to make game cams out of.

http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1720

IMO, the small cases have been almost bullet proof. Nicely constructed, tough and waterproof. You might want to take a look at some of their Transport cases, they look "Bugout Ready".

http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1780W

gundownunder · Post by **gundownunder** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:00 pm

I use an UncleMikes bag at the moment but I used to use a wood case that I made myself. Your own homemade box means it fits your rifle and any accesories you want to add, perfectly, and looks good while it does it.

Post by **AmBraCol** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:48 pm

Storm cases were recommended to me by Jeff Quinn over at http://www.gunblast.com back in February when I needed something to bring a couple rifles back with me. They are not light, but they ARE well built. AND the one I got has wheels which makes getting it around fairly easy, just grab the handle on the end and wheel it off. And for a "bug out bag" it would be hard to beat. Keep it packed with a couple guns and some ammo and just toss it in the back of your vehicle and take off. It will keep your gear dry and well protected. Yes, it's a bit on the heavy side, but is about as well engineered as one could ask. You can custom fit your guns to the foam inserts or (like I did) just sanwich them in there between the foam - worked great.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... t=11082005

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:25 pm

I traveled with a wheeled hard golf club case to hunt TX. It would easily do what you want. Mine was $70 at Dick's.

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:14 pm

If you want hard plastic, get the Storm Tracker. The latches are much superior to the Pelican.

If you want metal, the Bear Track sold by Freedom Arms is a dandy choice.
http://www.beartrackcases.com/

Hank Dodge · Post by **Hank Dodge** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:23 pm

I've got one of the Pelican "Gun Vault" rifle cases. It is VERY secure and heavy. I would have no reservations about transporting my guns anywhere inside that case. It is heavy and bulky though; so a trip to the range or a jaunt in the woods often utilizes a soft case for protection.

Has anyone used the Tac-Force ballistic cloth cases advertised in the Dillon catalog? I've been looking at their rectangular two-gun rifle case as weapons case for bug-out applications. Anyone have one or an opinion on them?

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:59 pm

Another vote for Pelican. I have one that holds 3 long guns if I fit them in right. On one end it has rollers with a handel on the other end and a handel on the side if you want to carry it like normal. Its a large case but it fits in the back of my Nissan with little trouble.

Gryphon Black · Post by **Gryphon Black** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:57 pm

Yeah, we were thinking favorably about the water proof idea, as it then wouldn't matter what the weather was if you needed to stack stuff on the ground for some reason. Rubbermaid totes are great for that too! None of the long guns are stainless, and I wouldn't want to have to baby anything in transport regarding the weather.
Though maybe we need two separate things, one for light weight range duty, and another for disasters.
The more I reck on it, the more it seems the needs of the two concepts mutually exclude.
It's highly unlikely either of us will fly with long guns for any reason, so airplane rated impact resistance isn't really needed, but in looking at the options, you can't get medium duty. There's light and cheezy, and gorilla grade. I know better than to buy a rigid case that is bottom-market, so it's either the airplane grade stuff, something I make myself, or something suggested here.
The golf club case is interesting, I'll have to consider that...

cw · Post by cw » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:08 am

You are right that the two goals are mutually exclusive. I know of nothing light that gives major protection. (If I find it, I will buy it.)

If you want a super solid, waterproof, air-tight case that looks and feels like a Pelican but at a better price, look at a Doskocil All-Weather. I paid $85 for each of mine, although Googling just now, most I see are around $130 - 140. They may have changed the name, but it the newer model looks like this one: http://www.cases4less.com/detail_seal_tight_lcp.html
(Pelican is a lot more $ and 8# heavier, but they have more sizes.) These have a solid piece of foam where you can lay out your rifles in the exact position you want, and cut around them with a freshly-sharpened knife. Each then fits into it's own pocket, and can't hit, rub, or touch anything. You can cut fitted slots for accessories. It looks custom when done. Not at all like the generic two pieces of eggshell foam. I like plenty separation between metal and wood parts. I put an M1 Garand in one with a scoped '06 bolt gun, both 24", and good separation. I would not put in two scoped bolt guns, but you could probably get in 3 smaller carbines or lever guns, possibly four if you go to two layers for slab-sides.

For light and small, I use a foam case that I place inside a nylon folding chair case to keep it low profile when coming or going from the apt. building. I sometimes use a cardboad box between the two cases, with extra layers at the muzzle and around sensitive areas like sights or nice wood. This is cheap, flexible, and minimalist, and you can change the padding between layers if your trunk has hazards which require more protection.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:19 am

I've never tested the Storm Trackers, but I have a LOT of experience with Pelican cases.

There's a reason the FEMA HazMat teams and DoD use them, and it isn't because they're flimsy...

I particularly like the O ring seals and Depressurization valves on the better Pelicans.

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:48 am

I think you usually get what you pay for.

I think hard cases are a pain and don't use them. I got Dad a two gun hard case for his skeet guns and that thing is nearly as long as my truck bed (or so it seems). It is distinctly unwieldly. Also, a multi-gun case is not as flexible as multiple cases in that you can't part out the collection with protection. In the end you're left with a big empty box (which might be a good flotation device).

It seems to me that in my concept of bugging out I don't need the gun(s) locked in a box. However, your concept of bugging out might be different, such as evacuating in front of a hurricane.

Gryphon Black · Post by **Gryphon Black** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:27 pm

Earthquakes, actually. The puget sound is pretty well protected from almost any weather related disaster, save a heavy ice storm, but a hefty ground shake would put everybody here in a serious pinch. And our neighborhood is transitional for us, a rental in a lower-middle class concentration of rentals. If our building got damaged in a quake, we'd be obliged to head for the woods. If it didn't get damaged, but others did, we'd be fighting off looters. Not where I plan to live forever, but it's where we are now, so we're making a plan.
We decided on the light soft cases for the range, and so far we think the pelican will do for bugout. The Mossberg has a 20 in barrel and the rifle has an 18.5, so it wouldn't need to be the long case. That would leave enough room for one of her pistols and some ammo, and fit nicely in whichever rig we decided to take.

Thanks for the input, folks. Very helpful!

Gryphon