Hard Cases for Rifles

Mike.

KLM : Licences
To be able to take firearms and/or ammunition with you on a flight, you will need to make a reservation via your travel agent or via Telephone Reservations. You will also need a number of licences:

•A licence for the firearm in question
•Import and export licences for the countries in question
•A licence from the Dutch customs authorities for travel to, from or via the Netherlands

Also, on all SAS flights you must have bolt and ammo in one case and rifle in a approved guncase.

The advice is to contact your traveling agent, or airline, to have all info, and make sure to have info in writing ! IE. KLM new regulations was done 28/3 2010.

Swedish/Scandinavian rules/law. You can not transport your rifle, if you not have visual sight of rifle, with bolt inside rifle or vital part separated from gun. IF and when you leave rifle unattended, in a car, you must bring the bolt or other vital part in your pocket.

Mikehh375

This is my last response on this thread. It is legal and smart to fly with the bolt in the same case.

KLM is easy to fly. Submit the Netherland's consent form prior to flying through Amsterdam and make certain you have the correct paperwork. A good outfitter/travel agent will make this easy.

SAS does not require the bolt in a separate case.

A good Pelican, Storm, or TuffPack is hard to beat. A good experienced travel agent that specializes in Africa hunting is a must. It is not that hard.

Fellow hunters. this seems to be a long story, so, to make everyone understand the importance of contacting your airline and/or travelagent, read this from SAS : Sporting and other weapons
Sporting and other weapons may only be transported as cargo or checked baggage, i.e. transportation as unchecked baggage is forbidden.
The weapons must be suitably packed and ammunition must be removed.
The firearm must be divided into two pieces with the bolt packed in a separate piece of checked baggage.
At departure the firearms must always be declared at the check-in or baggage drop.

Scandinavian Airlines Special Baggage

Re KLM. Yes its very easy to fly, but its very important to get all licenses, and this takes about 14 days.

I know I said my previous post was my last but I wanted to make a small correction to that post. South Africa Air (SAA) is whom I was referring to. Maybe when Scandanavian Air (SAS) starts flying to Africa it will matter.

Originally Posted by Mike70560

I know I said my previous post was my last but I wanted to make a small correction to that post. South Africa Air (SAA) is whom I was referring to. Maybe when Scandanavian Air (SAS) starts flying to Africa it will matter.

Its really matters, we are a lot of hunters in Scandinavian countries, and to get connected flight to Africa, or America or Asia, we use SAS ( Scandinavian Airline....)

Originally Posted by lblee08

I will be traveling to South Africa for the first time for a safari hunt next June, and am looking for suggestions for good hard cases to pack my rifles for the trip. I have heard all of the horror stories about damaged guns and optics as a result of baggage handlers etc. and want to insure that my equipment arrives safely. Thank you.

Hey, this thread took an interesting turn but few comments related to your question. I've had one of the Cabela's branded aluminum cases with few complaints. But it is big and shiny and really obvious which may not be what you want. On my last trip to Africa I noticed that many folks had the SKB cases. No review from me but the number in use spoke volumes to me and I'll probably pick one up sometime. Check it out the SKB cases click here.The Pelican's are really popular too. And do take insurance out on your gear before you go. It's a common sense thing to do. Have fun!

Eric

I picked up a Cabela's Safari Case 2 gun. We will see how it does. Like someone else said if it does not hold up I will take it back

Best buy a good one.

This one handled being crushed and punctured by Sydney Airport Baggage handlers.

Does anyone have experience traveling abroad with Americase? I have one for an O/U shotgun that I have used extensively in the States and have had zero trouble. They make one called Two Gun Safari.
Two Gun Safari - AT2GUN - Rifle Cases
Thanks

Hi Iblee08, have a look at this link, they are practically indestructible and watertight, Pelican case 1750 for shipping and carrying

I use SKB and couldn't be happier.

In Germany the best hard cases are from:
Eisele Koffersysteme

They can make everything.
:-)

I am trying to decide between a Boyt Case: BOYT HARNESS COMPANY, LLC
and a Tuffpak Tuffpak Gun Case - The Adventure Begins When You Pak.

It seems that a lot of you like the Tuffpak..and its idea is trying to hide the fact there is a gun in there. The problem I have is there anyone here-or any place where I can see how the rifle is actually packed/secured inside of the Tuffpak?

The Boyt can have the foam custom cut for the shape of the contents...do you just shove sweatshirts around the rifle in the Tuffpak..lol?

Also-does the Tuffpak have the ability to be secured with padlocks?

If anyone can let me know where I can learn more about the Tuffpak's let me know..their site isn't the best and I haven't seen them at Cabelas.

I had a custom sock made for my Tuffpak that is split down the middle so it can be laid wide open. When closed it is secured by HD velcro. I place coats, shirts (something soft in the bottom of the sock) I then place my two rifles that are in their separate soft gun cases. I then lay something under the cases (forearm & barrel area) and on top of the cases in front of the scopes. BTW the guns go in barrel first. My goal is have the end of the gun cases near the end of the Tuffpak with just enough room again for a coat or shirt for padding. When going through TSA or Customs I remove the shirt, pull the sock and unzip the gun cases for inspection of the guns. So far I have never had to remove the guns from their cases. I remove the bolts and wrap them in bubble wrap so not to damage the gun. I lay the wrapped bolts by the barrel. So far TSA and Customs liked the way I handled the bolts. They can then see all the other stuff as well. I push the sock back in, add the shirt, lock the lid and I'm on my way. One big advantage to the Tuffpak is the ability to pack other items in the gun case.

I have a Pelican case for a professional grade LOMO Russian telescope that is far more delicate than any rifle. It has never been knocked out of alignment in the Pelican case. Pelican cases are used by the US military for transporting rifles and all kinds of sophisticated things like delicate electronic gear. The only downside I see are that they are rather heavy. I use ADG Sports cases for transport of my rifles, but they aren't safari grade in my opinion, just much lighter than Pelican and about half the cost. Would work for stacking in a larger trunk, and much handier to carry around than the heavyweights once you arrive at your destination.

I you know somebody who is a woodworker, he could custom build you cases from marine grade baltic birch plywood. It doesn't dent like aluminum, and you can get it with hard plastic laminate that resists scuffing. It's the kind of stuff that professional touring musicians have their instrument cases made from. It's designed for constant touring. You can buy a cargo trunk made from that material and throw several ordinary rifle cases in it.

Go Pelican if you expect the rifle case to take all the abuse. Personally, I would probably dismount scopes and carry all the optics that I could in my personal carry-on baggage. Any well made scope mount tends to be return-to-zero or close to it as long as you don't loosen the rings around the scope tube. It also allows you to carry an extra rifle in the case with the scopes dismounted.

I would wrap each rifle individually in at least a thick gun sock, but better yet foam rubber sheets. Scopes can be wrapped in rubber foam sheets and placed in a piece of plastic drain pipe with duct taped end caps at a dirt cheap price. Even in a common suitcase that gets crushed in a cargo hold, they would come through unscathed.

Not too impressed with most rifle cases I have owned or seen. With some woodworking equipment and baltic birch marine plywood, I think I could beat just about everything out there for far less money, but I'm counting my own labor as free.

I am taking an older aluminum Saf-T-Case that I bought new in 1984 this trip to Zim in June. Its big and shiny but pretty tough. In '09 going to RSA I took a different approach and used a Doscocil take down case, one of the inexpensive models. I reinforced the lock plates with bolts, lined the lids with plywood under the foam and taped an old leather belt around the whole affair to hold it together if the locks failed. If it sounds like a lot of work and trouble, well it was and I wont do it again. The biggest problem for me at least was fiddling around with the silly little keyed locks on the case and always dealing with the belt. It did the job allright, just to slow and fiddlefarty. The foam rotted out of my big case so had to reline with various pcs of foam robbed from other cases laying about. I think the Pelican is a good case but quite heavy.

I have 2 pelican double rifle cases that have been everywhere with me with out a single hitch. I can confidently say that if somebody purchased one they wouldn't regret it.

I love my Hardigg IM3300 Stormcase (by pelican) It is their military line of cases and is a bit cheaper than their originals as well as being 1/2" wider which is a big advantage when transporting 2 large rifles. It is designed to be thrown out of helicopters (similar to how careful baggage handlers are) and still protect the contents well.

I have ordered my case from ICC. Goggle them and you will find a group of nice cases. I suggest the .080 thickness and get one with wheels. I have 2 custom cases from them for my 50BMG rifles and they are very strong.
I like their cases and they were also suggested by someone who has hunted Africa 7 times.

Originally Posted by bwana ndege

Hi Iblee08, have a look at this link, they are practically indestructible and watertight, Pelican case 1750 for shipping and carrying

I just picked up a Pelican 1750 for my first Safari. Very solid, strong and with wheels!