@Pheroze Its worth mentioning another thing beyond just saying "this americase is the best". A couple of horrible things can happen to guns in transport and I think I've seen the worst of it. I've had collector clients bring me weapons worth anywhere from $4000-$50,000 that were literally run over by vehicles (airport vehicles in South America seems a popular trend) and we've had to attempt a very difficult restoration on broken stocks with pins and rods afterwards. (in lieu of restocking a gun that could cost $5000-$10,000 not including wood)
So here are the key takeaways about gun cases to keep in mind:
1.) Foam isn't all the same. There is open celled foam and there is closed cell foam. Look at a custom fit case for say a $100,000 Meiselbach camera on the Internet or a similar high dollar item custom case interior. You'll note that the cells are closed and do not compress by the air squeezing out of them like a sponge. Good foam will be encapsulated, closed cell foam. This makes a huge difference when something is dropped. Closed cell foam has limited give and it is designed to isolate a valuable item. Alternatively, if you use open cell foam as the joules of force increases the weapon or any other item can defeat it because it doesn't provide as much resistance.
2.) 118 inches is important. That's the maximum combined LxWxH measurement. People have less problems when you approach that size limit because baggage monkeys are less likely to accidentally or purposefully run over big items. (they have to convince their boss it was an accident, right?)
3.) Squares and rectangles are more obvious. Single rifle flat cases when tossed lie flat and are less obvious. More often lost, more often run over. Less resistant to damage because they are thinner. Big square cases are going to be 12" or more off the ground no matter which side is up. That is an obvious thing to see.
4.) Aluminum exteriors are easier to see. Black cases are easily lost by handlers at night but metal cases aren't nearly so easy to overlook.
Just an aside: I never pack any accessories or optics with the guns for a variety of reasons. One good reason is that if there is nothing in the case but an obvious rifle baggage screeners don't feel compelled to bust locks to take a look at mysterious items. Also, in my case two guns will make the 50 pound weight limit without scopes but not with. (my 2 gun case is 27 pounds, my 3 gun is 33 pounds) The 2 gun cases hit 50 pound maximum for no surcharge, the 3 gun case full is just under the 70 pound maximum legal limit for all air packages even with surcharge.
I learned a lot of these practical considerations in a former life when we were sending computer servers across the world overnight and couldn't risk it arriving damaged. Effectively the same advice was seen in the premium gun trade.
I find the best way to go through life for me is to look at what those with infinite resources and best quality goods do for their purchasing decisions. 98% of the time the items selected by billionaires with the best advisors giving them product recommendations do not cost measurably more than the item I was going to buy anyway. The safari gun airline case that is used with a $500,000 pair of Hartmann and Weiss rifles in standard form costs $435. To own the best case isn't going to cost much more than most other options.
) or skip the soft case and use the cabelas
