Hard Case for Rifle?

VanderLaan

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Need a double case that will stand up to abuse from the airlines. Any suggestions?

Thanks.
 
Theres all kinds of cases that will do it. Look at Cabelas and other big hunt stores. I have done it with an old SafTCase thats out of business, aluminum. And also used a cheapo Doscocil plastic case. Did need to do some work on it in the way of reinforcing it by adding another layer of thin wood to the two halves and adding bolts to the latches to augment the rivets. Plus added an old leather belt to encircle the whole thing when locked. I wont do it again though, too much trouble. Spend as much as you can afford and get something good but too heavy. I like the look of the Cabelas brand cases but havent used one. Pelican makes good cases but they are really heavy and bulky. Gotta watch the weight and size or you may get nicked for oversize baggage.
 
Theres all kinds of cases that will do it. ..... Pelican makes good cases but they are really heavy and bulky.

I agree that they are big and bulky.
They are good cases. With two rifles in them you certainly will use the integral wheels.
Buddies bought two before the last trip and they took everything thrown at them by the cargo handlers. All rifles were spot on when they arrived.

Pelican Products iM3300 Pelican Storm Long Case
 
I've had good luck with my Kalispel cases, but the wheels broke off my wife's the first time I used it. I don't like wheels on my luggage anyway, so it isn't a problem for me: mine don't have wheels. The cases themselves are sturdy.

Kalispel cases were made by an indian tribe that decided it could make more money in other ventures and are no longer made. I understand there is another company now making them to the same specs but I can't vouch for the new ones.
 
Boyt makes a good one. Just got one for my dad for christmas. But again put two guns in it and it gets hevy.

http://www.boytharness.com/inventoryD.asp?item_no=40062&CatId={6D8C1062-2237-46AF-B8B8-67CD1821965C}
 
I agree that they are big and bulky.
They are good cases. With two rifles in them you certainly will use the integral wheels.
Buddies bought two before the last trip and they took everything thrown at them by the cargo handlers. All rifles were spot on when they arrived.

Pelican Products iM3300 Pelican Storm Long Case

X3 and make sure it is the STORM case mot just the regular Pelican. They are both made by Pelican but the STORM case os a tiny bit wider which is nice when you want to fit 2 big scoped guns in, the folding handles are awesome and the latches are way better than on the standard pelican case.

I took this one last year and was fine for size and weight. Obviously oversize but gun cases slide in under the oversize sports equipment exception on many airlines and I was only charged for an extra bag (no oversize charges on United and SAA) The guns pictured are big guns - 26" bbl and the stock on the black one is huge but there is plenty of room and with the custom fit foam my $5000+ worth of guns and scopes WILL arrive safe and sound even if they drop them from the plane while landing then back over them a couple times while retreiving them! LOL Well worth an extra $50-100 IMO.

IMG_1462.JPG
 
I use a TuffPak case and it can carry two rifles in soft cases plus lots of other gear. The design of the Tuffpak almost ensures that it is loaded on top of the luggage carts rather than on the bottom of the pile. My Tuffpak has been to Africa 6 times and across the US several times with absolutely no damage to the rifles. The case itself has lots of gouges and scrapes on it but still going strong. Unfortunately, I have seen a flat aluminum gun case that came off the airplane in Atlanta that was so bowed in the middle that there was no doubt that the rifle(s) inside were broke in two.
 
Thumbs up for the TuffPak. If you get one be sure to get the sack that goes inside with it. I also put an inch of foam in the bottom. I usually take two rifles, put each rifle into a soft case and into the sack and then into the Tuffpak. You can stuff a few clothes or other items around as well and still stay under the 50 pound limit. I also remove the bolts from the rifles and put them inside a pair of socks inside the Tuffpak. When you get to customs you can open the top of case and unzip the soft case and slide the rifle out enough so they can check serial numbers and with the bolt out it is easy to see it is empty. Slide the rifle back into the soft case zip it up, put the lid back on, relock it and good to go!

Tuffpak Sport Cases from Nalpak
 
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Add another vote for Tuffpak, I too put two rifle in my soft carry cases, which I use after we're in the truck. Plus I've put heavier coats, even binocs in the case with it. I've put TSA approved locks on it and been present for the inspection, and twice got there with the locks missing, once they were cut off and put inside the case, and once they were left unlocked. Thank you TSA...........
 
Add another vote for Tuffpak, I too put two rifle in my soft carry cases, which I use after we're in the truck. Plus I've put heavier coats, even binocs in the case with it. I've put TSA approved locks on it and been present for the inspection, and twice got there with the locks missing, once they were cut off and put inside the case, and once they were left unlocked. Thank you TSA...........

Maybe someone else could chime in but I don't think you are supposed to use a TSA lock on your gun case? It is supposed to be a regular lock?
 
Maybe someone else could chime in but I don't think you are supposed to use a TSA lock on your gun case? It is supposed to be a regular lock?

Thats what I thought but I've had them cut off, bought ones at my destination and had those cut off as well. Absolutely no consistency in their process at all.
 
Thats what I thought but I've had them cut off, bought ones at my destination and had those cut off as well. Absolutely no consistency in their process at all.

Government at its best!! Lol. I am almost positive when I went last may that the rules we read said no TSA locks. Otherwise some baggage guy could get in it. Did they leave one of those friendly reminders in your case? You know the one that says we went trough tour bag and messed it up for you?
 
TSA: Traveling with Special Items

It doesn't say no TSA locks......but it says...

"A locked container is defined as one that completely secures the firearm from being accessed."

To me that means no TSA locks. Buy enough of those TSA locks and you have all the keys. You can get into just about any TSA lock.
 
I have a whole collection of those dumb inserts. Like I couldn't tell because they never put things back in any fashion that resembled how I did it. :) I'm going to Argentina in March and will see if I can get an answer and take a few extra locks along with me just in case.
 
Well good luck!.....hopefully this trip to hunt?
 
Thats true. Regular locks on guns, not TSA locks.
 
Took a Cabela's Safari Double Gun Case last time. Held up going but on the way back the bottom got a big dent and one of the miters was split. I'll have it fixed and use it again until it is only good to move guns. I have Pelican Cases and they are great as well.
 
Definitely no TSA locks. I know that from bad experience. th day this rule came into effect the airlines apparently had no prior notice and when we showed up to fly home from New Mexico they said no to the TSA locks we had flown down with and we had to buy regular locks for the guns. Fortunately the airline staff as nice enough to sell us their locker locks and even nicer to sell them for what they were actually worth!!!

If you look closely at the gun case picture above theye are 6 new locks lined up in a slit in the foam and when I travel there is a note inside that reads "If locks are cut please use 2 of the provided locks". This way I am assued of no lock issues for at least 4 legs of the trip. I they cut your locks and no replacements are available it is their right to say that they are no longer properly secured and cannot be placed back on your plane. Rediculous but true.
 
Hard case for rifles

Diamondhitch is right. No TSA locks on your gun case. I also like his idea of extra locks inside the case. I'll have to get some for my next trip in July. :)

I have a Cabela's heavy duty aluminum double rifle case that I've used on three trips to Africa and two Canadian hunts.

A few things that I've done to my case is in addition to the ID tag that hangs on the handle, I used a black permanent marker to write my name and address in 1" high letters on the top of the case, and I put 3 sticky return address labels on the top of the case.

Then to make my case stand out or not look like someone else's, I painted the corners of the case with bright paint.
 
What the He11 is a TSA lock???

And why is it that your NOT supposed to use a TSA lock??? If it is what I think it is (something they can open) why are we not supposed to use them?

Thanks

Oh, and I have traveled the world with a Bear Track Case made in the U.S.A. in Wyoming.

Their double rifle case has always taken out everything the airlines could dish out and I have never had a rifle lose a zero much less be damaged.

Bear Track Cases

I have no affiliation with them, but I am a very satisfied customer. I only wish they had the model with wheels when I bought mine...but mine wont die to give me a reason to buy a new one.
 

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