Harbor Freight gun case — looking for feedback

[LuvDog]

I just bought 2 Pelican Vault V770's to try.

I think they are a good balance between weight and size for back and forth duties. My current rifles just barely fit. No way, I'd air travel with this case and the minimal padding around the rifle and optic though.

For the most part, I think hard cases are over kill for back and forth and the weight they add isn't worth it. But I also find that placing a soft case in the back of my truck is more effort than the ease of a hard case sliding in.

 

[Tommie]

The HF rifle cases are heavy duty - and heavy is the operative word. The pluck type foam is a little flimsy but works. I’d take a guess that the HF case would offer similar rifle protection to a Pelican but can’t say for sure.

 

[demarpaint]

I have one, grabbed it on sale. Well worth the money, very well constructed, heavy.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Clay
I have 3 of the HF Apache cases. I put my RFBR guns in them.
Have driven from Byers to Delta with them. No problems yet.
Yes there heavy. but heavy is good to protect a rifle.
Gary

 

[284winner]

People should buy what they want. If they feel the name brand is worth the extra $$$, by all means, buy it. I buy things for how they work. Name means nothing to me. If I'm putting a rifle inside a case and it has all the necessary protection the rifle needs, I'm all for the cost savings of a non name brand. If it's gonna take a major beating like maybe in an airport, maybe I'll do more comparing for its durability and ruggedness. I buy RTIC and Sportsmans Warehouse coolers instead of YETI because I get the same quality cooler at half the price. I do this with everything I own. I also own a couple of HF Apache cases. One rifle and one suit case style for electronics for my boat. They do the job (FOR ME) as well as any Pelican would at a third of the price.

 

[Trigger-Jerker]

Harbor Freight will be having their January parking lot sale open to all from the 16th-19th.
Apache 9800 is listed to be on sale for $95.00. That price could change slightly between now and then but if you are in the market it’s worth waiting a few days.

 

[Lefty2506]

My problem with rifle cases is getting the rifle to stay inside the case. If you have multiple rifles then buying inserts, cutting them to fit, and then having to store the ones not in use is a real pain in the rear. Regardless of brand, a double rifle case will comfortably fit 2 traditional scoped rifles. If those rifles are ARs, or if they have a chassis and large optics with target turrets, you often can't fit 2 rifles in them. They are also bulky and heavy regardless of brand. I have 4 Pelican cases that I picked up used for a very good price several years ago. 2 are V800s and 2 are IM3300s. The IM3300s are definitely stronger, but last spring I opted to buy a new V770 because its a little shorter (fits into most vehicles more easily), lighter and easier to handle. I'm currently only using it for my Savage model 12 which has a 26" barrel, sits in an Oryx chassis and wears an Athlon Ares ETR optic. I've cut the insert to fit, but my plan is to buy a magpul DAKA insert for it so that I can quickly and easily reconfigure the insert for what ever AR, bolt gun, or shotgun I want to put in it. I need a 2nd case because I often take 2 rifles when I travel to hunt. When I go to buy the 2nd, I'll have to compare the cost of a V770 and the DAKA inserts to the comparable DAKA rifle case to see which would be a better fit for my needs, and then sell off most of the bigger cases.

 

[LuvDog]

I wish the V770 was just a bit wider and longer. But not as big as the 800.

My rifles with 28” barrels in chassis with big glass just barely fit.