Hard rifle cases Is there a middle of the road?

[dreever]

I have a very good rifle case which is a Starlite. However it like the pelican and Storm are HEAVY AS HELL! They afford maximum protection in the $200.00 price range.
I also have a couple of El Cheepo ($20-$30) cases from Gander mountain etc. which are nice and light but definately leave something to be desired.

Is there something out there between the two both in price and weight for everyday use. Airline travel gets the heavy duty expensive ones, I'm talking about road trips to different ranges.

Danny

 

[500/416nitro]

Winchester makes some gun cases, they are probably half the weight of a Pelican case and less than half the price. They are alloy cases and they are about 90-125 dollars. They are great for going to the range and for storage. I don't think there made as well as a pelican or a boyt hard plastic case but they are much easier to lug around.

 

[Moderator]

Danny,

A lot of us like the Plano AirGlide. They were on sale last week for $34.00 with free shipping.

Gun goes in from the top. Plenty of width for 3"-wide forearms. No side-load on the scope/sights. You can place them on the ground, lid open and the gun is still pretty well protected from dust.

AirGlides are "airline-rated" but I would want something much sturdier for airline travel, with heavy INTERNAL metal locks. If I ever travel overseas to a match I'd probably pop for a welded safari "toaster-style" metal case from Ziegel engineering. But that could run $700.00 or more.

 

[TheBlueEyedBear]

Danny;
Your observation is right-on. Once you leave the high-end cases the quality really falls off quickly. You can save a lot of money, but it is pretty much a crap-shoot on quality.

As far as high-end cases: I went to http://www.americase.com/pages/order/4003.shtml
to have a couple cases built to meet extra length requirements. Americase make great sturdy casess,,,,, but, with the cost to go with them.

Barry

 

[mod70]

Do you have a link to the winchester cases? I have been looking for # C0311321 for a number of years but to no avail.
Thanks!
John Roberts

 

[Rust]

There are two quality levels in rifle cases, not much better than a cardboard box, and good. Price range seems to break down into $50 and below, and $200 and above.

That $200 is about 5% of what a top line competition rifle with top line optics costs.

 

[dreever]

Bear,

I agree completely.

Paul,

I know a lot of guys that use those however I don't think they are for me.

Rust

You are absolutely right. However it isn't the money so much as the weight. Using a case that weighs 25# empty, then adding a rifle that weighs lets say 17# that 42 pounds to lug around. There has to be something out there that gives pretty good protection in the 10-15 pound weight range.

Danny

 

[clowdis]

I have been using one of the aluminum cases (forget the mfg.) for range duty as well as airline travel. The rifles have made the trips via airline as well as UPS quite well but the case has taken one heck of a beating. I think I paid something like $110 for it at Gander Mountain and it will last a few years but I would consider it a "consumable" item. It would probably last forever if I just carried it myself to and from matches.

 

[Rust]

I do have some of the "inexpensive" cases, and they are used mainly to haul rifles to the local range. Not the match rifles for a couple of reasons, either the rifles don't really fit in the cases, and/or the carrying handles aren't all that stout.

My stout cases all have wheels but the wheels aren't suited for dirt. I've seen a couple of modified folding luggage dollys (bigger wheels installed) that some folks use around the range to haul a couple of rifle caes and equipment (mat, spotting scope and stand, folding chair etc.) in one load. For general use this may be the best solution.

 

[anyrange]

Starlight are heavy.
Would something like this work
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=367281
or
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=418139&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=free&utm_campaign=10615

 

[dreever]

Larry,

The Flambeau case is the same one I got from Gander Mountain. It's definately a cheap case both in quality and price. The other case I haven't seen so I cannot comment on it.

Danny

 

[Gearheadpyro]

I've got the plano airglide (~$40) and really like it. The gun is held securely and the barrel never touches foam. I'm not sure I'd trust it on a plane, but for around here it's fantastic.

 

[flatlander]

Danny,
I've been using Plano Gunguard series cases for my LR prone & BR rifles for the past several years. These are rather heavy, but still a bit lighter than the $200 cases you mentioned in your initial post. They have wheels, 6 latches, an 'O' ring seal, closeable vent, and plenty of depth. The largest one (52"x13"x5-1/4") is what I use. Dealer on these in the latest JSC catalog is $115. They get tossed into the back of the truck when we travel to out-of-state HP matches, and work well for what I use 'em for.

 

[dreever]

Dennis,

Is this the one?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0029KDHQI/ref=asc_df_B0029KDHQI972816?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=nextag-sg-delta-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B0029KDHQI

Danny