Packaging A Rifle For Shipping

[JohnW...ski]

All the parts are coming together for an upcoming build. I plan to build a wooden box to cradle the finished rifle in bubble wrap and hold all the parts also in bubble wrap for the trip to the gunsmith. I also plan to wrap the wooden box in cardboard taping all edges and seams with glass re-enforced paper packing tape. I feel that with the cardboard sheath it will just look like another box.

Any thoughts or better ideas.

Thanks,

John

 

[doc gordon]

sounds good.i've used boxes florescent light fixtures come in. they are the toughest packaging I've seen! I wrap small bubble wrap or thin Styrofoam to fill container. good luck with build.

 

[NateHaler]

dang, sounds like a LOT of work, and your time is worth something. If I don't have a crummy case that somebody used to send a rifle to me, then I'll spend $25 on a plastic case at Walmart, and then ensure the bolt etc. is wrapped in a clean old sock so they won't scrape each other in the case. After latching the case, I seal the locking provisions with zip ties, and then tape over the latches with 100mph tape (aka duct tape) just to be sure. Then I put that in whatever box will fit (try the local golf equipment store) and it's good to go. The outer box is only for disguise and a bit of abrasion resistance.

I'm guessing it will take you a couple of hours to build a wooden box, plus materials. Me, I'd want $150 for two hours of my spare time.

Like this (the Walmart case): http://www.walmart.com/ip/Plano-Gun-Guard-SE-Series-Single-Rifle-Case-Black/20893853

 

[huffmanite]

Reads like it should work just fine.....might be on the over-build side though. Lol, remember first time I shipped a rifle to a gunsmith many states away from me. Made a nice box from wood, lined it with foam rubber, styofoam and etc. Gunsmith to receive it was impressed. LOL.

 

[liljoe]

Go to your local packaging supply and get some expanding foam inserts. They have 2 part expanding foam in them. You break the packet inside them and mix the components together, and in about 5 seconds they expand and fill any space around the item.

I recently shipped a couple guns and used them. They are the slickest thing ever to use around odd shaped items for shipping.

I got a couple from work to try them and highly recommend them. Sure is a lot easier than building a crate.

Joe Hynes

 

[gotcha]

Hi John, Don't know if you intend to ship stock w/ rifle. I recently sent a Remy off for a re-barrel. I bought 3" (I.D.) PVC pipe & 2 end caps. Cut a piece long enough to hold barreled action, wrapped action w/ bubble wrap then wrapped bolt seperately. I glued the cap on one end then drilled holes in the other cap to attach w/ screws which could be removed by Gunsmith. Shipped via USPO. The parts arrived at Gunsmith in perfect shape. Oh, I rasped the PVC on the end w/ the removeable cap (reduced diameter slightly) so the cap could be easily removed by the Smith. Also drilled small vent hole in pipe to release suction upon removing cap. I won't say the PVC is indestructable (some shippers could destroy an anvil) but it stood up very well. Just an alternate idea.

 

[dansig]

I just received my rifle from an ffl, it travelled about 3000 miles in the states and then 10.000 miles from the ffl to me.

it was packed in a really cheap plastic rifle case that was put in a cardboard box with a few airfilled bags...

it arrived without a scratch.


any cheap rifle case is enough for transporting a rifle, that's what they are made for.

 

[Forum Boss]

any cheap rifle case is enough for transporting a rifle, that's what they are made for.

You were lucky. I've seen stocks broken, hinges ripped off, scopes damaged -- even inside plastic gun cases. Morever. UPS will not honor claims with certain types of packaging if you don't double box. Most conventional cheap gun cases don't have enough clearance (from lid to base) for wide-forearm benchrest rifles. This a a big problem if you have the scope mounted.