Rifle Shipping Boxes

[flatlander]

Anyone here ever found a good source of shipping boxes heavy enough to protect a fine custom target rifle from the gorillas at UPS? The boxes that the CMP used to ship M52 & 40X & other smallbore rifles in were perfect for my needs, but where ya gonna find boxes like that locally?

 

[Changeling]

Hi flatlander. Have you checked with the carriers like FEDX and others to see if they make heavy duty box’s in the size you need (just a thought).

Furniture store might have BIG box's you could cut/form into what you need.

What ever you come up with, insure it well against damage, you know what I mean!

 

[OldManTA]

Dennis,
I was out in Phoenix last year for the Western Wildcats and had to ship a barreled action back to Kentucky after the event. I ran across a place called Air Park Pack and Ship on Scottsdale Rd.. The fellows there were very accommodating and seemed to have any kind of box, case you could need. I realize you are not in the Phoenix area but I have to believe that if you called that store somebody there would give you good information or point you to an affiliate near you. Hope that helps.

Tom Alves

 

[spclark]

The boxes that the CMP used to ship M52 & 40X & other smallbore rifles in were perfect for my needs, but where ya gonna find boxes like that locally?

Bought in bulk it's easy & cost-effective to get what you want. For our needs, to ship a rifle you want to protect, buy a good quality rifle case.

Bought on-line & shipped to you, you can re-use the cardboard carton it'll likely come inside of. If bough locally, appliance & building material outlets often have waste cardboard you can have for the asking out of which you can get enough to wrap most anything.

Without the protection a good rifle case provides, shipping fine rifles in just cardboard is foolish.

 

[Greyfox]

My local FFL gets two part boxes that slip inside each other. They are approximately 8" square and about 4' long. Slipping inside like that makes double cardboard and if you pack around the rifle with foam pellets, news paper or whatever until it's snug, they work very well. ULine makes the box. Just looked at the ULine catalogue and I think it is S-4921 telescopic. The total length of both parts is 90". When they are put together it's 48". Not sure if you can buy them individually. It's worth calling about. 1-800-295-5510. If you ship a lot of long guns or have friends to share the buy, it would be a good deal.
Rick

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Brownell's used to carry them.

 

[watercam]

Midway had some foam lined heavy duty cardboard boxes specifically for rifles. In lieu of that I have used snow board boxes, golf club boxes, boxes from gun stores trash heaps, you name it. There is nothing preventing you from forming your own from larger boxes and doubling up the wall thickness. Large tubes would work as well.

 

[GNERGY]

Sometimes you can get those big round cardboard tubes from carpet stores. They are strong and you can stand on them. Either cut a piece of wood for the ends or just tape them up really good. I used a big cardboard tube to ship a rifle to Montana that I built for a friend. Got there in perfect shape.
Just a thought.
Tarey

 

[Rtheurer]

I use the cheaper Plastic Hard cases, then go back to the store and get the Carboard box that the hard case comes in, so that it does not look like a gun case during shipping. Just a rectangle shaped box with a hard case inside. Been doing that for some time now. Only once I had damage when there was Fork Lift Marks on the cardboard and the stock was broke in half.

 

[Phil]

I use either the local gun shop OR buy a cheepie gun case from a retailer and ask if they have the shipping box for it....

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Pvc pipe if you like over doing things.

 

[Duster_360]

Just went through this to ship a rifle to a gunsmith.....

Seems cheap rifle cases are packed 10 or 12 to a box these days, so no individual boxes with cheap cases (case I bought is a Plano case about $30). UPS and FedEx boxes are much too big - 12x12 and 16x16 - both 48" long but can easily put 2 together to make the length you want. Will just need a ton of packing.....

I went to to a bicycle shop and asked for an empty box - they were glad to give me one and in a few minutes with a box cutter at home, I had a fitted shipping box good enough that the smith has told me my barreled action will be coming back in the box I sent it in.

 

[Syncrowave]

Anyone here ever found a good source of shipping boxes heavy enough to protect a fine custom target rifle from the gorillas at UPS?

Quarter-inch welded steel plate should do it. It's only 10 pounds per square foot!

 

[azmetalman]

I purchase boxes by the bundle from Uline.com. (http://www.uline.com/BL_433/Rifle-Boxes) Buy low static foam noodles in bulk on eBay. I wrap the weapon in plastic kitchen wrap just prior to packing. This keeps any fine particles of foam out of the nooks and crannies and protects the wood and metal finishes from possible abrasion caused by the foam vibrating against the weapon. Put a newspaper plug in the bottom end of an assembled carton, hold the weapon in the center of the box and pour the noodles down around it tamping them down as you go. Finish off by cramming another wad of newspaper in the open top end before sealing. Seal both ends with the best packing tape you can find. I ship by FexEx ground. Numerous rifles or shotguns shipped with complete satisfaction.
I hope this helps. It has worked flawlessly for me.

 

[thekriebles]

I use either the local gun shop OR buy a cheepie gun case from a retailer and ask if they have the shipping box for it....

I use either the local gun shop OR buy a cheepie gun case from a retailer and ask if they have the shipping box for it....

I do the same as Phil. I'll purchase a hard-shelled interior-padded gun case and my one FFL wraps the case with bubble wrap and places it inside a firearm box, since they typically have many of them.