Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Need a 2 gun case. Suggestions needed

Will be heading to Zimbabwe in August of next year and want to start getting all of the essentials that will be needed over the winter. I'm in need of a gun case that will handle 2 scoped rifles. I've never traveled out of the country with firearms before so am interested in what those that have recommend.

Feedback is appreciated greatly.

I've been to Africa (10) times and always used my two gun SKB gun case. Love it!

I also have been using an SKB 2 gun case for travel, over 10 years now. Works without issues.

Another vote for SKB. I have a "bunkbed" style two-rifle SKB case that's been on multiple safaris to Tanzania and South Africa w/o a hitch. Hell for stout and highly recommended.

Agree with all on the 2 gun SKB.

I have used the Pelican 1750 case for years. It comes with foam that you cut with an electric carving knife. I have carried both one and two scoped rifles many times without even a change in zero.

I use this case with a set of four Master padlocks which fit snuggly such that even if the latches are broken or pried open, it stays closed (never had a problem). The built in wheels are handy, as you pay for its sturdy construction with weight. Upside is that it’s tough for a thief to make away with. Highly recommend.

https://www.amazon.com/Pelican-Sele...9216&sprefix=pelican+1750&sr=8-4

I agree! Pelican first choice for a trip like that!

SKB is good, my 3 rd choice!

2nd choice is the metal cases the Olympic shooters use, we use to call them Caskets
KK Air International! Used them all, and like them all! A little bulky, and heavy!
But Good protection!

Pelican.

I have used them on 6 international trips, a number of domestic trips including float plans and many thousands of miles in the bed of a pickup.

Not a single issue, problem or concern.

Love my wheeled Pelican.

I bought the "Airline Approved" 2 gun SKB that stacks the rifles and really like it. No cutting out foam. Just face the rifles in different directions for the best fit. It was around 270.00 from Cabelas. Disclaimer: I have never been to Africa!!

I've always liked my Tuffpak with the carry-on saddle bag. It's been to Africa four times, Russia, Canada, etc. and I've never had an issue. However, I haven't flown with firearms for several years.

Mine is a wheeled 2-gun case from Impact Case. It has been around the world, including 2 trips to Africa, with no damage to firearms whatsoever.

Pelican/Storm about as good as it gets. Just way heavy. The new SKB are pretty nice but I don't like locks on the old ones. Strangly enough the Plano weatherguard works well for the money. Kalispell (spelling?) Made a really great welded aluminum case.

Have hunted Africa 10 times, plus Argentina. Have used a wheeled 2 gun case made by IMPACT each time. Never a problem. Would highly recommend.

Pelican 1750. It's a tank.

Tip: Use the shortest shanked, keyed alike, locks that you can find. Conveyor belt transitions eat long shanks like they were candy. And have a couple of copies of the key in your wallet, carry on, keychain.......

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm leaning toward the pelican. The wheels seem like they would come in handy.

The wheels are very useful.

Eagle mountainman makes excellent points about the locks and keys.

I put extra locks inside the case as insurance against lost or damaged locks.

The SKB comes with wheels also...

Have a couple of Storm/Pelican two scoped rifle cases that have made 30+ trips. I don't use the foam. I use cloths/jackets/sweaters for general padding bottom and top and the rifles in soft cases with the bolts removed and in a padded ballistic nylon knife case inside the rifle case. The knives, binos and any high value items go in the case.

Cases are showing some wear and the wheels came apart on one and they shipped me new sets for each case for FREE - no questions asked.

Gary the Pelican and the SKB are both top of the line. Take a look at them and see if they'll work for you. Ive used a Doskocil 2 gun case for 7 trips over there and it has worked great at a bargain price of $119 but of course, it is no longer made....

I've used the Tuffpak. Rifle in soft case, all hunting clothes, binoculars, rangefinder, and other hunting gear like belts and ammo pouches. It look like a golf bag carrrier.

https://nalpak.com/Tuffpak-1050-Gun-Case-BLACK-w-Cushioned-Handle


Nalpak also sells Pelican and SKB cases.

Happy with my Cabelas by Boyt, both and and two rifle versions.

I have the pelican 1750 guns case works great. If you can find an Americase 2 gun Safari, bomb proof, but no longer made.

Pelican…very heavy, will crack, and it holds side to side too firmly. Place a sheet of plywood against your head and then hit it with a hammer…lots of shock transmitted.

NalPak works great until you need to unpack it at customs or airline counter and then you will curse it to high heaven…I did that twice and then it was gone.

Any aluminum case will get caught in the aluminum rails of the various conveyor systems and the it might get torn as mine did on several occasions. No aluminum even if coated.

SKB…best but avoid their Pelican knock-off imitations. Material slick and won’t get stuck. Material bounces off stuff. Used one at least 15 times w/o incident.

I have used Tuffpak and a Ziegel Engineering Aluminum one. Both have been on many hunts to Africa with no problems. Unpacking a Tuffpak is a pain in the butt if you over pack it with lots of other stuff and then need to unpack for Customs. Have also heard good things about the SKB.

Buy the tuff sack for the Tuffpak. Slides in and out, access your guns through the rear of their cases. Customs can suck ****************

[quote=BOWHUNR]I've always liked my Tuffpak with the carry-on saddle bag. It's been to Africa four times, Russia, Canada, etc. and I've never had an issue. However, I haven't flown with firearms for several years.



I used a tuffpak on a trip to Zimbabwe and several to other destinations. Worked well and you can stuff some clothing in around the rifles. I have not flown with guns for a few years. I recall that there was some extra paperwork required. Weeks before departure I took my gun to the local Minneapolis airport. They took the serial numbers and wrote them in a document that I kept. I think this is to be able to get the firearms back into the USA.

I used a Tuffpak on one international hunt, a trip to Mongolia for Gobi Ibex. The journey took me thru Beijing, and the numerous inspections and unloading and loading of the Tuffpak was a real PITA. It has since been sold.

I was going to chime in on the Americase myself. I've used mine a couple of times to Sonora, MX, and several African trips. It is extremely durable and well made.

The upshot from this conversation seems to be lots of good choices, just a matter of choosing the one which best suits your needs and budget.

Ditto. I have taken rifles internationally a number of times including Tanzania and RSA in my Tuffpack. It has been perfect for my needs and its appearance does not shout out "Firearm!"

https://i.imgur.com/e89MtSj.jpg

Another vote for Pelican!

I've used Pelican cases on several trips, including to Africa. So far they have worked well.

I have used Pelican 1750 it made it’s 8th trip over this yr and they broke it finally. Was another guy in Newark that his broke also. One time on Emirates we got back to DFW to find the barrel of the clients rifle sticking out of his SKB.
Like the idea of Tuffpack but have watched to many dig everything out on the floor in customs.
Airlines can destroy any of them but Pelican still gets my vote.

I prefer Tuffpack.

It is lighter. There is plenty of room to pack stuff around your firearms for added protection. Pack your firearms in soft cases and place in the Tuffpack barrel down and it it is easy to pull them out for inspection as needed.

My Boyt 2 rifle wheeled case is heavy but is still in great shape after a half dozen domestic trips. I like the cam action twist latches as they can’t “accidentally” open. As someone mentioned previously I use somewhat short-shanked combination padlocks that barely fit through the locking holes so even if al four latches where somehow sheared off the case still remains tightly shut. I have a variety of foam sets cut for different rifle and shotgun pairings as well as spots for amok, knives, shooting sticks, bipods etc.

Hey Strosfann, where did you get the extra foam inserts? I have 2 Boyts, a long or regular one and also the shorter one.
I managed to take 2 rifles in the shorter takedown case to South Africa. Good thing because it barely fit in the rental car. The regular would have been too long.

Tankerjockey - they cell rolls of foam at hobby stores such as Michaels - just cut to fit with a filet knife. Works great.

Thanks for the heads up.

Americase.

I have a Boyt and it’s sturdy

It’s really hard to do better than a Tuffpak for a 2-rifle cases. You put your rifles inside their soft cases, then inside the Tuffsak, then slide that inside and fill up empty space with boots and clothing. Tuffpak doesn’t look like a gun case either, which is a plus. The guns are very well protected.

Yup..Tuffpak

Just make sure case makes the Airline weight limit and overall size overage costs can get spendy!

I bought a reinforced ICC 2 gun case 25 years ago. Its still going strong. I've taken it to Africa 4 times, at least that many times to Alaska, multiple trips to Canada, all over the lower 48. That includes not only surviving the airlines but the bush planes, safari trucks, 4 wheelers, and all the countless baggage handlers its encountered along the way. Its a heavy case but that's a trade off i like. I've watched my hunting buddies buy and replace multiple cases during that time including most of the recommended ones here. I doubt I'll ever need another case and will give this one i have to my son someday. I'll be loading it again next week for another deer elk trip. Its been a fantastic case. Protected my guns without fail at every stop. I'm not sure they still make it with the heavier ga aluminum but if they do buy it. Mine has been a fantastic piece of equipment and a great value.

https://icc-case.com/collections/all

I was the second responder to this post and I suggested the SKB which has served me well for 20 years.

Today, I bought a Nanuk gun case. One of my (4) locks on my SKB fell off. I came to realize that the locks are weakly welded to the aluminum liner. Hmmm. Also, on my SKB at least, there are no padlock holes, so one can only lock the case with the supplied key for the four latch locks.

I also bought a Pelican suitcase for my recent safari in Nov. to the Luangwa Valley in Zambia, and it worked beautifully. One of the great improvements over my previous canvas Cabelas travel bags, was a HARD case instead of canvas, plus the fact I could LOCK the Pelican in the two metal padlock holes provided, with padlocks.

So, I decided to buy a Pelican two gun case, and I went to my local Sportsman’s Warehouse to do so. While I was there, they also had a Boyt and a Nanuk. The Nanuk really impressed me over the Pelican, as it has (4) about 1/8” steel hole cylinders for padlocks, where the Pelican has only two metal and two plastic holes for padlocks. The Pelican metal holes appear to be thin metal ‘tin’ holes bent at 90 degrees. I’m sure they work, but the Nanuk was much thicker metal, and were complete cylinders of metal on all four holes.

Anyway, I am happy with my purchase so far, but I haven’t taken it on safari yet of course.

If anyone here is looking to buy a (2) gun case in the future, I’d highly recommend you take a look at the Nanuk.

YMMV

Pelican 1750 two gun case is what I have used for years flying in the states. Used a Pelican 1700 four gun case one time when flying into a foreign country (Philadelphia) for a US Open. Wheels on cases are very much appreciated when you need them.

Harbor Freight. Believe it or not

I've got a Kalispel case that was made for Cabela's, which is virtually the same construction as the ICC. This type is the lightest, strongest, and has the most useful space per volume. These aluminum cases with locking bars are much more svelt than plastic cases.

That's a nice one kingston. I have an Americase which is very similar since they made them for Cabelas too. I don't think they are in business anymore though.

SKB

Also a 1750 fan. Check out Cobra Foam for sourcing a replacement foam for the case. Price is reasonable, and I’ve had good luck with them!

Pelican , is the only one for me . Mine has made 14 trips to S.A. , no problems .