I purchased a Pelican double rifle case in order to have my custom build shipped to me. What are the pros/cons of cutting the foam to form fit the gun or not? This case will be doing some air travel.

I have the Pelican 1750, have used it many times in air travel with two scopes hunting rifles. Definitely cut the foam; I used an electric carving knife.

You can always order replacement foam inserts from Pelican if you want to re-configure in future.

I have a Pelican 1750 and love it. I have found no need to cut the foam. It allows for different weapons and makes for a nice tight fit.

This is the route I have gone as well. Been pleased so far, and it has logged some miles. I prefer to cut the top layer of foam as it prevents the rifles from shifting.

That is exactly how I did it. And I use 4 pad locks on the outside that fit tight such that even if the latches break it stays snugly closed

As stated previously it is a world class item and I cut the foam for a perfect fit. Mine logged a lot of airline miles going to classes and the baggage apes couldn't break it. I pack my optics, range finder, GPS etc in their own little slots that are cut to fit w/ elec knife. I used a long skinny waterproof duffle for checked luggage which I would strap on the case to roll them through airports then use the duffle for range gear at the class. The wheels are bomproof and worth the price as are the reinforced lock brackets. A great investment.


mike r

If you dedicate it to that rifle, cut the foam. If you don’t want to dedicate that case, or at least that piece of foam, the skb double case is much more flexible to accomodating whatever you put in there with no commitment to cut foam. Not being a smart ass, but in a similar situation once, thats what i switched to out of practicality.

I didn't cut mine up. I took out a layer completely and replaced it with a soft case within my Pelican

I cut mine from the get-go and wouldn't have it any other way. Of course, many of my rifles are of reasonably similar configuration so with a little pressing and pushing of foam, I can make each one fit - even some larger scopes for which the foam wasn't originally cut.

You'd be surprised how much you can manipulate/stretch the foam to accommodate. But then again, I haven't tried to fit an AR in a 700 sporter cutout either.

IIRC, I used a bread knife to cut the foam.

I started out just removing the middle layer of foam and packing the rifles in soft guncases. After the second trip where scopes came home broken, I did two things different.

A. Quit using Leupold scopes.

B. Cut the foam!

I actually made cardboard templates of the guns and glued them to the middle layer of foam and then cut around them with a hot wire foam cutter I got at Hobby Lobby.
Then glued the middle and bottom layers of foam together. Now the guns almost snap into place, won't shift and and after 8-10 African trips I haven't broken anymore scopes! And needless to say, the rifles have been fine too!
As a matter of fact, one 375 has made three round trips and I haven't even needed to adjust the scope!

Always assume that the baggage monkeys are going to actively try and destroy your stuff! Make it as hard as possible for them.

Has anyone used thir case for two scoped rifles without cutting the foam, and with all three layers in place. I hunt a number of different places and use different rifles in each place, so not cutting the foam and not having to buy and store a number of templates/cut foam cores would be a plus. Just wondering if the foam that comes with these cases is too dense to compress and hold the rifles in place, allowing them to slide around and bang into each other.

I have had the same 1750 for at least a decade. I have used it with foam cut, without, with two rifles, etc., etc.

One configuration I like is to completely take out the middle layer, put a rifle in, and surround it with clothes and gear. On at least one trip I was able to cut down my checked bags by one.

Yes.

Don't overthink this.
Get your two longest barreled, biggest scoped rifles.
Arrange them opposing with maximum space between all sides and each other.
Take a sharpie and outline around them on the middle piece of foam.
Take an electric knife and cut on the INSIDE of the trace.
Now, those two rifles, and every other rifle, with shorter barrel, smaller scope, twin tubes, etc. will fit.
Might not work with ARs, but it will with everything else.

We have 3 of the Pelican 1750 cases at work that we ship oil and gas sample cylinders in. We load them up heavy and they are still holding together after 14 years of hard service.We had the middle section cut to fit the cylinders but over time the foam tears up.If the foam was done like AKwolverine above said hauling rifles you would be unlikely to ever wear the case out and the rifles would be well protected. We use pelican cases for protecting all kinds of equipment in all shapes and sizes and they work under hard wet dirty conditions. I am unaware of us ever wearing one out.

Awesome, thanks for the info and advice guys.