Looking to buy either single or double hard sided rifle cases. Need to fit 26" barrel rifles (inside length 50" + or so?). Room for larger scopes especially in a double rifle case.

Don't want to spend a whole lot of money. Maybe a Pelican clone? Harbour Freight Apache maybe?

Any ideas for a lighter weight case that is sturdy and not expensive?

Thanks

I have gone to all hard cases for rifle transport. It depends on what level of protection you're looking for. Are you looking for airline compatible or just back-of-the-pickup truck compatible? I've got a couple of the latter that were not particularly expense, probably less than $50 each, which have given me good service for years. There are a number of options. An airline rated one, however, is a totally different level of protection and cost. The main thing that I look for are the latches. They should be positive and durable. When not in use, I leave them open to insure no moisture is trapped.

I'm a fan of SKB cases.
I like the egg crate foam, I can fit anything that fits as opposed to cutting foam and it's fit to that specific gun/scope.

Another alternative I like the concept of is an empty hard case and place a soft sided case placed inside.

I bought a Cabela's Armor Xtreme single rifle case about 5 years ago. Got it on sale for $75 w/free shipping. Bomb-proof case with the best steel draw latches I have ever seen on a gun case. Now it's priced at about $125. I think that before paying that price, I'd give the nod to Pelican, since Bass Pro will no longer honor Cabelas' lifetime warranties.

I have all hard cases. I have aluminum cases.

Thanks all. I have two SKB single rifle cases that I bought over 10 years ago and really like them.

I checked on those again and see them for 149.00 each now! Whoa!

After a little digging I found them at Sierra Trading Post for 99.00 and free shipping. Decided to get a couple more. Not cheap but very good cases.

Pelican 1750

I have flown several times around the world with my pelican but for general use I think I would look hard at harbor freight Apache line their 1/3 to 1/2 Price

Kalispel Cases Double Scoped Rifle

I've earned over 3,000,000 air miles since college 37 years ago, a predominant percentage with a rifle along. My career revolved around construction and engineering. By choice, I started in oil and gas in the North Sea. A huge contingent there of Norwegians, Scots, Canadians, etc. etc. are hunters...and serious world hunters due to the big $$ earned in the industry. I was quickly turned on to survey cases for gear transport and have never looked back...and...have never had an issue. I have old school Zeiss, Leitz, Topcon....but, the modern standard is Seco:



You can find them for the $300 range and NOTHING works better...

X2 !!

Not the lightest. Not the cheapest. But HELL for stout !!!!!

Yeah I have a Tuffpak and wouldn't have anything else for airline travel.

Where can you find these? Link please?

X3

https://nalpak.com/brands/Tuffpak.h...utm_term=Tuffpak&utm_content=Tuffpak

I've got the one with wheels. One advantage is that most people assume it is for your golf bag and have no idea you are carrying guns although once in Buenos Aires they flagged us through customs and we ended up out on the street and had to go back in to check our rifles in with the police.

Tuffpak makes a great travel case for guns, no doubt. I used to own one, and sold it because of the hassle of having to unpack everything at TSA, Customs, etc., just to get to the rifle or rifles. The sack that you can buy was of some help, but if you have clothing and other gear packed around your rifle, it is still a pain to load and unload.

You would have a hard time finding a better case than the Harbor Freight units for any money. They are very stout, have good latches, priced right, and are very spacious inside.... there are some surprising deals at Harbor Freight if you shop carefully...

Bob

Skimping on a hard case for airline travel is a fool’s errand. Pony up the $200+ and buy Pelican case. HF is fine for tools that you might only use a few times, but if I am protecting my rifles and the $$ spent on a hunting trip, I am buying the best I can find. To each his own.

Not to mention it is grossly overpriced and if the lock breaks, you're SOL.

Ditto on the Cabela's case. I believe they are made by Boyt.

https://boytharness.com/product/h52sg-single-long-gun-case/

Honestly I buy the cheapest one I can get my hands on. After a season of bouncing in the boat and sliding around in the bed they are threw. But ive gotten my $15 out of it.

YES, Pelican, ..n have Run the Alum/ Plastic Gamut

think Action/TriggerGuard disassembly ( BarreledAction/ Stock w/ ScrewDriver on Board ) AR15esk-ish Length

Golden...

I have used a bunch of hard gun cases for travel over the years--and worn out more than one aluminum case, including a custom-made, 2-gun take-down case that was VERY highly rated at the time. In my experience really tough tough synthetic cases hold up much better.

Have had companions use survey-type cases like the Tuff-Pack, and would NOT own one. They are not only a PITA to unload and then load up again when required by Customs or airlines, but on one of them the lock did indeed break. One companion also lost his key.

Had a brand-new 2-gun SKB bust pretty badly on its very first trip to Africa. Yeah, they're guaranteed, but that doesn't do you much good on the trip itself.

Much prefer take-down cases, and for the last 15 years or so mine has been a Browning Bruiser single take-down, with wheels at one end. It is FAR easier not just to wheel around airports than larger, longer cases, but also fits into vehicles much easier--whether an overloaded Land Cruiser in Africa, but a smaller sedan in Europe.

Also, just about ANY long gun can be easily taken down enough to work fine. Aside from break-action guns, have taken the stocks off many bolt-action rifles, and even the buttstocks off Ruger No. 1s and Savage 99s. Put 'em back together and they usually shoot right where they did before. I always take along appropriate screwdrivers anyway.

These days Browning offers a 2-gun takedown Bruiser.

I've used the Tuffpak. Got it at an auction and saved some money. It can be a pain, but it is doable. I like the extra space in one of my two checked bags.

I bought a couple of the SKB single rifle cases; I think they are the model 4900. They have the eggshell foam and no cutting is necessary. They'll handle my 26"-barreled Model 70 easily. Well-built cases that offer a lot of protection. I've gotten away from the double rifle cases of which I've had several. They are just too bulky and way too heavy if you put two rifles in them. I'd never fly anywhere to hunt, but I think the SKBs are approved for airline use. I don't know what the SKBs cost now, mine were around $125.00 and well worth it.

They are now 149.00 but Sierra Trading Post has them for 99.00.

I like them.

Pelican 1750 with cut out foam. Buy extra foam for different rifles on different trips. Add knives, flashlights, binos and other valuables, plus targets, paperwork, misc tools...

A valuable tip I just discovered is to take out the foam and pack rifles in soft cases inside the Pelican. That way, when you reach your destination, you have a soft case for daily travels on the hunt without taking up valuable duffle space.

And finally, they're tougher than shiit.

Can't understand the knock on the Tuffpak. You lay it down on the floor or a table, slide the Tuffsack out, show the guns and slide it back in. I'll take 2 minutes of "PITA" over a trip's worth of peace of mind any day. YMMV
This is for a month long trip to Tanzania for the wife and I with 2 rifles.

Don't know anything about Tuffpaks, but FULLY agree re survey cases..don't understand the bullsh!t above about locks, unpacking, etc...

There are no integral locks on a survey case. They have holed tabs where a padlock can be fitted.

Opening the top and sliding each softcase inside out to reveal the firearm is a 2 minute deal...I've done it literally hundreds of times.

I'll do it again this year when I head down to Cordoba, Argentina where I built a Cement Plant years ago, like I do EVERY year to shoot doves on the place of a good friend I made there...oh, and when I fly to Aberdeen, Scotland twice, first to cull Red Stags, then to cull Hinds, where my wife and I own a flat we bought while working there on North Sea oil projects like I do EVERY year...Oh, and when I meet my best friend, business partner, and the finest hunter I've ever known at the Istanbul Atatürk Airport for our Bezoar Ibex hunt to click off one of the last he needs to finish his Ovis Slams...we'll BOTH have our rifles in survey cases...

And, If I get home to Idaho I'll take pics of the Pelican 1750 with bent/stoved wheels that won't turn, and the SKB with literally TORN hinges that are in a trash heap in my barn...

SKB's are a hell of a lot lighter than Pelican's and other hard plastic think plastic cases. I will second the SKB's I have both and always grab the SKB.

SKB Bow and Rifle caes and somewhere in the garage is a shotgun case too.

'Thar it TWas Johnny, ...SurveyER's Case ( ...Literally Talkin' Hundos of Times'es )

.....dont judge, aint built no CeMent Plants