Precision Pistol Box (Pachmayr Range Box clone) overview

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Frulk

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At my local range old timers (probable Bullseye shooters) will occasionally show up toting a black Pachmayr or Gun-Ho style pistol box. Invariably those boxes show their age via well worn exteriors. Each tell a story of their shooters travels as they all have various decals and stickers of past events affixed to them. I liked the all in one set-up where with the flip open lid, the scope was already on a mount and only required target alignment (no tripod). It just seemed to be a very efficient set-up.

While I have a solid selection of good range bags I just kept thinking about those boxes and finally searched the internet for more info and used examples for sale on various sites.

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There wasn't much on the secondary market. Those that were for sale in relatively good condition had asking prices north of $250. I finally decided to contact PrecionPistolBoxes.com after finding their site and reading positive comments elsewhere.

Greg, the owner, responded to my text on a Saturday PM within about 5 minutes and a friendly back and forth (with fly fishing tossed in for good measure) on my requirements and what those would cost led to a price quote. One thing I requested was the wood stay bare with a light coat of varnish. This would require additional finishing time/work on his part as he normally coats the outside with a version of Rhino Lining to give it that black Pachmayr look, as well as provide additional protection for the box. I was ready to pay then but Greg wouldn't accept any money up front. He gave me a delivery time and said he would send pic's of the completed box for my review first.

Greg finished the box ahead of time and sent the pics. I liked what I saw, paid and box showed up within 3 days of being shipped. It arrived exceedingly well wrapped with zero damage in transit.

The model I ordered is the 3-Gun deluxe. It's set up as a dedicated chronographing/accuracy assessment box for reloads and will probably never have more than 2 guns in it at the time.

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The top has a recessed, retractable handle (nice touch) like the original Pachmayrs.

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Box open with everything in place. Once open the top has a small hole on the left to drop a long bolt through it that's locked in place with a wing nut. That prevents wind from blowing hard enough to close top unexpectedly. Magnet on door and on both inside walls for magazines.

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Scope mounted on adjustable Gil Hebard mount and bottom drawer removed to show available storage space in bottom.

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Contents of Drawer

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Handgun vice drawer removed to show structural brace to provide strength. Large paper targets fit behind there nicely and are out of the way.

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Handgun drawer back in place and front used for storage below the barrels.

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I'm exceedingly pleased with both the purchase transaction and the final product. A man's only as good as his word...…....and Greg's is golden.
 
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Rd47, weight is a valid concern and can get out of hand really quick. As I researched box sizes weight came up often hand in hand. Along the lines of, if you have the space you'll find something to fill it with. I'm bad in that regard. I have a three car garage, stand alone 12X24 shed and a rented RV stall all full. Mind you, organized but full. I'm lucky that at the neighborhood range I can pull up within 5 feet of the bench and unload. Think the box empty is around 10-ish pounds. My clothing size is 'extra-husky' so I'm able to manage without too much trouble. Had it at the range this past weekend and was very pleased with it. As a side bar, smaller lighter versions and custom boxes are available from the maker.
 
Frulk

Nice Precision Pistol Box and the story to go with it! I can still recall seeing the "old-timers" occasionally at the range with those boxes and thinking how cool they looked and how well organized they were. I use to tote my handguns around in an old attache case or a backpack, being as I had little or no money to spend on such a lavish luxury item like a dedicated pistol box. I'm sure with the excellent design features and construction of your new box that you'll get many years of first class service out of it. Thanks for sharing.
 
Very nice box Frulk. Sounds like a good company to do business with.

I reckon I’m an old timer, I have a Pachmayer shooting box buried in the garage.
 
Great looking box, seems to be well built. I may, or may not, be considered an old timer. I recently spiffed up my Pachmayr bullseye box. It still has all of the original vinyl covering.
 
Bert Dubya...You know the drill.... pics or it didn’t happen.
 
No pics because I don't know how (I guess it didn't happen :)) but back in the early seventies, I built a shooter's box around a Pachmayer 5-gun, deluxe drawer I bought from Gil Hebard Guns, out of Knoxville, Illinois. I am a Bullseye shooter and I still use the box. It is a mite heavy, especially when five target pistols and all the shooting accruements are shoehorned inside.
 
I have one of the lawn wagons with a handle and the four sides that drop down for when I plan to spend a full day at the local range. I fill it up to the top with range bags and sleeved rifles. Don’t do that often.
 
Yup. Not sure if it’s a company. Might just be Greg himself doing the work. I didn’t mention in the original post that from the time I ordered the box to when it was done was about a week or so.
 
That looks fantastic! Greg’s website appears to be down now.. bummer. Do you happen to have the dimensions of it? LxWxH?
Steve
 
All exterior dimensions:

17 inches tall

17 3/4 inches wide

8 1/2 inches deep

Not sure what’s up with the website. He builds boxes in bunches from what I got from our discussions. Doubt he stopped doing it.

Found this info in one of the links on boxes above from Pat Riot. Try it. That’s him.


 
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Traveled for years to pistol matches with one of those boxes. Still have it on the shelf and wonder if I could even lift it now with a full load out of tools, ammunition, parts box and all the other stuff I always put in there. It was one heavy SOB to carry.
 
“It was one heavy SOB to carry“

Don’t doubt it if you’re lugging that LeMat in your Avatar around in it.
 
I've sold every one that I've owned.

I tend to buy them at estate sales as no one wants them. Every single one has had more in accessories within than the cost of the box.

I've tried to like them but just don't get there.

Using them as a spotting scope mount has always been awkward for me.

Carrying them has always been awkward for me. Strap or handle.

Two have been all but new period items that I just HAD to sell before I messed them up.

I keep trying to like them for their nostalgia and base practicality. Perhaps if I competed in an old-school manner they'd grow on me but to date - nope.

Todd.
 
I've sold every one that I've owned.

I tend to buy them at estate sales as no one wants them. Every single one has had more in accessories within than the cost of the box.

I've tried to like them but just don't get there.

Using them as a spotting scope mount has always been awkward for me.

Carrying them has always been awkward for me. Strap or handle.

Two have been all but new period items that I just HAD to sell before I messed them up.

I keep trying to like them for their nostalgia and base practicality. Perhaps if I competed in an old-school manner they'd grow on me but to date - nope.

Todd.

I am with you there. I thought I wanted one, but luckily, I got to see a guy with one similar to one I posted above with the scope Mount and drawers and all. It reminded me of a bunch of Bullseye shooters that I used to encounter back in the early 80’s. I guess so was enamored with the nostalgia of them until that day a few months ago.
I went over and spoke to him about his box. He showed me all the nifty things about it. It was pretty heavy. The scope Mount setup did not work for me. The more he showed me the more I kept hearing “Ka-Ching....Why?” In my head.
He actually admitted the thing was a pain to carry and deal with but it brought back great memories.
I suppose it would, but I decided I will pass on one of those boxes.
 
Sorry, I just realized I had a picture challenge. Here is my old Pachmayr box. Since its an old box it's not set up for handgun optics. I have to put those in at an angle.
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I have a Gun Ho (IIRC) box somewhere. (I'm not at home and can't go look). I got curious one time and emptied it out and weighed it. It weighed ~15 pounds, empty.
I use a range bag nowadays.
 
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