Airline Case for Four Rifles

[ReadyontheRight]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a hard-sided, lockable case that can accomodate four unscoped rifles?

I like the Tuffpak, but I'd rather spend significantly less than $325.

I can put the rifles in soft cases and pack in my own foam if I can find a nice, solid, plastic lockable case.

Any ideas?

 

[TangSafetyM77]

You could use a hard-sided golf bag case and pack them in soft cases as you describe. But, as a warning, I was once turned back by Continental for having 3 guns in a standard rifle case: shotgun, .22 rifle, and a 1911. Something about a rule that you can only carry 2 guns at a time. Only happend that one time on a return flight from Houston. The fact that I had flown down to Houston with the same 3 guns in the same case on the same airline didn't seem to matter. Luckily, I was with a buddy who only had one gun in his case, so they let me put my 1911 in his case.

 

[Clemson]

SKB makes a double-decker case that will hold 4 rifles without scopes or two with scopes. It is built with wheels on one end so you can pull it through the airport like a rolling suitcase, and it is very sturdy. Mine has been on several flights with me, and the airline gorillas have not yet managed to damage my guns. TSM77 is right about the 2 gun rule, however. Most airlines can charge extra if you are transporting more than 2 guns. I usually have just a rifle and a handgun with me, but I have traveled with two shotguns in the SKB case. I also teach Home Firearms Safety, and I use that SKB case to transport 3-4 long guns to class in.

Clemson

 

[Bottom Gun]

Be sure you beat feet to the luggage carousel upon landing. A few years ago, I apprehended a gentleman making off with my rifle case at the Phoenix airport. I was later told it was a regular occurrence.

 

[Steve Smith]

Of equal importance...

Is weight and size. My two rifle Pelican with two match rifles weighs about 50 lbs.

I don't think many airlines would accept a four rifle version of what I have...the weight would be excessive as would the size.

 

[cabinetman]

Weight is my concern, too. IF each of those rifles weight 10 pounds, you've got 40 pounds right off the bat and then add the weight of the case which will be another 10 pounds. You've got a 50 pound gun case which will be difficult for them to handle. I'd opt for two, two rifle cases rather than one.

I recently traveled with a FAL in a rifle case and found it to be darned heavy and that was with just one rifle. I can't imagine four!

Just my opinion.

Rome

 

[Doc]

Ready:

The camera crowd is very enamored with the
Pelican cases, but in the appropriate size
for multiple long guns they are very heavy (> 25 lbs).

Now I realize that all we THRer's are very
manly men and weight of our luggage is
NEVER a concern,
BUT the airlines now limit passengers
to two bags which must weigh <50 lbs as opposed to
the previous limit of 75 lbs. You can take heavier
bags, but carriers impose fees to do so.
(unless you are flying first class...) If you are
traveling on smaller planes, (not just Alaskan
brush jumpers, but also) such as the Saab 320
which Mesaba uses routinely, you may not be
able to take overly heavy or bulky items and
you would be intructed to ship them air freight
by the desk clerk at checkin. (OH, that makes the
perfect start to the hunting/shooting trip, :banghead:

I have an SKB which I bought from Cabela's $140 (there are many sources)
2 Gun SKB Case
. I have the
TWO gun version which measures about
9 in thick, has rollerblade style wheels and a cool
self retracting heavy duty handle on the opposite end.

With the provided foam divider
I have routinely used it to transport 4 guns
via airliner. Bear in mind it weighs 19.3 lbs EMPTY
(per my scale just now, not by the catalog)
so if you put in 4 light guns (@7.5 lbs) plus four
scopes (@0.5lbs) you are awfully close to that
weight limit (47.3lbs)...

FWIW, i always weigh my bags before we leave the house
so I know what to expect at the airport. When I know I am
going to have trouble because of weight or plane size I ship my
guns ahead of me.

Why FOUR rifles? For me its me and the wife...

Doc

 

[H&Hhunter]

Well guy's
I hate to break this to y'all but here goes. When I'm not out shooting critters for fun and profit I have this other little job with a major international airline. And here's the problem........

The TSA only allows two firearms per gun case per passenger. So I'd rethink the 4 gun airline case If I were you. You may or may not get it through at some airports but your asking for trouble.

 

[Doc]

H&H:

Yep! For us it's four guns, in one case,
for two paying passengers...

Doc

 

[ReadyontheRight]

"Beware the man carrying 4 rifles. He's probably very cranky about his sore back."

Thanks everyone. Good points on weight and airline rules. I'm backing away from 4 guns to 2. We've decided to shoot REAL battle rifles in the NTIT match. It should be ...um...interesting competing with Garands against AR teams in a timed event.

As to the "why 4 rifles?" question -- originally, I was bringing a K31 for the Springfield match (as-issued foreign military rifles are OK -- but I gotta get a 1903A3), A Garand for the Garand match, an AR for the NTIT and an extra spot if CMP has any 1903A3s available for sale at Camp Perry this year and my finances lined up.

Sticking with the tried & true Garand and K31. I'll just drool over the CMP guns and the gear at the vendor huts I can't bring home (or afford).

 

[ReadyontheRight]

H&HHunter -- I really can't get a straight answer on this from the airline. Do you think I will run into trouble putting two rifles and gear into a hard-sided, locking SKB golf bag?

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Well -- I had no problem using a hard-sided golf bag and the number of rifles does not seem to matter. HOWEVER....As Doc mentioned, Northwest Airlines has lowered their allowed weight from 70 lbs. to 50 lbs. So a large golf bag tends to be very heavy if you take advantage of all the extra space.

When it was too late to order it for this trip, I discovered this SKB Case

This is what I'll use next time I fly with guns. It's very handy to put clothes, etc. inside your gun case since you can only check two pieces of luggage. And this one stores inside the top half itself to serve as a rolling gun rack. Definitely weigh your luggage as Doc suggested. They seem to relish the fact they can now charge you $25 for every 20 lbs. over 50 pounds.:banghead:

Small wonder the airlines are bankrupt.

One more tidbit for those of you planning to fly with your wood and metal -- Even though it's not required in any rules I've seen, some gate agents require that your ammo is in a different checked, locked bag.

 

[Doc]

RoR:

One more tidbit for those of you planning to fly with your wood and metal -- Even though it's not required in any rules I've seen, some gate agents require that your ammo is in a different checked, locked bag.

I travel with all ammo in seperate locked luggage in original factory
boxes - sad but careful. I travel alot with firearms and have had
all manner of unanticipated little new and exciting travel experiences.

With apologies to any gate agents out there:

gate agents have little actual knowledge of ANY of the rules
regarding travel with firearms. Though I understand that is NOT
the rule at the airport which serves Knob Creek...

In my humble observation, in venues where guns/hunting
is MORE socially acceptable (ie. the deep South)
and (clearly sexist observation) when the gate agents are MALE or
hunters/shooters they often err on the side of common sense
while being careful to avoid scrutiny/wrath from any supervisors.

BUT here in the great white north, hub of northwestairlines,
the rules CHANGE EVERY TIME I CHECK IN WITH FIREARMS.
I only hope that I have all the requisit materiale to make the
gate agent happy so that the trip isn't ruined at the start.
Call me paranoid, but my advice is to be just as paranoid:
just 'cos your paranoid, doesn't mean they are not after you...