I'm meeting up tomorrow to do a PPT at a gunshop for a pretty expensive rifle w/ a nice scope. All I have is a pretty cheap soft-case I have been using for my Mosin. Ideally, I'd like to shop around and buy a good hardcase online or from some gun forums I hang out at. The rifle will be stored at the gunshop for 10 days for the waiting period. Should I get a hardcase at the gun shop and pay up the ass and not get to look around a lot, or do you think a soft case will be fine for that period of time, and I can take my time finding a hardcase?
Are hard rifle cases a must for expensive rifles?
- Thread starter adamy
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What do you think is gonna happen while it's at the gun shop? If you are worried about them damaging it then you probably need a new gun shop. Unless you are gonna be banging it around on the trip home then who cares what it's in.
You could always get an inexpensive case as an interim measure, unless it's abused a $20 will protect it just fine in the short term.
You could always get an inexpensive case as an interim measure, unless it's abused a $20 will protect it just fine in the short term.
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Wildfire
Member
Won't anything.
Hey there;
While a hard case may not be required it sure can save your butt if something stupid happens.
Hey there;
While a hard case may not be required it sure can save your butt if something stupid happens.
As long as you are not careless and clumsy, it shouldn't matter in the short run. However, once you get the rifle sighted in with the good optics, I would have a hard case to keep it in from that point forward. It will preserve your investment and avoid frustration later from bumping the scope and having to re-zero it in again. All my good rifles with decent optics are in hard cases.
For what you described, you can get one of those Plano cases for really cheap.
When I got my LR-308, they shipped it in one. It made it fine. I figure that if a case can handle shipping, it will do fine sitting in the corner of a gun shop.
Now that LR-308 now travels in a Pelican case whenever I take it anywhere. But I may throw it on the rack of a 4 wheeler, so it makes sense to have one. As mentioned above, when you get quite a bit tied up on a rifle, it is worth the $200 to protect that investment.
-- John
When I got my LR-308, they shipped it in one. It made it fine. I figure that if a case can handle shipping, it will do fine sitting in the corner of a gun shop.
Now that LR-308 now travels in a Pelican case whenever I take it anywhere. But I may throw it on the rack of a 4 wheeler, so it makes sense to have one. As mentioned above, when you get quite a bit tied up on a rifle, it is worth the $200 to protect that investment.
-- John
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An effective hard case doesn't have to be expensive: I use $15 Doskosport cases for my Milsurp rifles. They're more than suitable for shipping, so they're obviously adequate for routine storage and transport. Hell - they're actually nicer than the factory case that my P229 came in...
Rmac58
Member
Hey jws527, where can folks get one of those $15 Doskosports?
northwestneighbor
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I can't find $15, maybe it's out there, prices are rising across the board 
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014VW00M?smid=AFU7D1Z4UO933&tag=msnshop-sports-20&linkCode=asn
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VSYEH6?smid=A21C4U5X700J66&tag=msnshop-sports-20&linkCode=asn
http://www.impactguns.com/store/029695104862.html
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...&parentType=index&indexId=cat20772&hasJS=true
I have that last one, the double, its good for taking a couple rifles out. I think its a sturdy enough case, though I tend to carry around an AK, SKS, and Marlin 60 (which can all fit together in the double) so it's not like I'd notice if they got beat up in travel!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014VW00M?smid=AFU7D1Z4UO933&tag=msnshop-sports-20&linkCode=asn
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VSYEH6?smid=A21C4U5X700J66&tag=msnshop-sports-20&linkCode=asn
http://www.impactguns.com/store/029695104862.html
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...&parentType=index&indexId=cat20772&hasJS=true
I have that last one, the double, its good for taking a couple rifles out. I think its a sturdy enough case, though I tend to carry around an AK, SKS, and Marlin 60 (which can all fit together in the double) so it's not like I'd notice if they got beat up in travel!
MIL-DOT
member
I've seen semi-decent hard cases pretty cheap at Dicks Sporting goods, Wally-world, and surprisingly, even at our local gunstores. Any of those will probably be cheaper than ordering and paying shipping.
aka108
Member
Hard plastic case should keep it in great condition unless severely mishandled. If you travel with the rifle in the future the plastic case is good if the rifle is in your possession. If you travel by air, get the best case available, built like a bank vault because it is going to be handled like it was set for destruction.
younganddumb
Member
feild and stream has a hard case test in the new issue and the winner was a pelican 1750 which is 185 big ones but the tester ran over it with a chevy tahoe and nothing happened
Impax
Member
Academy has the Dosko rifle case for $13.00
http://www.academy.com/index.php?pa...gun_cases&start=0&selectedSKU=0347-00792-0476
http://www.academy.com/index.php?pa...gun_cases&start=0&selectedSKU=0347-00792-0476
gandog56
Member
Required...no.
Darned good to use....YES!
Darned good to use....YES!
Stevie-Ray
Member
Back when I was buying Doskocil cases for my handguns they were more than that. My 4 pistol case was 24 bucks and this was in the 80s. They looked different then, brown instead of black, but they've been good cases over the years. I'd recommend the name, personally. Don't know if the name "Doskosport" indicates a lower quality item or not.
This one looks good for the price, also.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...ct&cmCat=Related_IPL_224970&id=0053995229077a
Cougfan2
Member
I have a good hard case, because I have occaisonally checked my rifle as baggage on a flight. Am glad I had it after some of the scrape marks I've seen on it when I got it back from the baggage manglers.
If you've got a rifle and scope you really care about. Get a hard case. If you go on that hunt of a lifetime, you would hate to have your rifle or scope damaged.
One thing to look at is a double rifle case for a single rifle. Gives ya more room. Keeps the rifle away from the edges.
If you want to customize a decent case, go to an HVAC supply house, they sell black dense insulating foam. Fit it to the case and use a rotozip tool to cut the rifles outline out of the foam. Instant deployment kit.
One thing to look at is a double rifle case for a single rifle. Gives ya more room. Keeps the rifle away from the edges.
If you want to customize a decent case, go to an HVAC supply house, they sell black dense insulating foam. Fit it to the case and use a rotozip tool to cut the rifles outline out of the foam. Instant deployment kit.
JimmerJammerMrK
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- Jun 30, 2007
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http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...772&hasJS=true
I have a question about the one in the above link, the double. It's got a handle, but it doesn't look like there is any type of strap to hold the firearm in place. It seems like if you were to pick it up by the handle, the gun on top would slide into the gun on the bottom and screw up your zero at best.
Am I missing something?
I have a question about the one in the above link, the double. It's got a handle, but it doesn't look like there is any type of strap to hold the firearm in place. It seems like if you were to pick it up by the handle, the gun on top would slide into the gun on the bottom and screw up your zero at best.
Am I missing something?
JimmerJammerMrK
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- Jun 30, 2007
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- 131
I see. I guess I didn't realize the foam compressed that much.
Two other questions:
1. Do these things generally lock?
2. Would the case fit behind the seat of a small, standard-cab pickup, say a Ranger or an S-10?
Thanks a lot.
Two other questions:
1. Do these things generally lock?
2. Would the case fit behind the seat of a small, standard-cab pickup, say a Ranger or an S-10?
Thanks a lot.
1. I've got a Doskocil hard case that my LR-308 was shipped in. It has a place that you can slip a lock through. This is the same on my Pelican 5160.
2. I think that the Doskocil MAY fit. It will be a tight fit. I am pretty sure it will fit behind a full-sized truck seat. As for my Pelican 5160, I can't even get it in my wife's Altima. I have to let the back seats down in my Jeep Grand Cherokee to haul it.
-- John
JohnBT
Member
I've had a couple of the old Doskocil cases similar to the one in the link posted below for many years. For $60 they work very well. IIRC the latches lock with a little key, although I've never bothered. My guess is they're worthless locks security wise.
The $60 case has double handles; one on each side.
The advice to get a two-gun case was a good one. That's what I use for my scoped Cooper Custom Classic.
http://www.academy.com/index.php?pa...gun_cases&start=0&selectedSKU=0347-00792-0147
Come to think of it, I now have 4. My father gave me his when he moved to the retirement home.
John
The $60 case has double handles; one on each side.
The advice to get a two-gun case was a good one. That's what I use for my scoped Cooper Custom Classic.
http://www.academy.com/index.php?pa...gun_cases&start=0&selectedSKU=0347-00792-0147
Come to think of it, I now have 4. My father gave me his when he moved to the retirement home.
John
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