Gun bag vs. gun BOX?

[Gifted]

I was thinking about this going through Home Depot and Lowe's looking for tool bags for work. They had some very nice toolboxes, and it got me thinking. How well would a box work for guns? I have one that I've converted to a cleaning kit, holding all of that junk, and a bag to haul to the range.

The ones that spoke to me were the ones with drawers. You put your guns(pistols) in the tray up top, one drawer is for cleaning supplies, one is for mags, one for parts and tools, one for ammo, etc. In the boxes at work, we have foam rubber that has cut-outs for the tools. Each tool has it's own place. I'd do this to some extent, at least for the guns, so they aren't sliding around on metal, and bumping each other. It offers one advantage to a bag, too. You can lock it up with a padlock, and chain it to a post or something. This keeps the guns inside, and any expensive tools and such secure. Long arms would be in their own cases, but most of those have holes for padlocks, and you just attach them to the chain. This might not be practical for some situations, but would be secure for a few minutes while you walk down to the three hundred yard line or something.

 

[Jim PHL]

I've used a canvas "tool bag" as a range bag for years. It's got plenty of pockets inside and out for mags, brushes, ammo, 'eyes and ears', etc. Seen "range bags" of near identical design in sporting/shooting stores and online at much higher prices.

 

[LHB1]

Hi Gifted,
Gun/shooting boxes worked just fine forty years ago when I was shooting NRA Bullseye competition and probably still do for today's shooters. Contact Gil Hebard Guns at (309) 289-2700 for their catalog. Gil doesn't have a website but does have some good stuff for pistol shooters. If you don't need the gun box to support a spotting scope or if you move around, i.e. action shooting, you might prefer a shooting/range bag. Check out i-SHOT website for their range bag selection.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[Tory]

Think BIG!

I gave up my range bag 15 months ago. IF it had all the stuff I worried about needing, it was a heck of a strain on my shoulder. If I left most of the stuff in the car, I had to schlep back for whatever it was I didn't think I'd need, but did.

I got a Stanley rolling toolbox. Two trays to organize tools in, then a large open area for guns, ammo, targets, etc.

I also got a nice hard surface to work or sit on and the ease of just rolling it behind me. The pull handle slides back into the frame, so I can just lift it into/out of the trunk. The side handles secure the cover and can take locks, also.

Cheaper than those big range bags, too!

 

[TechBrute]

I think SASS shooters are really on to something with their carts. I'd really like to have a cart that I can slide in the back of my truck and holds half a dozen long guns, half a dozen pistols, and the associated ammo and gear.

 

[LiquidTension]

I use a Stanley rolling toolbox from Home Depot. I can't find it on their website, but it has 2 sections. The top part is like a large toolbox with a tray in the top. I usually leave the tray out, as I can get 3 regular size hard pistol cases, several mags, and ammo in the top. The top part latches to the bottom. The bottom is just an open top box with wheels on it. If I'm taking a bunch of guns, I'll use both sections. If not, I'll just take the top. I'll try to post some pics of it later. I think it was about $30, and it's much nicer than using a bag and a bunch of ammo cans.

 

[SJ]

For a long time I used one of the squarish footstool-looking plastic toolboxes for an IPSC "bag". I took a little razzing but I thought it worked well. It was easy to clean and made a great seat, so you didn't have to carry a folding chair as well. Most importantly, being solid it strictly limited the amount of gear that could be taken along. Kept it light and easy to carry, no need to throw your back out carrying a 3rd spare pistol around. The only problem was it didn't have a shoulder strap. Eventually the handle broke off and I got a regular large range bag. Now it is stuffed full and way too heavy. Progress...

 

[Standing Wolf]

Gun/shooting boxes worked just fine forty years ago when I was shooting NRA Bullseye competition and probably still do for today's shooters. Contact Gil Hebard Guns at (309) 289-2700 for their catalog.

Yep. Pachmayr used to make excellent boxes, but I think they're a thing of the past. I have a Gun-Ho box that's worked out well. I just looked for a Gun-Ho web site, but couldn't find one. Gil Hebard undoubtedly still handles them.

 

[Gifted]

A problem I see with a rolling box is the wheels. Most don't have big ones, and when you don't have pavement to roll it on, or a suitable way to take it to the range, it doesn't work well. Perhaps there's a big pneumatic-tired one out there that would work, but I don't see a box that big being reasonable unless it seconded as a shooting bench, and could hold rifles, too.

I was also looking at a bucket. They have those organizer things that hang on the rim, and have lots of pockets. I was thinking it would also work if you got straps on the inside to secure rifles pointed up. Not sure about center of gravity on that though.