Rifle Crate

[JG727]

I am looking for plans to build a rifle crate.

I'm envisioning a crate similar to the type used to transport military long arms, but anything will work.

I am going off to school for gunsmithing and need a way to transport and store multiple rifles.

So far I have an old Marlin 60, a Mossberg bolt action 20 gauge shotgun, a (badly) sportorized Springfield 1903A3, a pretty rough K98, and a very nice M48.

The only one in good condition is the M48. Some were gifts, but none of the ones I did pay for cost more than $250.

I figure that anything that accommodates the Mauser-action rifles can be made to accommodate the shorter long arms.

It's a low crime area, so theft isn't a concern, although I'll put a pad lock on it and probably cable lock it to a heavy piece of furniture or mount a hook in the floor.

It doesn't have to be super nice on the insides, as the only personal weapon I'm taking are my 10/22 and my Mark I and those will be stored separately in padded cases.

Any help you guys can give, whether its advice, plans or anecdotes will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
James

 

[rcmodel]

I'd just buy 2 or 3 cheap hard plastic 2-gun cases.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoo...2&WT.z_mc_id1=39371087&WTz_l=PPC;cat104368680

Unlike a big wood military style crate full of guns, those would be light enough for you to move by yourself.
The military has fork-lifts and cheap man-power to move crates full of guns, but you don't.

You could screw an industrial strength eye-bolt into a wall stud and link all the hard cases together with a bicycle cable lock, or a hardened steel link chain.

As for plans to build a crate?
I don't know of any plans.
It's just a big wood box with fitted cradles for the guns inside.
How hard could it be??

rc

 

[JG727]

How hard could it be?

My grandfather was a master carpenter. I got his sense of humor, but wood working is beyond me. Luckily my dad is pretty component.

But honestly, thank you for your suggestion, it definitely has merit and the more I consider it the more I like it.

 

[dewalt-2]

I have owned 3 of the Winchester double rifle hard cases for about a dozen years. They have held up well to airline travel, small aircraft in Alaska, and general transportation and hunting/range trips. Only wear is a few scratches on the outsides-to be expected. They hold 2 scoped rifles in egg-crate foam secured with Velcro straps, nice and tight. I think I payed around $80 each for them. A crate would be very cumbersome compared to these, and much less portable.

 

[bdbecker]

I totally agree with what has been said so far about just buying some decent quality hard cases. But if you did want to build a crate, here's an idea that comes to mind...

The first would be to build a set of padded cradles like you see on a vertical gun rack, one for the barrels, and one for the stocks, and uses some sort of padded bar to hold everything in place. This rack would lay horizontal in the crate and would be attached to the bottom and sides. The overall size of the crate would be fairly shallow, so you might be able to get away with sliding it under your bed. One thing to think about with this option is whether or not you would ever want to store a scoped rifle in the crate.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Not my build, but a very "different" idea I've contemplated:






Add in some velour padding from an 87 monte carlo and you're all set.

 

[kingpin008]

That. Is. Amazing.

Any chance of a link to a thread where that's discussed or a set of plans?

 

[ForumSurfer]

That. Is. Amazing.

Given that he's trying to sell it for $650 at an auction and aiming it at cowboy action shooters...I doubt he'll hand over the plans.

http://www.isoldmygun.com/listings/details/index.cfm?itemnum=883863300

It is without a doubt, cool.