Sorry foob, didn't mean to jump on you.
I do feel that the factory packaging was adequate to prevent any damage short of that caused by outright abuse which should not occur in the first place (but obviously does).
As I mentioned though, if I had it to do over with again, yes I would have used a hard case to ship the rifle. I'm still not sure it would have helped, since it appears that some sort of extreme crushing force was applied.
I do feel that the factory packaging was adequate to prevent any damage short of that caused by outright abuse which should not occur in the first place (but obviously does).
As I mentioned though, if I had it to do over with again, yes I would have used a hard case to ship the rifle. I'm still not sure it would have helped, since it appears that some sort of extreme crushing force was applied.