Best Rifle Airline Case? I have a very heavy one now. Lighter? Recommended?

[TakeMeLord]

In search of suggestions

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

For an airline rifle case I prefer Pelican 1750 or Tuff Pac. I use my Tuff Pac more now for Africa travel than the Pelican. It really all depends on preference. Either way you need to be able to pack rifles in soft cases for use on the hunting truck.

 

[Russ16]

You’re going hear a lot of people say pelican 1750 and they are great.

I just picked up a pelican vault and really like it a little lighter. We will see how it holds up.

 

[uplander01]

I use a Boyt single long gun hard case, take the foam out and pack your rifle in a good soft case right inside the hard case. You can pack some other stuff around it or under it, depends how puffy you soft case is.

 

[fourfive8]

36” Pelican one gun take down case. I carry a regular Win M 70 or equivalent taken down. Compact, light, handy, simple access, rugged…. what’s not to like. IMO, the most logical and can’t beat beat for weight versus ruggedness.

 

[Winmdl71]

I’ve flown with a pelican 1750 for several years and it’s still holding up. I’d definitely recommend.

 

[Zinz]

Tuffpak, hands down. Easily holds 3 long guns in soft cases and extra clothes if necessary. It's light and it has wheels. It also doesn't scream, "I'm a gun case, steal me"

Ed Z

 

[Javaman]

Tuffpak for sure for above reasons

 

[mdwest]

Ive got a pelican 1750, a pelican storm IM3300, and a pelican vault..

the vault is the lightest weight of the three.. but it is also noticibly thinner material...

Ive traveled with the vault to both South Africa and to Alaska and its made a couple of domestic flights as well in addition to being thrown in the back of the truck and hauled all over the US countless times..

to its credit, its held up every bit as well as the storm and the 1750, which are much more heavy duty made..

but.. its also A LOT worse looking for wear (if that matters to you).. its got numerous deep gouges in the plastic where the baggage apes and mishandled it, and there is a small piece of plastic that has cracked along the seal (less than 2mm.. so it doesn't effect the case (yet)..

I owned a tuffpak for a while but sold it to another member here on AH... for whatever reason I just didn't care for it... but its certainly a very good design and an extremely well made product..

 

[Rem700stw]

I have been well served with the Boyt single case. I use the WIDE single model. I remove one set of foam and place 2 rifles in Boyt soft cases facing in opposite directions to each other. 4 trips to Africa with no problems.

Probably a fluke but on my first safari I arrived home with one end broken off my Pelican case and the barrel of the rifle protruding. Weight was what made me switch.

 

[MRBlack]

If you want aluminum, I would strongly recommend Impact Case & Container. Mine has made 3 trips to Africa, hauled all over the US, and flown domestically without any issues

 

[Green Chile]

I did a lot of trips with the Tuffpak with no issues, except some genius put it on the conveyor belt and of course it didn't turn the corner...bent the interior lock, which in turn, tore the corner of the case. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen the results...not covered under warranty but it was an older case. I got another Tuffpak and then had trouble fitting it into a helicopter. Since then, I've been using a 1750 with no issues. The Tuffpak is a brilliant option and can carry boots, clothes, etc.

 

[Safari Dave]

I have started using a Pelican Vault. They are not as heavy as the regular Pelican cases and did a great job on my last trip.


I called Pelican because it seemed too tight without cutting the foam. A representative told me that the cases were designed to hold guns very tightly and not to cut the foam.

(You will need to take the bolts out of bolt-action rifles, or the bolt knob will punch through the foam when you shut the case)

 

[KuduKiller]

I used a Cabelas Bullet Proof for 20 years but recently bought a pelican Vault and it’s making its first trip in 12 days so we shall see! I would still be using my bulletproof case BUT I had to pack the damn thing from the SAP office to the city lodge last trip and it doesn’t have wheels! My forearm wasn’t right for a few days!

 

[Green Chile]

One thing I can say about cases is don't put your favorite case under your bear stand...you just might have one chew the wheels off like happened to us 2 weeks ago! Sassy bears during the rut are unpredictable.

 

[Russ16]

I have started using a Pelican Vault. They are not as heavy as the regular Pelican cases and did a great job on my last trip.


I called Pelican because it seemed too tight without cutting the foam. A representative told me that the cases were designed to hold guns very tightly and not to cut the foam.

(You will need to take the bolts out of bolt-action rifles, or the bolt knob will punch through the foam when you shut the case)

Putting tow rifles in my Vault I couldn’t close it without cutting the foam.

 

[Field28]

I've got a Pelican double vault. With two rifles with optics weighs in at 49lbs.
The wheels help a good bit.

 

[Sabre]

Just to offer something different, I would also check out Nanuk cases. They have been great for me.

 

[Whitworth375]

Ive got a Pelican Vault 770 single rifle case that i really like

 

[JimP]

I went with the Harbor Freight Pelican clone. It is a very sturdy case and come in at 23 lbs weight wise.