"Floater" Gun Cases

Salty

Salty

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Well I've got my 'boat gun' all set up. Like said on another thread I bought a new stainless/synthetic Ruger 77 mk2 in 308. I've topped it off with a new Nikon 3-9x40 buckmasters. I want to hunt the inlets around here with my skiff and try out a few islands for blacktail.

So with the stainless, I've got a chance against salt water issues. The scope seems very good in wet weather which will be the case, although I'll probably add some storm caps to boot. Ready to rock. But, I'm thinking I'd sure be pissed off if it got bounced out of the boat for the crabs to have:eek:

Any of you guys have recommendations for a good floater gun case. I don't want bling or fancy engraving or anything just a good functional fairly tough case that can float a scoped rifle. The bit of looking in the catalogues I've done have me considering the Kolpin floater gun boot or whatevertheycallit :)
 
Is it legal to hunt from a boat in B.C.? Just curious.
There are all kinds of gun cases that will float. Even one a baggage monkey couldn't break. SIR carries them. It'd likely be a good idea to have a length of rope attached to the boat and the case too.
 
Kolpin also makes a soft rubber case called the "Sealtector Gun Sleeve" that is a pouch that seals like the dry bags kayakers use. You could put your rifle in a gunsock or soft case and then drop it into the kolpin waterproof bag and you would have a fairly well protected gun with minimal bulk. If you trap some air inside the Sealtector as you seal it up it will provide some protection as well as flotation. $32.99 at Wholesale.
 
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sunray said:
Is it legal to hunt from a boat in B.C.? .
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Yes and no. What the law says is that you cannot discharge a firearm from a power boat. And if the outboard motor is tilted up the boat is not considered a power boat. So you can shoot an animal out of canoe, kayak or power vessel with the motor out of the water. But, hunting deer out of the boat wouldn't be real productive in my estimation. I'm just using my skiff to get to places and then hunt on foot.

Yes, a rope tied to the gun wouldn't be a bad plan. Things happen going through the narrows, hitting ugly water etc. and you get flung around sometimes and I've lost gear this way. This is why I want a gun case that floats.

If you trap some air inside the Sealtector as you seal it up it will provide some protection as well as flotation
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I'll check that out Can-down but I have my reservations on anything that isn't a proper floater. I've got gun cases that would float for a while. Long enough for me to turn around and get to them? Not sure. Most of the "floaters" I have seen are for waterfowlers and shot guns and I've only found the one Kolpin that is a floater case for a scoped rifle, still wondering if there's others out there. I'd probably wrap the thing up in something waterproof to boot to keep salt spray off of it so I'm less concerned about the 'dry bag' approach.;)
 
Checked the Pelican web site and they seem to only do hard shipping type cases.

Here's about all I've found for scoped floater rifle case so far. Floats up to a 12 pound gun. ~$75 at SIR..

481328.jpg
 
The Kolpin Sealtector looks like the same idea as the nomaralska that Ted has linked to but it does not come with a liner and has a straighter cut.
I can slide a 41" long Uncle Mike's (scoped rifle) padded soft case in no problem and there is room up front around the barrel to add flotation material but I'm quite confident that if I trap air in the bag and seal it shut it will float for a long time.

http://secure.mycart.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=4765547&showprevnext=1
 
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Ted, that would appear to be the real deal alright, and would float 10 guns plus :eek: I assume there's no shipping issues on rifle cases :rolleyes:

Can-down, thanks for the picture I get your point now. This is a possibility for sure. Pretty reasonable price too :cool:
 
I got it a couple of months ago. I have not submerged it but when it's folded and the buckle is locked it holds air even when I lean on it or squeeze it hard.
I Have no doubt that it will keep the water out unless it was somehow torn but it seems fairly tough and abrasion resistant.
The thing with this type of dry bag is that it also locks any moisture in so i'd be carefull about leaving a gun in it for too long if it's wet. Protecting the gun in a seperate soft case or gunsock might help absorb some moisture and wick it away from the gun but at some point you would want to dry everything out in the sun or by a fire etc.
I've used Drybags before Sea Kayaking and they've performed well. I bought this mainly to use for Kayaking with my Martin Backpacker guitar which fits in the case perfectly.

The Nomaralaska does look pretty good and since it's built by fisherman I bet it's tougher then the Kolpin I don't know the difference between
"600 Denier" (Kolpin) and "18oz. SeaTarp" (Nomaralaska).
 
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Can-down said:
The thing with this type of dry bag is that it also locks any moisture in so i'd be carefull about leaving a gun in it for too long if it's wet.
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Amen to that my friend! Even the Kolpin case that Salty has pictured above traps mositure in bad. I had my 375 in the rain for half a day, put it in the case, and when I took it out that evening everything was soaked.

Even parts of the rifle that were dry when I put it in there were wet!.

If the Kolpin will hold air when you squeeze it hard, it will probably keep a rifle dry.

Ted
 
I would look at the starlight 2 rifle case I JUST USED ONE ON A TRIP TO AFRICA TOP NOTCH PROTECTION IF ITS GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE US NAVY SEALS ITS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.
 
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