When I load them up up the back of the truck, guns are in hard cases, because all the camping equipt is going in on top of them, and they won't get a nice ride back there. When I'm out hunting, I don't abuse them if at all possible, chit happens though, fall down, slide down a hill, horses rub on trees, haven't lost zero due to that, yet.Darnit, you beat me too it.
" Question" : Hard or Soft case ?
- Thread starter padawan
- Start date
Something to think about.
A GOOD drag/jump bag that is designed to hold a rifle and gear with excellent padding ( not one of those cheezy thing that the big box stores pass off as "tactical") will withstand a lot of pounding . when jumping, the bag goes first, attached to the jumper with a l9ng tag line and at a pretty danged good rate of decent !
After it hits the ground, it may get tossed around some more, and the contents are expected to perform in situations civilians most liely will never encounter.
Spend the money on a good bag and it will pay off.
My rifles have been carried on snowmobiles, in boats, and aircraft, in the back of trucks as ATV's under some pretty danged rough conditions and not nearly what they would go through if on deployment .They have never failed to perform.
If being transported by Postal service however, or a courier, et, they go in a hard aircraft approved hard case.
If just heading to the range however, I often use traditional sleeve style gun cases with the zipper
Cat
A GOOD drag/jump bag that is designed to hold a rifle and gear with excellent padding ( not one of those cheezy thing that the big box stores pass off as "tactical") will withstand a lot of pounding . when jumping, the bag goes first, attached to the jumper with a l9ng tag line and at a pretty danged good rate of decent !
After it hits the ground, it may get tossed around some more, and the contents are expected to perform in situations civilians most liely will never encounter.
Spend the money on a good bag and it will pay off.
My rifles have been carried on snowmobiles, in boats, and aircraft, in the back of trucks as ATV's under some pretty danged rough conditions and not nearly what they would go through if on deployment .They have never failed to perform.
If being transported by Postal service however, or a courier, et, they go in a hard aircraft approved hard case.
If just heading to the range however, I often use traditional sleeve style gun cases with the zipper
Cat
Last edited:
One last thing to add, savior cases are super lowkey and dont have anything on them that would make anyone think its got rifles in it unless you put firearm related patches on the velcro. I like being able to walk to my truck in scarborough and not raise suspicion from people walking by. The same can be said for some hard cases but generally they end up with firearm related stickers on them or just look like they are made for firearms. Something to think about if you are in a city or community with neighbors close by.
Seems like it boils down to matter of option....some folks seem to say hard cases take up more room in a vehicle, where as I find they take up less room as I can stack things on top of them or toss them in the bed of my truck with out much worry, where as my soft cases have to go on top of things not under and usually strapped down if in back of the truck.
I also have no need to carry my rifle cases for extended distances as I usually am driving as close as I can at the shooting range (within 20ft of my truck) or in a stand or walking with rifle in hand while hunting.
My cases also tend to get dirt/mud on them and sometimes even rain, a hardcase is again better suited to handle this in my opinion as it can easily be washed off.
There is nothing wrong with soft cases and im sure they have a place its realy what your lifestyle leans to.
I spend alot of money on my firearms, so want to keep them in the best condition possible, if that means I have to spend a couple hundred on a case to protect my 2 or 3 thousand dollar firearm its a no brainer to me.
.....but like I said to each there own.
I also have no need to carry my rifle cases for extended distances as I usually am driving as close as I can at the shooting range (within 20ft of my truck) or in a stand or walking with rifle in hand while hunting.
My cases also tend to get dirt/mud on them and sometimes even rain, a hardcase is again better suited to handle this in my opinion as it can easily be washed off.
There is nothing wrong with soft cases and im sure they have a place its realy what your lifestyle leans to.
I spend alot of money on my firearms, so want to keep them in the best condition possible, if that means I have to spend a couple hundred on a case to protect my 2 or 3 thousand dollar firearm its a no brainer to me.
.....but like I said to each there own.
soft cases 99% of the time for a bunch of reasons but as someone else pointed-out, depends on how rough I anticipate the handling might be...how much OTHER gear is going in the vehicle, any chance of anything falling on it, do I want a soft case visible up high/above everything else?
I have a light-duty hard case when it's a question mark, and avoided serious cases as I couldn't justify the expense. If I was traveling with a firearm, I'd just mail it. lol Anyway, did a trip this spring where the rifle was flying with me there/back....so paid a visit to my friends @ Tenda because they had both the Pelican 1750 and the Nanuk equivalent. Price comparable, but seeing side-by-side there was no question=Pelican got the nod. Now I'm looking at using it for different trips/different guns and choked at the cost of the foam replacement.
I have a light-duty hard case when it's a question mark, and avoided serious cases as I couldn't justify the expense. If I was traveling with a firearm, I'd just mail it. lol Anyway, did a trip this spring where the rifle was flying with me there/back....so paid a visit to my friends @ Tenda because they had both the Pelican 1750 and the Nanuk equivalent. Price comparable, but seeing side-by-side there was no question=Pelican got the nod. Now I'm looking at using it for different trips/different guns and choked at the cost of the foam replacement.
I started off with hard cases and slowly switched to soft bags over time (which I now prefer).
If I were flying it would be hard case (for obvious reasons if you have ever watched the luggage being offloaded, I am sure there are some that do care but there are also a bunch of Gorillas that don't it seems.)
Make sure that you don't.
It is. For a heavy/larger rifle with precision accessories, I'd suggest a hard case.
Reason being, you can sort all your accessories (bipod, extra mags, tools, loctite, etc) all in one place without worrying about it tumbling around with the gun AND without having to have extra bags for your accessories. Most guys also use this type of gun in controlled environments and don't like to beat them up. A hard case provides the best protection.
For a relatively lightweight barebones hunting rig, it doesn't really matter in my opinion. It's going to get beat up in the bush anyway, so the extra protection/safety of a hard case would only really be needed if you are throwing it in the bed of a truck or going on a flight or something.
ATRS Shaun
Business Member Rep.
- Location
- Calgary, AB
You're all wrong. Only one guy was close to right.
The correct answer is BOTH, soft case inside the hard case instead of foam.
Now hear me out... Depending on the trip, and depending on the vehicle. For remote shooting with a lot of dirt roads, the amount of dust that accumulates on the soft cases in the back of a pickup is shocking... And it permeates through all of it. You'll be finding that ultra fine dust falling off the case for years later.
For range trips whenever possible I keep the rifles inside the cab, but there are times it just doesn't fit. Then having a hard case shell to put the soft cases in is so nice.
The correct answer is BOTH, soft case inside the hard case instead of foam.
Now hear me out... Depending on the trip, and depending on the vehicle. For remote shooting with a lot of dirt roads, the amount of dust that accumulates on the soft cases in the back of a pickup is shocking... And it permeates through all of it. You'll be finding that ultra fine dust falling off the case for years later.
For range trips whenever possible I keep the rifles inside the cab, but there are times it just doesn't fit. Then having a hard case shell to put the soft cases in is so nice.
ht tps://nomaralaska.com/collections/waterproof-gun-scabbards/products/waterproof-rifle-scabbard
"Bush pilots encourage customers to use soft sided gun cases when flying out to remote Alaska. Our Waterproof Rifle Scabbard is the answer: a completely waterproof, padded and soft sided gun scabbard. If your rifle ever sees water, this scabbard is for you.
We have the interior insert material manufactured custom for NOMAR. It is constructed of closed cell foam covered with a silicone treated polyfleece that will protect your gun without scuffing. The 4 sq ft of 1/4" closed cell foam also has a flotation rating of 140 lbs. It will definitely float your firearm if it hits the water! All of this is laminated into a strong protective insert that fits snugly into the waterproof shell.
The exterior of the rifle scabbard is designed like a dry bag and manufactured using an 18 oz waterproof seatarp vinyl that's sealed at the edges. Extra strength is added with a sewn webbing edging that holds the carry handle and D-rings for an optional shoulder strap. You can also use those D-rings to secure the scabbard to a skiff, ATV or horse.
The scabbard's outer shell measures at 16.5" wide and tapers down to a 5" wide tip. The total length is 58" when laying completely flat but, when rolled down to create a waterproof seal, it should measure roughly 47". The total weight of the scabbard (both the outer shell and foam insert) is 2 lbs. 13 oz..".
"Bush pilots encourage customers to use soft sided gun cases when flying out to remote Alaska. Our Waterproof Rifle Scabbard is the answer: a completely waterproof, padded and soft sided gun scabbard. If your rifle ever sees water, this scabbard is for you.
We have the interior insert material manufactured custom for NOMAR. It is constructed of closed cell foam covered with a silicone treated polyfleece that will protect your gun without scuffing. The 4 sq ft of 1/4" closed cell foam also has a flotation rating of 140 lbs. It will definitely float your firearm if it hits the water! All of this is laminated into a strong protective insert that fits snugly into the waterproof shell.
The exterior of the rifle scabbard is designed like a dry bag and manufactured using an 18 oz waterproof seatarp vinyl that's sealed at the edges. Extra strength is added with a sewn webbing edging that holds the carry handle and D-rings for an optional shoulder strap. You can also use those D-rings to secure the scabbard to a skiff, ATV or horse.
The scabbard's outer shell measures at 16.5" wide and tapers down to a 5" wide tip. The total length is 58" when laying completely flat but, when rolled down to create a waterproof seal, it should measure roughly 47". The total weight of the scabbard (both the outer shell and foam insert) is 2 lbs. 13 oz..".
Does everyone around here drive regular cab trucks or something? My guns go in the back seat. I've yet to have a situation where that wasn't an option. (I can think of situations, just haven't actually had one)
All of these folks are giving good advice, depending on their personal needs and experiences.
Over years of transporting firearms suitable for many different venues, I use both hard cases, made of extruded plastic, with foam lining, aluminum cases with denser foam linings, sometimes cut out to fit the profile of the rifle/handgun and some accessories, or soft sleeve types, either zippered, velcroid, or folded/tied closed.
They all have a niche.
There are all sorts of grades made in each category, so it can get confusing.
Hard shell cases are usually for special purpose firearms, such as collectibles or match rifles/handguns.
The reason for this is pretty obvious, firearms are held in a "rigid" manner, and not getting the finish worn on sharp edges or high spots.
I've seen collectibles, which were unfired, other than factory testing, carried around in soft bags, which were severely devalued because the finish was worn, sliding around in such cases during transport. Match shooters like to keep everything as unchanged as possible, and hard cases are a good way to eliminate unexpected changes.
Soft cases come in all sorts of designs, and depending on what you're using them for, such as hauling in your vehicle to a hunt, or securing them on a quad or SXS, it depends on what extremes you're protecting them from.
Most shooters are unconcerned about wearing high points/sharp edges on their hunting rifles, and they're covering them for safety/legal/weather protection.
For this type of carry case, I avoid cheap weather-proof cases, which are constructed of vinyl-covered cloth and zippered. They fall apart quickly, handles tear off or crumble off, and they usually leak like sieves.
They don't have to be heavy, but I prefer the good quality types, which are soft inside, to reduce wear, waterproof weaving and thick enough to protect the rifle from most falls, as well as dust, snow, rain. These usually cost over $100.
Depending on your needs, basic bag types will suffice for most purposes.
Over years of transporting firearms suitable for many different venues, I use both hard cases, made of extruded plastic, with foam lining, aluminum cases with denser foam linings, sometimes cut out to fit the profile of the rifle/handgun and some accessories, or soft sleeve types, either zippered, velcroid, or folded/tied closed.
They all have a niche.
There are all sorts of grades made in each category, so it can get confusing.
Hard shell cases are usually for special purpose firearms, such as collectibles or match rifles/handguns.
The reason for this is pretty obvious, firearms are held in a "rigid" manner, and not getting the finish worn on sharp edges or high spots.
I've seen collectibles, which were unfired, other than factory testing, carried around in soft bags, which were severely devalued because the finish was worn, sliding around in such cases during transport. Match shooters like to keep everything as unchanged as possible, and hard cases are a good way to eliminate unexpected changes.
Soft cases come in all sorts of designs, and depending on what you're using them for, such as hauling in your vehicle to a hunt, or securing them on a quad or SXS, it depends on what extremes you're protecting them from.
Most shooters are unconcerned about wearing high points/sharp edges on their hunting rifles, and they're covering them for safety/legal/weather protection.
For this type of carry case, I avoid cheap weather-proof cases, which are constructed of vinyl-covered cloth and zippered. They fall apart quickly, handles tear off or crumble off, and they usually leak like sieves.
They don't have to be heavy, but I prefer the good quality types, which are soft inside, to reduce wear, waterproof weaving and thick enough to protect the rifle from most falls, as well as dust, snow, rain. These usually cost over $100.
Depending on your needs, basic bag types will suffice for most purposes.
ATRS Shaun
Business Member Rep.
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Nah, Super Crew i think is what it's called. 90% of the time yeah, they ride in the cab. But sometimes there's people sitting in the seats. If I complain about dust on my guns... I can just imagine how much the passengers would complain if I made them ride in the box on dirt roads!
for my bench rifle I have a hard case. It won't fit in a soft case, and that said some hard cases might be tight, but it has a folding stock that gets folded in the hard case.
Can Tire has them go on sale often, and they work great. Carry my bolt separately, mags, bipod. The huntshield with rollers on the bottom. Can get 2 rifles in there if done right with folding stocks.
My other 223 range use rifle doesn't fit in any soft cases either, so a cheaper double rifle case it travels in. Most of the others go in soft cases to the range, as they fit in them.
I take 2-3 trips from the vehicle to bench at the range to carry everything. Almost never go with one rifle. I say almost as the only time is a quick trip to finalize a new load, or load development, and that is quickly in the evenings before dark.
Can Tire has them go on sale often, and they work great. Carry my bolt separately, mags, bipod. The huntshield with rollers on the bottom. Can get 2 rifles in there if done right with folding stocks.
My other 223 range use rifle doesn't fit in any soft cases either, so a cheaper double rifle case it travels in. Most of the others go in soft cases to the range, as they fit in them.
I take 2-3 trips from the vehicle to bench at the range to carry everything. Almost never go with one rifle. I say almost as the only time is a quick trip to finalize a new load, or load development, and that is quickly in the evenings before dark.
