Shotgun: Best Airline Travel Case

[Fistfull]

I own a Remington 870 with an 18.5 inch barrel and a folding stock. I'm looking into a travel case suitable for airline travel. According to the Westjet website a firearm must meet the following criteria to be accepted as baggage:

-Packaged in a locked, heavy-duty container or hard-sided (opaque) gun case
-Locked with a trigger lock"
-Ammunition must not stored in the same case as the firearm.

I measured my firearm and I'll need a case that's at least 30 inches long, 8 inches tall, and 6 inches deep. With this in mind I'm trying to find the smallest, most compact, lightest travel case that's large enough to fit the firearm. Since you can't transport ammo in the same case anyway, it doesn't need to have room for anything but the firearm itself.

I've been looking at all types of cases and I haven't found anything even close to what I need. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[frumpy]

Pelican cases are watertight, crushproof, and dust proof and have a good warranty


http://pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1700
Interior Dimensions:
35.75" x 13.50" x 5.25"

 

[Fistfull]

Pelican cases are watertight, crushproof, and dust proof and have a good warranty


http://pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1700
Interior Dimensions:
35.75" x 13.50" x 5.25"

I actually already own that very case. There's nothing wrong with it exactly, but it's still a lot bigger than I really need. Ideally I'd like a case small enough that I can fit it into a large backpack for ease of transport once on the road, and to avoid the 20$ extra bag fee if I can.

 

[Redsoilreaper]

Plus 1 for Pelican cases.

 

[mel_ester]

the pelican cases come in all sizes i think mountain equipment co-op can get most models of pelican cases. just find the size you need. i wouldn't go with anything else personally.

 

[NathanR]

Sail here in Oshawa has a neat little aluminum case with combo locks on it. I think it was $100 (which is more than I'd pay, but I'm cheap). However it was quite slim and the aluminum makes it "strong" and lightweight.

 

[Wendell]

I actually already own that very case. There's nothing wrong with it exactly, but it's still a lot bigger than I really need. Ideally I'd like a case small enough that I can fit it into a large backpack for ease of transport once on the road, and to avoid the 20$ extra bag fee if I can.

TSA regulations stipulate that: "The firearm must be in a hard-sided container" even if that hard-sided firearm case is transported within another (larger) suitcase which is soft.
This ties your hands, to a certain extent.
The solution might be to remove the foam from your Pelican case, and use a soft case within the Pelican case for the flight. (On the ground, you needn't lug the Pelican case around, unless you want to.)

<http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm>
<http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=10039/k=/t=P/Products/Gun-Cases-Racks>