Packing a rifle case / flying

[62flint]

Thinking about flying with my rifle in a drag bag with clothes and other gear stuffed around it verses using the cut out foam. Looking on the net. Packing with a soft case and gear is pretty popular.
Obviously a cut foam may be more secure and protected.
What is your opinion

 

[Antares]

It's been discussed extensively.

Links

 

[Justin Crossley]

Thinking about flying with my rifle in a drag bag with clothes and other gear stuffed around it verses using the cut out foam. Looking on the net. Packing with a soft case and gear is pretty popular.
Obviously a cut foam may be more secure and protected.
What is your opinion

That's what I always do. Soft case inside Pelican with other gear stuffed around it until I hit the weight limit.

 

[LongWayAround]

The drag bag seems like an inefficient use of space. But if that's what you have...

 

[Custureri]

I travel once or twice a month with my rifles, and use 1 of 2 cases for the task. The first, Vault 700, And the second a pelican 1750. I can fit two rifles in either case in addition to my 10 mm and two boxes of ammo. I never order cases with foam as it only works with one configuration. If I'm shipping a rifle, I use a standard hard-sided case and foam comes into play there as the buyer is covering the cost.

My rifles go into independent Thick soft sided cases-- I buy the ones from Federal that are their Brown premium. It's a shave weight, I remove the shoulder straps and carry those in my bag. The Vault gets used more for my 20 inch barrels and less, and the 1750 for my higher end European rifles. Pistol with spare mag goes into a soft chest holster with a chamber flag. My thermal always goes on the plane with me.

When traveling with my ARs for the vehicle/helicopter hunts, I use a two rifle Square carrier that fits perfectly in the v700. Make sure to check the weight of any soft-sided bags as it can add up quick; but almost always is less than foam. To protect the top of the case, my fabric shooting mat gets bungee in the lid with 3D printed bungee holders I made for both Pelicans.

after I'm done packing, I always stand directly in the center on top of the case to see if I can feel any hard objects...... but I never do.Two additional locks and zip ties with a note for TSA get placed directly on top in case they have to cut. By Future proofed and had 16 titanium locks made all keyed the same. To this day, I've only ever had two Locks cut in years of travel.

Pro tip: don't overthink your packing. Remember, many items can go in your carry-on to include scopes.

 

[62flint]

The drag bag seems like an inefficient use of space. But if that's what you have...View attachment 940418

I have a few other smaller bags I am considering on using, I just dropped it in to see if it would fit.
My main concern is the rifle making it unharmed.

 

[chizelhead]

The drag bag seems like an inefficient use of space. But if that's what you have...View attachment 940418

This^^ I also take out the foam on the cover for more packing volume. As long as the case is solid and you're confident in your scope, then I don't see how the rifle would be harmed.

 

[Theringworm]

I only use the foam cutouts that come with the hard case. I have one hard case and bought a box of 4 foam additional inserts that are all custom cut for each rifle I may take. So that is 5 foam cutouts for one hard case. I want things as protected and tight fitting as possible. The ONE reason I do this instead of not using the foam cutouts is because of one experience I had flying back from Cordova AK. TSA took my hard case, opened it in front of me, pulled every single item out of the foam and then pulled the foam out also. I about lost my mind. Once she was done, she started shoving my stuff back in very carelessly. Granted each item had a cutout for I o go back into but her carelessness was not welcomed. I immediately spoke up and said, “mam, I am more than happy to repack that case for you here in front of you to insure things are to my satisfaction.” She turned to me and with a typical bitch face said, “you are not allowed to posses or touch this case or any belongings in it from now until you reach your next destination.” I then said exactly what was on my mind to her.

My freinds case was next, which was packed with the foam out and clothes etc repacked around the gun. She basically did a fire sale on it and threw all of his crap back in and closed it up. No where even remotely as tight or neatly packed as it was originally. I have only seen that happen once in all of my years, but it’s reason enough for me I won’t travel without the foam.

 

[Custureri]

I have a few other smaller bags I am considering on using, I just dropped it in to see if it would fit.
My main concern is the rifle making it unharmed.

Drag bags are great when you throw them in the truck, but they typically weigh over 6 to 8 lbs on their own without much additional protection. You can always buy 1/4 inch roll of packing foam for shipping (cheap) and lay a piece on each rifle in the soft case for added protection at the expense of a few ounces.

 

[sniper61]

After arriving in ak. And finding out someone took out my northface sleeping bag out of a locked duffle bag . Then one time had to wait a day for my rifle case to show up, I started mailing my stuff to my self early so I can call the post office and know it is up there waiting for me. The last time the double rifle case cast $180 one way. This next trip i might check it as luggage.
Had to double up 2 boyscout sleeping bags that I borrowed for that moose hunt. They worked but the air lines wouldn't replace the northface.

 

[lukebrowning]

I only use the foam cutouts that come with the hard case. I have one hard case and bought a box of 4 foam additional inserts that are all custom cut for each rifle I may take. So that is 5 foam cutouts for one hard case. I want things as protected and tight fitting as possible. The ONE reason I do this instead of not using the foam cutouts is because of one experience I had flying back from Cordova AK. TSA took my hard case, opened it in front of me, pulled every single item out of the foam and then pulled the foam out also. I about lost my mind. Once she was done, she started shoving my stuff back in very carelessly. Granted each item had a cutout for I o go back into but her carelessness was not welcomed. I immediately spoke up and said, “mam, I am more than happy to repack that case for you here in front of you to insure things are to my satisfaction.” She turned to me and with a typical bitch face said, “you are not allowed to posses or touch this case or any belongings in it from now until you reach your next destination.” I then said exactly what was on my mind to her.

My freinds case was next, which was packed with the foam out and clothes etc repacked around the gun. She basically did a fire sale on it and threw all of his crap back in and closed it up. No where even remotely as tight or neatly packed as it was originally. I have only seen that happen once in all of my years, but it’s reason enough for me I won’t travel without the foam.

Good point. I think it also depends on what airport you fly in/out of. Since moving to Montana people actually (for the most part) respect your stuff as they would want someone to treat their stuff. I used to live outside of a big city and did a lot of travel.... I absolutely disdain airline workers in big cities.

 

[silverbulletandchill]

Thinking about flying with my rifle in a drag bag with clothes and other gear stuffed around it verses using the cut out foam. Looking on the net. Packing with a soft case and gear is pretty popular.
Obviously a cut foam may be more secure and protected.
What is your opinion

I flew to alaska with my rifle and did the soft case, with ammo in the boxes, some clothes as well for support like denim jeans and a puff jacket under the gun. Easy day.

 

[nm.otter]

had 16 titanium locks made all keyed the same.

Actual titanium padlocks? Do tell...

After a fair bit of researching (and a few returns), these turned out to be the best fit on my low-budget Apache 9800 case. Amazon has 2-packs keyed alike -- if you need more, be prepared for a bit of a wait from someone like this.

 

[Custureri]

Actual titanium padlocks? Do tell...

After a fair bit of researching (and a few returns), these turned out to be the best fit on my low-budget Apache 9800 case. Amazon has 2-packs keyed alike -- if you need more, be prepared for a bit of a wait from someone like this.

Correction, TitaLium (voice to text corrected to titanium)

Here's a picture of some of the cases I use, and the lock as well. They came out to $8 a piece and an additional $20 rekey.

Regarding the rest of the posts:
Prior to every trip, everything gets weighed. There's a scale on the floor under that box which includes ammo to be shipped ahead of time for this specific hunt. Every soft case weighs 3 lb or less. The two soft cases fit in the pelican v700, and the current case for this had to AR-15s--16-in DD V7 with 762 TI HUX suppressor, and LWRC 12.5 in piston with a 762 TI hux. All of my rifles for hunting have been chopped to 20 in since I don't hunt over 400 yd. My long guns fit in the 1750 and they have 24 and 26-in barrels respectively (multiple Benelli lupo's).

You'll see foam in the picture, but I only keep that in there during storage, or if I'm shipping a specific rifle somewhere ahead of time. I'm not a fan of foam cutouts.