What rifle case for airline travel?

[Bughalli]

I'm an archery hunter and travel ever year with my bow, but this year I'm traveling with a rifle. So a need something I can check on the airline. Needs to be airline compliant, hard shell, etc I'll have a custom Remington 700 with a Vortex PST on it. I've read a bunch a reviews on different cases and it sounds like scopes with turrets can be a challenge. Curious what you guys use when checking a rifle on an airline.

 

[mtcarter]

My pelican has treated me well. Cut the foam to match your rifle and it is great. I don't shoot with a scope but I can't imagine it being a problem. I think I have the IM3200. The same case comes in a deep model if you think you'll need it for the turrets. Hope this helps. Cheers

 

[N2TRKYS]

I use a Pelican 1750 for all of my shotguns and rifles. I don't cut my foam and haven't had an issue yet. They're tough cases.

 

[beetlespin]

another vote for a pelican 1750. They have been around for years. its a very durable case.

 

[rlmmarine]

another vote for a pelican 1750. They have been around for years. its a very durable case.

Choose this and you won't go wrong buy one off of eBay and save some money

 

[Bughalli]

Yeah....a lot of my research points to the Pelican 1750, but it's pretty expensive and awfully heavy. It's a beast, which I guess is good and bad.

 

[pwsINC]

I use the skb double rifle. Been happy with it. Fits my pst with turrets.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

 

[MTNRCHR]

My Plano rifle case has done well going back and forth to AK for years and it wont break the bank. It won't hurt your feelings when the airlines gouge the hell out of it either.

 

[Bubblehide]

I just picked up an SKB double stack-er rifle case for an incredible $70.00. I already have an SKB bow case. Just be sure to use a TSA approved lock (the bow case came with TSA approved locks).

 

[N2TRKYS]

My case was about $175, locally. They had them on sale a few weeks ago for $125.

You do not have to have TSA approved locks. As always, check your airline's rules and regs. My doesn't require them.

 

[awaldro7]

I just got the Cabelas Armor Extreme Molded Double Long-Gun hard case to take mine and my dads rifle to Newfoundland. My scope is a Vortex Viper HS-T and the turret fits great. I have read that the single case is not as deep as the double and the turret will not fit. I liked the double because we can fly the guns cheaper in one case rather than two and for future hunts if one of us is not going then the other can take a backup rifle.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

another vote here for the Pelican

 

[mlevimadden]

Pelican 1750 for me too.

 

[KJH]

I was going to post a link to the Browning case I use, but I just found out its actually a Pelican 1750 branded with the Browning logo...

So I guess Pelican 1750 for me too.

 

[Bughalli]

Thanks for the input guys. This reminds me of "cooler" shopping. When do you need a Yeti and when will a Coleman Extreme do just fine?

I did a ton of research and decided I might want a couple options depending on what I'm doing. The Pelican cases are really heavy (25lbs empty), so I'll only use it when traveling with an expensive gun for a long ways. This trip is a short trip to the midwest and I'm bringing a lightweight "beater" gun with a low profile scope, so I wanted a smaller, lighter case. I'll put this case a duffle and throw hunting clothes, boots, etc around it to avoid extra baggage fees. This is what I do with my archery case and that strategy has worked great for many many years of flights (I bet 40+ flights).

I ended up ordering the Cabelas Armor Extreme (smaller, lighter Pelican knockoff). Normally it's $120, but currently on sale for $89 and I got another 10% off and free shipping as a club visa member....basically $80 to my door! So it's cheap enough to buy one, plus only weighs 13.5 lbs vs 25 lbs. Given it's smaller and lighter I'm more likely to use it for local hunting within driving distance as well. It should be plenty sturdy, but will wait until I get it and update this thread if it doesn't meet my expectations.

I'll probably still get the Pelican 1750 at some point for when I do more extensive travel with a nicer rifle and the turret scope, but I just don't need that much case for this trip. Plus now I can wait until I find a sale for the pelicans. ...maybe I'll go a double gun at that point. Wait and see what that trip requires.

 

[Bubblehide]

My case was about $175, locally. They had them on sale a few weeks ago for $125.

You do not have to have TSA approved locks. As always, check your airline's rules and regs. My doesn't require them.

True, but if the TSA want's to check they WILL. They will do it any way they want, cut the locks off, or cut the case open. At this point in time, in the U.S., they have a legal right to check the contents, with or without your presence. I generally fly from an international air port, so they are always there, and always checking what they want. A friend of mine thought he could put his own locks on a case, he got it back without the lock at his destination. I saw a locked duffel come through the luggage carousel, TSA simply cut the bag open and taped it up after. Needless to say, the owner had a tizzy fit.

 

[N2TRKYS]

True, but if the TSA want's to check they WILL. They will do it any way they want, cut the locks off, or cut the case open. At this point in time, in the U.S., they have a legal right to check the contents, with or without your presence. I generally fly from an international air port, so they are always there, and always checking what they want. A friend of mine thought he could put his own locks on a case, he got it back without the lock at his destination. I saw a locked duffel come through the luggage carousel, TSA simply cut the bag open and taped it up after. Needless to say, the owner had a tizzy fit.

I fly out of and into international airports, as well. TSA always has me open it in their presence and hand me my keys back and then it's loaded on the plane.

Heck, one airport doesn't want to open it. They just wipe the edges and then scan it and then they tell me that I'm good to go.

At another airport, they're gonna take everything out of the case including all the foam. Then they walk over to me, hand me my keys, and sign their piece of paper. Then they would let me, unattended, walk it outside to the oversized luggage dropoff. This Spring they had one of their reps take it to the dropoff. I never understood why they would break the chain of custody like they were doing.

Either way, I've never had any issues like you're describing.

FWIW, I never lock my regular checked luggage. I never thought that was a good idea because I wouldn't be there when they check it.

 

[Bughalli]

When I've traveled with my shotguns they would either inspect them at the gate or take me to a special room to inspect them. If I recall it was a TSA representative who did the inspection. After the inspection they had me put the locks on and I had no issues (FYI all travel within the US). It's required you have locks on a gun case even thought it's checked luggage. I once put locks on a pelican box that held wine and they cut those off, even after the counter agent inspected the box....but I guess they weren't TSA.

I heard from others it's best to put a set of locks on the case and leave a set of open locks inside the case (ideally all of the locks use the same key). This way if they cut the outside locks off, they will put the uncut locks that were inside the case on the outside. I thought that was pretty smart.

 

[Ohio Darin]

I vote Kalispel Gun Cases. Mine has literally been around the world and served me well. No foam to cut and your rifle doesn't move no mater how hard it is thrown. My dad has the same case that is pushing 40 years old and is well travelled too.

Kalispel

 

[Ohio Darin]

True, but if the TSA want's to check they WILL. They will do it any way they want, cut the locks off, or cut the case open. At this point in time, in the U.S., they have a legal right to check the contents, with or without your presence. I generally fly from an international air port, so they are always there, and always checking what they want. A friend of mine thought he could put his own locks on a case, he got it back without the lock at his destination. I saw a locked duffel come through the luggage carousel, TSA simply cut the bag open and taped it up after. Needless to say, the owner had a tizzy fit.

US Law requires firearms to be in a locked hard-sided case and for no one else to have the key or combination. By using a TSA lock or by surrendering your key or password you are actually exposing yourself to a whole lot of liability (ticket agents typically try to get me to surrender mine which I decline). I have flown many times both nationally and internationally with my rifle without problem. Sure every airport is different but in the US you should not leave the ticket counter until your rifle has cleared TSA. Sometimes my rifle will clear but most times I need to be escorted to a TSA location to open the case for further inspection. After which I lock up the case and they take it from there. They will not cut the lock on a firearm case - it just won't get loaded - and if they did it still wouldn't get loaded as it is now unlocked. Good idea to have your name and cell phone number on the outside of the case but shouldn't be an issue if you stay at the ticket counter. Most agents know the drill but if not let them know you will be waiting and to let you know when the case clears TSA.

On another note I have heard of guys getting hung up with cases that have places for 3 to 4 locks and only using 2. TSA is requiring that all lockable latches are filled with locks.