I put this in BIG BORES but maybe it is better here. I have a 1750 2-gun case and I would rather not cut the foam since I take different guns on different trips. I would like the benefit of everyones experience on whether I need to cut the foam for proper fit and protection.

I have never cut foam in any hard case. I find the protection is better as the guns are held more securely. Some times the case is hard to close and lock but I would never cut the foam. JMO. I am not a great traveler - about semi-annually since 1990 app.

Cut the foam. Or even better use a hot wire cutter to cut the foam.

I have used a Pelican case successfully with foam cut, but NOT for air travel. I say that if you can close the case without removing any foam, you are much better off. Even if you can't close the case, only remove what you have to.

You get the maximum protection when the foam is cut to fit the rifle. I travel with a variety of guns, and of course can't cut a new piece of foam for every trip. You should be able to make a cut that fits most standard bolt actions, however.(for example) I have on occassion had to cut out some other large chunks for a specific application, but these can either be glued back later, or you can just buy more foam. The price of a layer of foam is worth the insurance of protecting the gun.

I can't imagine using a Pelican case without the foam cut. This isn't the cheap foam found in other cases, but fairly high density foam. Cut it properly and you will have great protection for your firearms.

Bill

quote:

Originally posted by llamapacker:
You get the maximum protection when the foam is cut to fit the rifle.

I can't imagine using a Pelican case without the foam cut.
Bill

X 2 !!!!

Cheers,
Canuck

Cut the foam. I've had guns shift in my Pelican case prior to cutting the foam. I've also had TSA and other counties' customs folks put guns and rifles back into a case so that they were touching. If you cut the foam, even the most inexperienced individual will put the rifles back where they belong.

Also, I travel with different guns too and have found that a double rifle fits fine in the cut out for a scoped bolt as does a double shotgun... The trick is to cut the foam so that the bolt rifle fits very snugly.

FYI, you can also but additional center foam pieces so you can truely customize one piece for, say, bolt rifles and another for shotguns, etc. I was planning to do this but found cutouts for bolt rifles to work for everything.

JPK

I don't have a Pelican but do have a Browning and always cut the foam. It has 3 layers and you only cut the center piece. Easily replacable from the foam shop then just keep that piece too. I think I have 3 different center pieces for mine. They don't take up much room under the bed. Have never had anything damaged in them. I have a Cabela Aluminum that I use the same way and cut the foam the same. Now that I think about it I could have probably used a piece already cut for the Browning.

Thanks to all! Looks like I need to cut or find another case.

Yeppers cut the foam and buy more to cut for all your rifles if they do not fit snug as a bug in a rug as noted above. Foam is cheap, new rifle not.

Cut it for sure. It will hold your rifle perfectly secure...by the way, why would you consider not cutting, what benefit will you get?

I definately would cut the foam. Then call pelican and order replacement foam they sell it in packs of 3. Then on other hunts with different combinations of guns you can cut the extra pieces to fit. I have 3 inserts all cut for different combinations and I have one more uncut ready for a combination I have not thought of yet.