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I still think the tuff pack is over priced but....LiRita and I have another trip to Africa planned for next year. Plus with all the cold weather gear the outfitter wants me to bring for the Caribou/Musk Ox hunt and being limited on baggage by the airlines I'm looking for luggage space. So along with a couple of guns, just how much stuff can you get in a tuff pack? ______________________ | ||
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Thanks Charles,I needed this also. Sean | |||
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Mark, I use the SKB version, about the same size...I was able to hold all my clothes and my gear. BIG TIP. Find some cheep nylon stuff sacks and put your gear in those and then into your tuff pack. TSA will unpack your tuff pack and then they have to try and repack it. It's much easier if they are simply putting 4-6 sacks back in intead of individual items. They will of course search the sacks but it is a lot easier for them to search a sack re-pack it then it is to re-pack 20 items. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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mark65x55, i may have the solution to your problems when hunting in cold weather. I shipped all of our bulky items two weeks before hand.I insured them for replacement value and instructed my guide to contact me when they arrived. All went well, and i did it on threee other hunts after that. I hope this helps you out. Charlie | |||
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A friend who BASE jumps Baffin Island every year does the same thing. He mails vis USPS all his gear months ahead of time to friends in Iqaluit and meets his gear there.. John | |||
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given that my Safari came with laundry service and I didn't know that I'd venture that I could pack everything I needed as far as clothes and two guns into one tuff-pak /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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So Mike, you know I'm always looking for ways to save a couple hundred bucks. How does the SKB case compare to the tuff pak? ______________________ | |||
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Mark, It worked fine for me...when are you going?...I can ship it to you if you want to try it out. I'll need it back around October. This way if it is suitable to you can just buy one. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue. What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Mike, Thanks for the offer  but the musk ox hunt is in October also. Besides, it looks like the SKB case is only $70. Even a poorly funded tight ass like me can spring for $70.  ______________________ | |||
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Once you pack a Tuffpak you will never go back....to using anything Tuffpak that is. Top quality equipment when divided over years used in still the least expensive way to go. Say you buy the best of optics there is and then use them hunting for 20 years. What did they really cost at the end of 20 years? No eye strain, great ability to spot game under low light conditions etc. etc. What is the cost? You use / want the best of bullets, a great rifle, super optics and you pay hellish fees for going half way around the world for the hunt of a lifetime but you want to skimp on the case that protects it all....I fail to understand that. Ask the hunter that travels in a Tuffpak if he /she wants to give it back. Ask Ray Atkinson if he has received his monies worth from his. You can borrow money but you can not borrow time. Go hunting with your family. | |||
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Harry, I'm not saying the TuffPak isn't well made and I have conceded it will hold more gear than the SKB double gun case I've used on our last 6 or 8 trips. And in truth I'd like to have a Tuffpak but, yes, it's $300 price tag is what I've got a problem with. I only paid &120 for SKB case and it has worked well for all these trips and would work again if I didn't need to carry so much cold weather gear for the Musk Ox hunt. Will I buy a Tuffpak? Well...I'm not sure. If you ask anyone who knows me I like to have the best tools for the job, tools that I can afford, and I don't mind spending money on tools. But I don't buy Snap-on tools when a Sears Craftsman will do the same thing. Not to be rude or put you on the spot but your a salesman and I've never seen, in person, or put my hands on your Tuffpak or the SKB case. So explain to me how the Tuffpak is 200 plus Dollars better than a SKB freedom travel case. I'm a numbers type of guy, so is the the tuffpaks walls a thicker gauge? What is the specs of the Tuffpak vs the SKB Freedom Case? Again I'm sure the Tuffpak is a good case, but can you convince me it's $200 better and put this to bed once and for all. ______________________ | |||
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Mark I have a Cabela's Bullet Proof ($120 or so) case been hauling it all over for several years bit scratched up but never once did I have a problem with it or it's contents. Been to Africa 5 times with it. It is the 2 scoped rifle case, not much space to put clothes in it but knives,small stuff,etc. | |||
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Harry, I agree with your comment above 100%, but just to let you know, I ended up going with the Pelican 1750. My procrastination and empty bank account made up my mind for me. In other words, we would have had to courier the case and it is expensive enough without an extra $150 brokerage fee. The Pelican was VERY convenient so I went for it. Anywho, I'll let you know how it works out and if it doesn't, feel free to say "I told you so!".  Cheers, Canuck | |||
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A person can only buy what he/she can afford but I can vouch for the Tuffpak. It's design, gives it the strength needed with todays luggage maulers. By having the angles it has, no one side takes alot of weight. (Mims, "Harry", can probably explain this better than I). It cannot be broken into easily. It can hold clothing, ammo, firearms so it actually doubles as an additional suitcase. It's for these reasons that I bought one. John | |||
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Canuck, You got a good case. I took one to Africa in '92. Just heavy and not much room but hell for stout. It will work fine. 6.5x55..I responed to your pvt. e mail. You can borrow money but you can not borrow time. Go hunting with your family. | |||
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After literally trashing the best Cabellas had to offer, and about every other brand, I broke down and tried a toughpak, that was 15 years ago and about 20 trips to Africa, that many or more around the US and another someodd to various places in the rest of this world....Its still as good as new sans some scars and scratches by the airline demolition crews... Will I ever use another brand, not on your life!!! Best investment I ever made, end of story. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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I'm not a big traveler but I've got an SKB two gun case, the department issued me a Pelican and I looked at Mike Starling's TuffPak when we went to RSA last year. The only drawback I could see to the Tuff Pak was that the strap handle on the end of the Tuff Pak wasn't as comfortable as the rubber covered metal bar on the end of the SKB case when dashing thru the airport dragging the durn things. The baggage gorilla managed to take the side handle off of my SKB case on the trip back Stateside (SKB happily provided a replacement unit that's lots stronger looking). I did get two rifles in cases, cleaning gear, and some clothing in the SKB case, but not nearly as much as Mike got in the Tuff Pak. The Tuff Pak also has better locking arrangement than the SKB, but let's face it, its designed to be carried around (or off) and unless you can outfit it with an alarm and anchor the locks don't matter much. The Pelican is Ok, but it's heavy, has protrusions and mine doesn't have wheels. I'd buy a Tuff Pak if I traveled more often, but for my use the SKB is fine too.  Rick R Of all the things I've lost in life, I miss my mind the most. | |||
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I always try hard, to not make the same mistake twice I try even harder, to not make the same mistake for the 47th time.... You all know this one. It's when you buy something that is of lesser quality and $$$ than the thing you really wanted in the first place. I've done this with a shotgun, lawnmower, washing machine, pick-up truck, electric can opener, etc........... Every time the "thing" craps out on me, I kick myself in the ass and then go and buy the thing that I really wanted in the first place. Of course, now I've wasted the money I spent on the first crappy thing and would be $$$ ahead if I had bought the "Good Thing" in the first place. I've never regretted buying the best. By the way, I'm just a working slob who doesn't have any silver spoons in my kitchen drawer. I'll pack my lunch and eat peanut butter if that's what it takes. I'm going to the Limpopo River in July for my first African trip. While I'm suffering in a Airbus coach seat, my rifle's will be all relaxed and comfortable, stretched out in a First Class Tuffpak. I don't plan on ever buying another travel case again Regards Elmo | |||
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The thing that I still haven't seen is anybody telling me what's wrong with the freedom SKB Case. I think Tuffpaks are great cases. Tell me why it is better than the freedom SKB case... What are the materials? What are the wall thicknesses? Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue. What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Ok..so nobody has still shown me a difference yet... All the stuff Mike416 just said can fit in my SKB case also and it doesn't look like a gun case either and it wieghs 16 lbs.  SKBs are also guaranteed for life. The info below is from the SKB website. Funny - I went to the Tuffpak website and they say guaranteed for life but they provide absolutely no details. I have yet to see a warrant that does not have somelimitation. Million Mile Warranty SKB Hard Case Products are fully warranted against defects in materials and craftsmanship for the life of the case to the original owner. Any defects in workmanship will be covered by SKB. SKB will repair or replace any product found to be defective. Damages due to accident, improper care, negligence or normal wear, where SKB is not at fault, will be repaired for a reasonable charge. SKB DOES NOT REPLACE CASES FOR DAMAGED HARDWARE. All locks, handles and wheels have been made field replaceable and will be supplied to you at no charge, a simple phone call is all it takes. Replacement parts take just minutes to install. If there is a problem contact our customer service line for further instructions at (800) 654-5992. So somebody show me the difference...anybody have their Tuffpak warranty card...I bet it says something about normal wear and tear. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue. What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Does the SKB case take a padlock? If so, that is an important difference. | |||
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Dan, Yes it does...has two tongue and latch over covers...see photo below:  Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue. What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Mike, you apparantly didn't read every link on their website. It clearly states that "if anything breaks or becomes unusable on your case for as long as you own it, Nalpak will repair or replace it free of charge". Go to Tuffpak basics, FAQs, and Airworthyness. Then scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page. | ||
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Every case I had, other than the tuffpak, the latches got mangled, and the wheels came off in time..the ones with bars going lengthwise are the worst offenders as the airlines will invaribly bend that "steel" bar and you have to hammer them out...Then the corners all get smashed when they toss them out the 3rd story window at the airports or out of the big planes  To each his own, but I'm sure glad Tuffpak made me a guncase..I will use no other... A word of warning, only put clothes, cameras scopes boots etc because anything that cannot be identified by x-ray may inconvienence you at the airports. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Ok..got it Mike... Would still like someone to check the warrany card to see if there are any conditions on the card itself. SKB has designed their's to be field replacable so I don't have to ship it anywhere. Interesting Tuffpak seems to imply they are the only "rotational moulding" case but SKB is also. So so far what I think I see for the the $280 difference is maybe a potential unlimited lifetime guarantee (TuffPak) versus a conditional lifetime guarantee with free life time replacement parts for the most likely components that would fail and the were designed to be field replacebale. Sure the Tuffpak is a great case but still not seeing $280 in differnce. Heck Dan that's an Impala trohphy fee... Yeah I do have too much time on my hands tonite. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue. What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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" Miiiiiiiike,..... Miiiiiiike Detoooooorrrreee...Come to the dark side, Miiiiike. Our plans are almost ready. When we all have tuffpaks, we will rule the universe..." Signed Mims Vader  By the way, How was Argentina? Regards Elmo, with too much time on his hands also! | |||
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At the Dallas Safari Club event 4 years ago, I purchased two tuff packs. The test that won the day is when 5 guys stood on a tuff pack and didn't bend the thing in. I weigh a bit over 350 lbs. I don't know how much the other guys weighed, I suspect on average 250+ each except Harry. I can't get as much stuff in my tuff pack as some others can. My clothes are bigger. I do know that each trip to africa saw at least two and mostly three long guns per tuff pack and non even lost zero. I also was able to pack extra scopes, binoculars ,shooting stick and all manner of other items in the container. I have seen an SKB with broken latches and no way to repair them for the trip back. Another cheap case was purchased for each gun to come home. Cost??? $110.00 each. And he left the SKB there as the charge to ship it home as excess baggage was $150.00. Not a bad deal right. Some say don't scrimp on the cost of the bullet you shoot your big game with. It is a fraction of the total price of the African hunt. The same can be said for the secure gun case that gets your rifle into the game!!!!! square shooter | |||
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God I love this place...what do you think 375HH or 9,3x64... Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue. What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Mark, I bought a TuffPak from Harry and took it to Africa and then to Quebec on a hunt. I wouldn't take for it. Here's a deal . . . I'm flying to Birmingham, driving to Decatur and back to Birmingham, and then flying back home next week (Wed - Sat). I see that you live in Alabama and if any of those locations are close to where you live, I'll bring my Tuffpak as extra baggage. You can take it on a trip and try it out. If you like it and decide you want one, send Harry the $$ and I'll get another from him. If you don't like it, ship it back to me in Texas. What a deal!! JDS you can email me at: jds (at) jerrystringer.net or call me on my cell phone at: 817-521-5383 And so if you meet a hunter who has been to Africa, and he tells you what he has seen and done, watch his eyes as he talks. For they will not see you. They will see sunrises and sunsets such as you cannot imagine, and a land and a way of life that is fast vanishing. And always he will will tell you how he plans to go back. (author: David Petzer) | |||
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I don't understand the benefit of having a huge guncase which you can put 3 guns and other miscellaneous stuff in. Its got to get awfully heavy. I'm an old guy with arthritis and I don't do heavy bags over #50s. I put my guns in a Pelican and the other crap in another bag. I pack light. Neither one weights over #50s. I imagine the quality of all the major cases are on a par. | |||
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Mike, The SKB Freedom Case is under "Golf" cases on their website. If it was a GUN case it would be under "Shooting". Next. Seriously, what do you think of the "lockable latch" on the Freedom case - any chance of it being broken or is it protected by the surrounding case? Is it field replaceable? (so one could purchase a spare set and take with). When using the wheels, is the "molded-in hand hold for a sure grip" adequate, not really a handle. I don't own a Tuffpack, so I don't know how they compare, but have been considering one for the next trip but the shipped price has been a turn-off for me. Thanks!!! SKB's FREEDOM model R4913D golf bag transport system   | |||
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Mike I e-mailed Harry and asked him that question. Here, in part, is his reply. "Where I see a weakness in the SKB case is….it is a two pc. unit. The two latches do not look great to me. I am just looking at the unit on the website and not in person. Tuffpak is one pc. molded. The cap lid also contains the vending machine key lock ( no little over center latches on each side) Both are made in a rotor mould and both have somewhat the shape of a bee honeycomb which is were the strength of the whole deal lies. Tuffpak is 20% stronger in the corners than in the sides. Weight of the SKB not stated but Tuffpak is 17 pounds. I can not tell about the axel of the SKB but the one on Tuffpak is a solid, one pc. axel that goes all the way thru one side to the other. I have no idea what SKB is made from but Tuffpak is made from a high density, cross linked polyethylene. As to volume…having never used an SKB nor had my hands on one I have no idea what one will hold and the site does not give the specs that I can find. Mine is 50†inside and 10†inside. I just tried to mike a Tuffpak…kinda like trying to give a cat a bath. Best I can tell it is just a hair over 2. on the body. Nobody ever said I knew what I was doing with a mike…it will hold a standard bag of nine golf clubs ." Like I said earlier I tend to buy the best tools I can afford, I don't what to waste an Impala trophy fee either Mike I'm with you on this one, so far no one has proved how the tuffpak is better or why it is worth $280 more. Ann, Ray, JDS...would one of you good people take your reloading calibers and measure the wall thickness of your tuffpak? And Mike if you'll do the same then we may get close to the bottom of this.______________________ | |||
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jds, WOW That is a very kind offer. I'm almost tempted to take you up on it but lets see how this plays out first. If indeed the tuffpaks walls are thicker then I maybe more interested. Although, it would be nice to have one of each side by side to compare. ______________________ | |||
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I've made three long trips w/ rifles using a takedown case last year & a double rifle previously. The next time I go I'll get a tuffpack. Weight & size alone would get me to buy one, plus the fact it doesn't look like a rifle case, allthough by now everyone knows what's in one. Midsouth SS has the best price I've seen so far. LIFE IS NOT A SPECTATOR'S SPORT! | |||
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I have a Tuffpak, and do not have an SKB. I've seen quite a few SKB going up to Alaska when I take my Tuffpak. This is not a scientific test, but the SKBs seem to have thiner walls and are more "flimsy" than the Tuffpak. I don't have the actually thickness, and I didnot test them by having guys stand on them, but just a casual observation. Before all else, be armed. Machiavelli | |||
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I've used a Pelican case without difficulty on two trips to RSA. However the last trip to Montana with two rifles in the case, one came home with the stock neatly sheared at the wrist [end-on impact?]. And since the case itself weighs almost 25lbs. when you add two rifles and scopes you very quickly get over the 40lb. airline weight limit. Even with wheels it is a bear to horse around or fit in anything but a truck bed. I have a TuffPak now, got it from Harry at the SCI show. I just can not see the wisdom of carrying $3,000 - $4,000 of rifles and scopes in a $70 case designed to protect golf clubs! Les | |||
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On the other hand if the wall thickness is the same on both I can't see paying 4 times more for the Tuffpak. ______________________ | |||
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Ok...here we go. Even if you mic the walls on both it still will not make a hill of bean UNLESS you know what the polymer is. The fact that both are made in a roto mold is good but what material is the SKB made from. The Tuffpak is made from a high density cross linked poly and I have no idea what the SKB is made from. I saw no measurements on the web site for the SKB but...I do question the two over center latches and it being a two pc. units divided at the half way point. The Tuffpak is a long one pc. molded tube that has a locking (vending machine key lock)cap. Oh...who ever was talking about the handle...we have a new one now much more comfortable and it is the only way I order them. The axel on the SKB I can not see on the site but ours is a solid rod running all the way through and the wheels if ever broken (never seen nor heard of one broken) can be quickly removed and replaced. There is a side clip outside the wheel holding it to the axel. Pinch one end and off the axel it comes. Pop on a new wheel and pinch the other end of the clip. Anything else that might break (have yet to see or hear about that either) can be replaced with a pop rivet gun. Nobody can convince anyone about perceived value...you either know it is there or you do not. Do I think my $1,000 Zeiss binoculars are better than the Leupold ones that I have...damn right...now you want to debate the money difference? Not me. Until we know that we have apples against apples in manuf., materials used etc. we will never know if the golf bag is better dollar value than the gun case. IF....I thought the SKB unit was better...I would be selling and using it. Many of you think I am JUST a salesman but what you forget is that I am an END USER. My case will once again go on safari for the month of Sept. as wife and I will hunt Namibia and RSA. We will take our gear and two rifles and give the airlines many chances to screw things up. I bet my gear will be safe and sound no matter when my Tuffpak winds up (with me I hope!) . I am fortunate in the fact that I can afford first class equipment and IF I knew of a better case to fly guns and gear around in....I would own it. I do own it..it is Tuffpak and I will stack it against any case you come up with. I have owned Starlight, Pelican, Cascade and Americase to date and all were plenty good but I now have the best. You can borrow money but you can not borrow time. Go hunting with your family. | |||
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