Packing a Tuffpak

23 July 2006, 23:32

JudgeG

I've never had a problem packing as follows:

First, put your rifle in a soft case and then pack around it for cushioning, all within the tuffsak. I put a pair of pants or whatever at the top and bottom of the case, not in the tuffsak, to "fix" the tuffsak in place.

When inspected, the tuffsak will slid up easily, unzip it, then unzip the case and slide out the gun, leaving the soft case in the tuffsak. The gun will slide right back in the soft case... at least, mine do... a coupe of shakes and gravity will get the tuffsak to slide back in the tuffpak.

24 July 2006, 01:03

Use Enough Gun

My guns have gone in soft cases around the outside of the tuffsack. Then, if guns need to be inspected (as they usually do) just pull out the soft cases enough to pull out the gun and then replace and push back down in. I haven't had any problem in doing it that way. I guess you could try and use the tuffsack for your soft rifle cases as well, but I don't think that was what it was actually made for.

24 July 2006, 03:43

citori

I was going to do what Judge G does when I leave for Tanzania on Sunday. Surprised it's not universal. I've never used the Tuffpak/Tuffsak before so I'm interested in other's thoughts.

24 July 2006, 03:48

WPN

I'm with Use Enough Gun. Guns go in soft cases outside the Tuff sack. Guns in slips are inserted in Tuffpak muzzle down outside the Tuff sack for easy retrieval and reinsertion after inspection. That enables all other items to remain undisturbed inside the Tuff sack. Where's Harry Mims? He's the Tuffpak expert.

24 July 2006, 04:02

Charles_Helm

quote:
Originally posted by WPN:
I'm with Use Enough Gun. Guns go in soft cases outside the Tuff sack. Guns in slips are inserted in Tuffpak muzzle down for easy retrieval and reinsertion after inspection. That enables all other items to remain undisturbed inside the Tuff sack. Where's Harry Mims? He's the Tuffpak expert.

This is what Mims Reeds (posts as Harry) says:

quote:
Originally posted by Harry:
Chuck Wagon
I am not sure how others do it but as for me I just put the rifle in the soft case as per usual. I put the soft cases inside the Tuffsak muzzle down. (Nothing else is in the Sak with the rifles.)
All of our clothing etc. are then placed around the outside of the Tuffsak.
The Tuffpak is the bun.
The Tuffsak is the wiener.
The clothing etc. is the relish on the wiener.
If I have to do show and tell at airports etc then I undo drawstring top on Sak, unzip case part way and pull rifle up by buttstock. I show that rifle is empty and here is the serial number however...I never take rifle out of "anything".
Now I put rifle back in Sak (wiener), zip up case, tighten up drawstring, replace top on the bun and go about my business.
If I use the Sak with nothing but rifles inside I have prevented anything from getting under the Sak that prevents me from getting rifles back into the Bun with ease! The nylon is slick and greases the way for the rifle to get back into the space it will ride in.
All the "relish" and the soft case protects my rifle and scope.
In the bottom of the bun I put shoes or jacket or something I do not need until I get to where I will hunt and that something protects muzzle end of soft case and bbl. from any hard drop.
I do not take scope off or bolt out. Nothing broken nor misaligned to date.
I am sure everyone does it some other way and if it gets there ok then that too must be the way to do it. I have only described the way I pack my own case.

24 July 2006, 04:09

WPN

That's THREE different ways of packing a Tuffpak! Can anybody come up with another one?

24 July 2006, 04:26

Charles_Helm

quote:
Originally posted by WPN:
That's THREE different ways of packing a Tuffpak! Can anybody come up with another one?

Well I didn't use the Tuff Sack at all -- does that count as a fourth?

24 July 2006, 06:18

MJines

Being from Texas, let me see if I got this right, the Tuffpak is the tortilla and the Tuffsak is the beans, the clothes are cheese and onions . . . I will finish later after I get back from Taco Bell.

24 July 2006, 06:21

N E 450 No2

I have another
I have a trip planned to Alaska next year.
I will put my rifles in soft cases, then put them in a waterproof bag made for rifles like the roll top bags used by boaters.
That assembly will go into the tuffsak. All other gear packed in the Tuffpak will be similar water proof bags, inside the tuffpak.
Thus I can unroll the water proof bag pull the rifles out to be checked and insert them back in place. Also when on the snow machine my rifles will be in a water proof container.

I have had my gear set out on the runnway at some of these smaller Alaskan airports in the rain in a puddle of water for quite a while.
With everything packed in water proof bags there is no problem. Also while in the cargo hold of ANY airplane, if someone else has fluids in their luggage that leak, my gear stays dry.

24 July 2006, 06:32

GMaxson

I don't use a tuff sack either. The more I travel with the Tuff Pak though, the more I'm learning to really limit what you pack in it. Just a few weeks ago on returning from Argentina in Buenos Aires they took everything out for inspection, this wasn't a huge ordeal because they let me pack it again. On arriving in Miami, a TSA agent far from being where I could talk to them didn't know there was a clip to unbuckle, so instead unlashed the case then took everything out

After they could not get it back together, a supervisor had her bring the case over and watched as I repacked it. From now on, just a couple coats are going in there with it. If you utilize all the space in one, your asking for problems IMHO.

24 July 2006, 07:59

gunny

How are you guys dealing with the new weight restrictions of 50 pounds with a tuffpack?

24 July 2006, 09:02

N E 450 No2

I take what I need and if they weigh my bags I pay the excess baggage charge.

24 July 2006, 10:18

WPN

Exactly. Had to before with more generous allowances.

24 July 2006, 16:27

Die Ou Jagter

I had no touble last month on my trip to NZ with the weight limits alshough I only took one Rifle, two may have been a problem. I put my rifle or rifles in soft cases and place them in the tuffsack and surround them with clothes. When they need to inspect the rifles I open the top draw string and zip open the soft case and extract the gun far enough for serial number check or bolt check. The rifle slides back in place the tuffpack is then locked and I am on my way. I have only made two trips with the tuffpack one to Zim and one to NZ upon return thru Dulles and LA I walked right thru customs with my golf clubs. I did not volunter as I had nothing to declare as I took the guns out of the country and owed no duty on their return. I had my papers if necessary. Am I in error in not saying I have guns as I had many times before with my metal rifle case. You don't get in line to declare your wifes $10,000 diamond ring she owned prior to the trip do you?

24 July 2006, 16:48

John Frazer

I put the cased guns in the Tuffsak, pack clothes etc. around them, then slide the whole thing in. Unzip the end of the soft case if I need to slide a gun out.

We ended up in the "declare" line when we returned, but only because we stated we'd been on a farm or ranch. We were there with three other guys coming back from hunting. We all had gun cases in hand and the Customs guy knew we'd been hunting, but all he wanted to know was if we had manure on our shoes and if we were going straight to a farm in the U.S. "No" to everything so he stamped our froms and waved us through.