I bought a Pelican for air travel with my lever 45-70. Rather than cut out the center to fit the rifle, I found that I could put the rifle in a padded soft case, remove the center foam, and then everything is snug and tight.

Anyone ever try this?

I have an older Cabela's aluminum case that has made 3 trips to a Africa and one to the east coast using just snugness to hold the rifle in place and I've never had so much as the scope lose its zero.

BH63

I also do not cut out...

just put other items around my rifle and when you close the case every thing stays in place.

I have done that several times with good results. That way you have a soft case for transport in the vehicle when you are at camp.

I have always done it that way.

Same here, I have a big 2 gun Pelican case, I took the foam out, put a double rifle and a bolt gun in it, in Boyt cases, then pack extra clothes, jackets etc around it. Somewhere in a jacket pocket I put a knife, or extra camera lens, anything I don't want rifled thru in regular baggage, or that I cannot carry on with me.

I usually put a lot of dirty stuff in the rifle case on the way back, usually the same jacket. There's a lot of extra space, plus I get to have a sturdy case for my rifles on the hunting truck. It's hard to beat those Boyt canvas cases.

The only problem with Pelican is their weight.

Their two rifle case, the 1750, is pushing 26# empty.

Add a couple of soft cases, scoped rifles, and before you know it, you are right at or over the 50# limit.

Thinking you will fill it with other stuff might get expensive quickly with excess baggage charges.

The 8# weight difference is why I went with a Tuffpak

I sometimes use the egg crate foam in the middle. Have some cutouts, but won't use any more for new rifles now that I have an egg crate layer. Love the pelican, especially the take down size for small cars or planes.

I have a Pelican IM3300 SWIRL STORM CASE. It holds 2 24" barreled scoped rifles in soft gun cases with the foam out.

Weight
19.1 lbs. - Empty
23 lbs. - With Foam

quote:

Originally posted by MikeE:
Same here, I have a big 2 gun Pelican case, I took the foam out, put a double rifle and a bolt gun in it, in Boyt cases, then pack extra clothes, jackets etc around it. Somewhere in a jacket pocket I put a knife, or extra camera lens, anything I don't want rifled thru in regular baggage, or that I cannot carry on with me.

I usually put a lot of dirty stuff in the rifle case on the way back, usually the same jacket. There's a lot of extra space, plus I get to have a sturdy case for my rifles on the hunting truck. It's hard to beat those Boyt canvas cases.

Mike,

Do you take all the foam out, or just the middle (cut out) piece.

I take all the foam out, it doesn't need it when the rifles are in the Boyt cases. The Pelican exterior is plenty tough, the foam doesn't add that much to the protection. Adding the extra stuff in there keeps the rifles from moving around. I usually have my knife in there, along with an extra camera lens, extra socks, sometimes an extra pair of shoes, like boat shoes, for around camp when I don't feel like lacing boots or hiking shoes.

Somehow I still manage to keep it under the weight limits, but I do weigh everything just to be sure. I did that once with ammo, on first trip to Namibia, Lufthansa check in agent was SURE that the pelican case I had my ammo in was counted against the 5.5 kg limit. I knew it wasn't, and had the info printed up from their website ( thanks Steve at TWG !!!), and the ammo alone, in its factory boxes was right at the limit. I knew it would be, as I had weighed it at home to be sure I would be OK with it.

I was hunting a LOT of cull gemsbok that trip, I ended up needing more 375 ammo anyway. Ran completely out of 300 WM.

One thing I have noticed with the TSA on my last two flights with guns (2016 and 2017), is that they now open up the gun case and do a manual check of contents.

They did this in Denver and Bangor on the outgoing flights. I was not allowed in the room during the inspection. If surrounded by clothes, etc, there is a chance it will not be repacked by the TSA agents in a manner that will help protect the rifle. There is also the possibility of "loss" of some small items such as magazines, ets.

BH63

quote:

Originally posted by BuffHunter63:
One thing I have noticed with the TSA on my last two flights with guns (2016 and 2017), is that they now open up the gun case and do a manual check of contents.

They did this in Denver and Bangor on the outgoing flights. I was not allowed in the room during the inspection. If surrounded by clothes, etc, there is a chance it will not be repacked by the TSA agents in a manner that will help protect the rifle. There is also the possibility of "loss" of some small items such as magazines, ets.

BH63

They have always opened the cases for me for domestic and international flights. I've been flying with rifles or shotguns for at least 20 years, and I don't remember a trip where they didn't make me open the gun case.

I take the center insert out and use a soft case but I also pack a complete change of clothing in there as well.

I use an SKB hard shell golf case (17lbs.). It will hold 2 rifles or a rifle and bow plus clothing. I like to use bubble wrap to fill up any additional space. It's lighter than foam and every ounce counts when you are trying to stay under 50.

quote:

Originally posted by daniel745:
I use an SKB hard shell golf case (17lbs.). It will hold 2 rifles or a rifle and bow plus clothing. I like to use bubble wrap to fill up any additional space. It's lighter than foam and every ounce counts when you are trying to stay under 50.

That's a pretty good idea!

BH63

I noticed last trip The Airlines are looking a little harder at gun case size's. You might check your Airline's for their acceptable Dimensions.

^
That's why I bought the Pelican. My old Cabela's Aluminum case is actually oversize according to most airlines' policies, although I've never been charged for an oversize fee.

BH63