Shotgun case recommendations needed

[John Havard]

I am planning to take one of my Parker 16's with me this coming fall to Alaska. Every year I go bowhunting for moose up high in the Wrangell Mountains. We fly in by Super Cub. Weight and bulk (even with an extra costly gear flight) is severely limited.

As stated, the hunt is for moose with one of my traditional bows, with bird hunting being secondary. But the number of ptarmigan and grouse make the idea of having a lightweight shotgun along to use after the moose is down is very appealing. Ptarmigan Alfredo with reconstituted morels is hard to beat.

I need a sturdy and lightweight takedown shotgun case for my Parker. The case will be used to protect my shotgun in the bottom of a rolling bag when traveling from the L48 to God's country, then later during transport in the back of the Super Cub. I own several soft cases and a couple of very heavy aluminum cases. What I need but do not have is a takedown case that's both strong/sturdy and lightweight. I'll probably take a gun with 26" tubes but would like the option of carrying one of my 30" guns too. TSA locks suitable for commercial air transport would be a plus.

Suggestions for cases would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your input.

[Richard Flanders]

I've given up on every gun case I've ever had for air travel in favor of a 2-gun Americase. They're heavy. Two guns makes it weigh about 45#. Heavy I know but my guns are protected. You could likely get away with one of relatively compact and light aluminum cases for a single take down gun from Cabelas. They're available at Sportsmans Warehouse also - made in someones garage in Idaho I think. That's the next best thing to an Americase. They sell one for two take down guns but it gets heavy and a bit large and the internal foam packing will N O T prevent gun parts from banging together as the baggage handlers use the case as a giant hockey puck and have contests on who can throw and drop it the furthest. I have one of these double cases and would trade it in a heartbeat for a single. I'm going to throw it away otherwise.

[Bill Murphy]

Make sure the contents of your rolling bag do not have to be removed to get to the gun. Some require unpacking to examine the gun. This was a good idea on paper, but not too good in practice.

[John Havard]

Richard, if heavy and sturdy was what I was after I already have that covered! I didn't figure that this would be easy to find.

I'm with you Bill. Since I'm bowhunting in a place where the grizzlies grow quite large I also already check a sidearm in my rolling bag. As a result I have the sort of rolling bag that has a separate lower compartment just for the reason you mention.

[Eric Eis]

John you might want to look into a Hallaberton (bad spelling) case very light aluminum and very strong case. Mine has gone by UPS four times and nothing was broken.

[Richard Flanders]

If Halliburton makes a gun case that would be far lighter than what I have. Baggage handlers will mangle it over time but it should hold up. I love Halliburton cases...

[Rick Losey]

I've never flown in a SuperCub, my two gun Americase is the most excellent gun travel protection I have- but might keep small plane from clearing the trees at the end of the runway, I use it to protect them when traveling on the road, I expect the case will fare better than my truck in an accident.

In my opinion the best protection for practical travel is a TuffPak, but fit could be an issue, and if you insist on the duffle option it won't work.

Pelican makes some very strong lightweight cases that might fit your needs for sizing, I have some friends that travel with them and like them.

[allen newell]

John,
I have 2 aluminum gun cases that I got from Bean's years ago. One is for takedown. I think they're made by Americase for Bean's. They have survived international travel to South Africa and 3 trips to Alaska without a dent or scratch and no harm whatsoever to what's inside. They have flown on bush planes into the tundra and elsewhere. My recommendation is just get a quality take down alumin. case with at least 4 latches and locking bar. Don't bother putting it inside a rolling case. You have to ship it in baggage anyway and it will be inspected. The airports have carriages available to move your stuff from baggage to the pick up area where your outfitter may be picking you up.

[John Havard]

Allen, good suggestions. I have to consider how I carry the shotgun in the Super Cub. Perhaps a soft case inside of a hard case - leave the large hard case in the car and just carry the shotgun in the soft case.

I also like the Halliburton case idea. I have traveled the world with Halliburton cases, and while they can eventually look like the wreck of the Hesperus on the outside the inside is still intact.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and please keep them coming.

[Matt Valinsky]

John, got the broadheads, thanks. If you can't find a case, I'll be more than happy to hand carry your Parker for you. Of course, I'd be inclined to bring my RER, you know, for backup, just incase.

[Kevin McCormack]

Cannot agree with Richard more - I found an Americase 2-gun shotgun case on eBay for a fraction (as in 1/3) of the cost of a new one after using their single shotgun case for years. I've carried my most valuable guns (highest-end Brownings, Holland & Holland, etc.) in it to Canada, So. America, Scotland, etc. without ever a hint of damage. As Richard says, they are heavy - but so is a Mosler safe. Whatever you decide on, make sure you buy a case that has partitions to keep the component parts from moving around. Loose, they'll make mincemeat of one another in a hurry! Another thing I love about the Americase 2-gunner I bought is that it will snugly fit either O/Us or SxSs without any modification whatsoever. If there is movement I don't like, I just add a little bubble pack in the offending areas. Spend more and get the best - WAY cheap compared to restocking a gun or having to have a set of barrels rebuilt or replaced!

[John Havard]

Matt, I'm glad you received the broad heads. I appreciate your offer for help but I'd insist on you using a better bow. And since I happen to know the owner of a top-end bow company very well I can put in a good word for you!

[Rich Anderson]

Whatever hard case you decide on take a soft takedown case for trave in the Super Cub. I have done this twice and it's worked out well.

[Matt Valinsky]

So, you know the owner? Hmmm, wonder who that might be? An ACS Static Tip is very high on my very short list John.

[allen newell]

John
Taking a soft case along (I've done this and the bush pilots will appreciate it) for the super cub flight makes sense. Most outfitters offering a flyout will let you store what you don't need to take along into the bush at their home base of ops. You need the hard case for domestic & or international flight protection and it will be required anyway by the airlines.

[John Dallas]

I had a two rifle case custom made by a guy who made cases for rock band instruments. Made from diamond plate. Tell him what you want and he built it. Lots of high density foam you could cut for any exact fit to your gun. Sorry. Lost his name, but I'm sure there are others.

[John Dallas]

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[John Havard]

Right now the TuffPak 1136 model looks like it might be the best overall fix. I can put my long arrows, my pistol, my broadheads, and my shotgun inside (with the shotgun in a soft case). Pack the bejabbers out of it with clothing, etc for padding and it should fill the bill nicely. As long as I can access the guns for the airport checkin process it might be the most useful option. So far I can't find any hard case that weighs less than 9# so the TuffPak looks like an appealing alternative.

Does anyone have this specific model (1136) so they can offer first-hand opinions?

[andy stone]

Check out the Negrini casses that Steve Lamboy is selling. I just got a 2 gun case that is super light and seems very strong. He says that is wat he takes his expensive guns to Argentina in.
Andy

[Richard Flanders]

John: I was about to suggest soft cases inside a Tuffpak when I read your post on that just above here. I spoke with a guy at an airport once who does that for Africa hunting. He had a Tuffpak(with wheels?)designed for a golf bag and puts his guns inside in soft cases and packs clothing around them to fill the case - a bombproof setup that served him well on nine trip to Africa. You might consider using the short soft cases from LL Bean or Boyt that hold the gun broken down - that would fit much better in the Cub when flying into camp. Leave the Tuffpak in town. I use the short cases in my plane and like them MUCH better than full length soft cases.

[John Havard]

Richard, yep - I'm hip on the takedown soft cases. Leaving an old shotgun together and full length inside of a soft case to have other stuff packed on top of it in the back of a Cub sounds like a broken stock disaster waiting to happen.

[Chris_Caile]

I'm kind of partial to Pelican cases (1750 & 1700), that's what the military uses and they have a great warranty.

[G. Wells]

I don't have one, but have read good things about Ziegel Engineering and they have a case that fits in the bottom compartment of a Boyt bag.

http://www.ziegeleng.com/pg5.htm