Thank you Parker for reaching out like this under very difficult circumstances. I’m sure you know everyone here is grieving with you and your family. Best to all of you and again, thank you for your offer.

I am sure it was done by UPS, But this is the first time it has happened to me, I did not want to bother Parker with this he has enough of a difficult time right now, Gary

You can't tell me that whoever damaged that package didn't know it contained a gun.
Intentional package mangling by postal, or other shipping employees should be punished with jail time.

I have the same question the earlier poster had, how do you break a gun inside a Plano case and a cardboard box? The insurance payment should cure all ills. Am I right or wrong?

I can twll you that those cheap plano gun guard cases have foam in them so thin that things slide around inside of them like no tomorrow. Unless you add a ton of padding. And the plastic is not very thick either. They flex. I had a rifle come in once for a transfer and the barrel was sticking put the end of one of those cases.

Brian, I am familiar with the specifics of these cases and shipping firearms in general. There is no circumstance in which the package should endure handling rough enough to cause such damage. We wrap firearms in bubble wrap before putting them in to the cases and put additional packaging materials around the case before putting it within the cardboard box.
-Parker Bachelder

Parker you are right. Clearly any gun can be damaged if subjected to enough abuse. I once had a gun shipped back from Delgrego’s in a fine sturdy card board box that they use and was desighed to ship shotguns disasembled.
It arrived with several holes in the box and a number of scratches and gouges in the buttstock. UPS tried to claim it was not packed properly. After I pointed out that Delgrego’s has been shipping guns since the 30’s they paid off for the damage.
Its my guess Bachelder Master Gunmakers has shipped 1000’s of guns with relativly few issues in the 40 plus years of business.
Drive on young man. I wish you great sucess in carrying on the fine Bachelder business.

Over the years I have shipped 3 very heavy firearms to purchasers. The guns were an 8 gauge DH,an 8 Gauge hammer T grade, and a Winchester model 54 Sniper’s Match. All three guns weighed in excess of 12 pounds and I feared the heavy handed shippers. In all three cases I built screwed and glued wood cases with internal wood supports that locked the guns in place and also made the cases crush proof unless a tank drove over them. After completing and filling the cases with properly protected guns, I then covered them with cardboard as UPS would not take wooden boxes. The guns went to Idaho, Missouri, a,d Georgia with no problem. I think I may have frustrated a few anti gun UPS emplyees.

I “inherited” one of Alan Swanson’s heavy duty wood shipping boxes. I’ve used it many times via USPS and never had a problem. Thank you Alan.

Bill, I have never had UPS refuse to take either my wooden boxes, built just like you build yours, or a customer's box, BUT, they always seem to claim they need "Add'l Handling $12.00"
The same trip to UPS was with another gun, boxed in the customer's high quality cardboard box, Bigger, Heavier, and going farther, but $12 less.
I built two boxes for guns going out next week, 1" Pine frame, 7/32" Plywood top and bottom, Cabinet screws all around, and wrapped in Cardboard this time. Most of the time, I'm returning a customers gun sent to me for case making and fitting, so I make sure they get back in one piece. My cases go out in Double wall U-Line cardboard boxes. $5 ea, but worth it.