For transport, a compact trunk case, canvas bout style or LOM is best. For actual hunting where you may be in and out for short hunts in various locations, a long zip-up slip is most convenient.

I concur with the long case for hunting/shooting trips. I use a Filson and/or Boyt long canvas case and also have each gun in a gun sock. The long cases fit nicely and snuggly atop my folded up back truck cab seats, out of the way and out of sight, but readily accessible. I damaged the stock of a nice gun once when I used to carry guns in take down cases. Never again.

Garry, I totally agree with your method. Any of my guns that are going on a hunting trip with me ride in a full length case (I second your Filson, Boyt. decision, as well), but they are also in a sock, then inside the gun case. I may drop the sock when actively moving from spot to spot, but I always case the gun. The sock just provides an additional layer of protection while traveling.

Incidentally, I also store every gun of mine in my gun safes in a sock. i picked that habit up from an old Kentucky "backyard" gun dealer. You can place guns in and out of your safe(s) a little easier if they are protected that way. It really turned out to be a blessing when the tornado hit my farm last year. The gun safes took a few cartwheels through the debris field, but every gun escaped unscathed and in perfect original condition.

Dave

Dave, can you post some pictures of the carnage involving your gun safes?

Glad to learn your guns made it through the twister. I also store my guns in socks in the safe…barrels down.

Bill, let me look through the pictures from immediately after the tornado. We recovered the gun safes from the rubble pretty quickly to ensure their safety, and i'm not sure if I have photos of my shop after it was leveled.

Garry, yes, I agree.... barrels down!

Dave

A Browning single, similar to a Boyt I guess, and a double case from Galazan that my wife bought me years ago...

https://i.imgur.com/kXa1A8rl.jpg

I also take my guns hunting in a soft, padded zipper case. One thing I'm keenly aware of is that it is laying perfectly flat, and not atop anything. A friend managed to snap his gun at the wrist when something heavy, a cooler if I remember correctly, fell over on top of it.

I just wanted to make a plug for Boyt. I have several of there cases and I had one with a plastic latch attached to the leather buckle strap crack and I contacted them and they sent me a brand new case. All they would have needed to do was send me the leather strap piece with the plastic latch attached but they said it was easier to send me a new case then just a part. They are a company that stands behind there product in my experience.

I have a dozen cases I have accumulated over the years. My favorite case and the one I use when I take a gun out hunting is a case I had made a number of years ago.
It was designed to hold a shotgun whether it was m 410 or an 8 gauge. A thin saddle leather lined with a inner finished leather glued and sewed together. ( a unfinished leather ) will hold dirt and will mar the finish. No sheep skin or other fabrics that hold moisture.
Heavy duty nylon lariat rope covered with leather for handles. Two leather straps secured with brass buckles to close the flap. It has served me well.