You are right Sir- BUT-- the older method of taping the end caps in place did not allow for some sharp thief in a UPS or other facility warehouse removing an end cap, removing the duct or strapping tape first, then taking out the H&H Royal 20 bore set of barrels or whatever- maybe a Gillum Salmon Rod- something of great value indeed- putting back something to add weight to simulate the real insured item, re-taping the one end cap, and back into the system we go- SO-- I cut the tubes way overlength- ie: a 30" set of barrels- I might have a 38" tube (measured sans end caps- I lay out the 30" and fit the end caps w/o PVC glue or pipe dope- and make a "hash" mark for the cut line adjacent to one of the end caps- and denote that fact in my correspondence to the recipient of the tube- that end gets a block of soft pine as a added "buffer- then the wadded newspaper on both breech and muzzle ends of the set of barrels-which are wrapped in bubble wrap, after receiving a light spray of WD-40 or Rem oil aerosol- this way, when the recipient cuts on the mark- his saw hits soft pine-and with a no-slip fit with both ends padded tightly, no rattle or noise when the PVC sch 80 pipe is moved-
I wish we didn't have to take such measures- you are right- end cut off end cannot be refitted, maybe notched for a ash tray at the deer camp, but that's about it- so I loose that cap and the inch or two of the pipe, so if a party ships the used PVC pipe back to me for a refund, it gets "re-sized for a set of 28" or 26" barrels-
Sorry to be so "wordy" but I have beau coup horror stories from friends with either stolen or damaged split cane rods or Parker, Fox, Smith barrel sets, and I am of Irish heritage and realize the words of wisdom in Murphy's Law: If something can go wrong, it will- so I go "overboard" I suppose in trying to prove Bro Murphy wrong (and maybe stand him to a pint o'Guinness--if I do)
