I'm in Kingwood, just NE of Houston (I think I read somewhere that you are/were a pilot, so you've probably seen Kingwood many times on the approach into IAH).

I have a Bear Track case that I've been using to haul around my takedown Winchesters that I think will work great for travelling with the Merkel- that thing is heavy but it's damn well constructed. It has survived trips with major airport baggage handling and puddle-jumper props with hardly a scratch. It might not be big enough for toting both a rifle and a shotgun.

The rifle I bought is currently in a Merkel shotgun case. I might also consider selling it, and buying one of the aluminum double rifle cases made for Merkel by Americase (I think it is actually smaller than the canvas & leather case it is in right now).

The order of business right now is to start shooting...figure out if I want/need a recoil pad installed, and if the "hogback" stock is going to get in the way as much as it looks like it will. Once all of that is known I'll make some decision on the case.