allenday
.333 member
Reged: 18/04/04
Posts: 318
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Gentlemen, what are you preferred methods of taking two long-guns to Africa?
I'll start this off by saying that the 'Tuff-Pak' concept simply isn't for me, period! 
AD
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500grains
.416 member
Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
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I would consider a Pelican Case or a Starlight Case and custom-cut the foam to the shape of the rifles being transported.
If you use different rifles next time, the manufacturer can supply new foam.
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EricD
.416 member
Reged: 27/02/04
Posts: 4636
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Allen,
I've used a Pelicase 1750 to transport 2 weapons at once several times when I've needed to. And other smaller Pelicases for other needs.
What is important though is that the case is used correctly. Which means cutting out a hole(s) in the middle layer of foam to tightly fit your weapons. If this is done correctly, there is no way anything is going to shift.
Like shown below (in a slightly smaller 1720 case)
I have a couple of foam inserts to fit different weapons. A couple of extra layers doesn't cost much, and is worth getting if you have several different guns that you use.
They also make shorter cases that would be suitable for a double rifle that is in two pieces.
The Pelicase is relatively heavy though. But rather that than a broken gun IMO...
http://www.peli.com/cases.html
Erik
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40702
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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How do the Pelicase's work out weight wise compared to other cases? Weight is a big issue nowadays with the airlines often charging for excess luggage.
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John aka NitroX
 ...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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EricD
.416 member
Reged: 27/02/04
Posts: 4636
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John,
As I mentioned, they are quite heavy. The large 1750 (with room for 2 rifles) weighs about 11 kg.
I don't know how much similar sized cases made by other companies weigh to compair though.
Erik
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500grains
.416 member
Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
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I am not worried about extra weight. Originating from the U.S. for a trip to Africa there is a $100 fee for an overweight suitcase up to 100 pounds (no suitcases over 100 pounds allowed). A hundred bucks is nothing compared to the total safari cost.
Departing Zim they have never weighed my stuff.
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40702
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Well you are lucky. They always weigh mine and everything included. Last trip I got hit by excess luggage twice for everything over 20 kg (approx 50 lbs).
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bulldog563
.400 member
Reged: 21/10/05
Posts: 1153
Loc: California
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Another vote for Pelican/Starlight type cases with foam that you cut out yourself. Very Secure. I dont like the Tufpak concept either.
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Join the National Rifle Association:
https://membership.nrahq.org/forms/signup.asp
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BFaucett
.333 member
Reged: 13/01/04
Posts: 472
Loc: Houston, Texas
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I've been very satisfied with my 2 rifle case from Kalispel. It's not fancy but it works. Of course, I haven't tried any other cases so I can't really offer an opinion about how it compares to other cases. But, I've made three trips to South Africa using my Kalispel case and my rifles arrived in perfect condition each time. There may be better cases but so far I've been happy with my Kalispel. I do wish my case had wheels on one end though. The Kalispel Safari model case does have wheels.
My case model.
Model GC521404, 2 Large Rifles w/ Scopes 52"x14"x4.5"
Safari model.
http://www.kalispelcaseline.com/Pg/HuntingCase.asp
My two cents.....
-Bob F.
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SuperX
.224 member
Reged: 26/01/06
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Safari model.
the 3 gun is my choice, it's just ~20$ more.... very nice
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BillfromOregon
.333 member
Reged: 27/10/04
Posts: 254
Loc: Sweetwater, by God Texas
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I'm leaning toward the Cabela's Bulletproof heavy-duty two-gun case. It weighs 24 pounds, has wheels, costs about $210, built of .080 aluminum with welded 45-degree corners. Seems like a good buy. Someone on one of the sites said it was made by ICC in Spokane. The one issue is that it doesn't have the foam cutouts that the Pelicans do.
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larcher
.416 member
Reged: 11/01/05
Posts: 2655
Loc: Saverne, Alsace, France
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Really I am jealous.
In Europe, we can only travel with 20 kg (41lbs)maxi. Can be lucky if 30 kg (62lbs) are allowed.
One has to look for the lightest gun-case possible. This excludes alu and steel cases.
I am using a shabby but satisfying polypropylen guncase. And many friends have been borrowing it.
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"I don't want to create an encyclopedic atmosphere here when we might be having a beer instead" P H Capstick in "Safari the last adventure."
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NE450No2
.375 member
Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
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Allen
What ever case I used I would take the "metal" out of the stocks...
Two reasons:
1. It is much harder to break the stocks.
2. I would put them in the case of my choice, and then put that in a cardboard box, taped up so they did not look like guns.
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allenday
.333 member
Reged: 18/04/04
Posts: 318
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With the Pelican case, how easily do the latches become un-latched in transit?
When I've looked over these cases before, unlatching was easy, and there appears to be no provision for keeping them in place..........
AD
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NE450No2
.375 member
Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
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Allen
The first time I flew with a Pelican I had a heart attack when my case came down the baggage machine. All the latches were open and flapping.
I looked a little harder and saw the locks were still on the case. The pressure had sucked down the case and allowed the latches to open.
Since then when I used a Pelican I duck tapped the latches down.
If I was shipping something in a Pelican I would build a cardboard box around the case, to protect it and so nobody would know it was a Pelican rifle case.
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500Nitro
.450 member
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
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NE450No2
I had the same thing happen - however I realised that Pelican cases have an air vent - so now I have a hole or air gap in all of my travel cases to let the air inside circulate and equalise.
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bulldog563
.400 member
Reged: 21/10/05
Posts: 1153
Loc: California
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With the vent adjusted properly I haven't had any problems with latches opening in transit. Also mine has loops for 2 pad locks so very secure.
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Join the National Rifle Association:
https://membership.nrahq.org/forms/signup.asp
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SuperX
.224 member
Reged: 26/01/06
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Allen
The first time I flew with a Pelican......the latches were open....
Since then when I used a Pelican I duck tapped the latches down.
same thing here, i'd used blk duct tape, then later added straps over the latches (a poor design if you ask me), now i just don't bother with them anymore.
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Boomer
.300 member
Reged: 13/04/05
Posts: 144
Loc: The Hudson Bay Coast, Canada
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Quote:
Quote:
Allen
The first time I flew with a Pelican......the latches were open....
Since then when I used a Pelican I duck tapped the latches down.
same thing here, i'd used blk duct tape, then later added straps over the latches (a poor design if you ask me), now i just don't bother with them anymore.
I have 2 Pelican cases, and the latches require some effort to open. I do not believe that pressure from inside the case caused the latches to open because Pelican cases have a valve so that outside air pressure is equalized inside the case. Perhaps the latches were opened when the cases were flipped against other luggage, or perhaps you guys ran into an inquisitive "ramp rat". In any case, taped down latches is cheap insurance.
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NE450No2
.375 member
Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
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Boomer
My Pelican has a pressue valve that can be closed, which I did to keep out moisture.
The case was "sucked down" and the latches were "floopy loose" , and even when I took the padlocks I could not open the case until I opened the pressure valve.
The latches would probably not have been loose if I had left the pressure valve open.
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Showbart
.224 member
Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 29
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Hang on. I'll be new to this experience soon enough. Isn't it a NO-NO to ship both your rifles in the same case? What's the point of any backup if it's in with the primary?
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JPK
.375 member
Reged: 31/08/04
Posts: 734
Loc: Chevy Chase, MD
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I have had no issues with Pelican latches. My case alos has locking provisions at each end, so even it the latches were an issue the whole of the case would remain tightly closed.
Showbart,
The biggest propblems with traveling for safaris are bag weight limitations and number limitations.
Packing two rifles into one case works well and the case should be under the large bag weight limit. As you point out, if the case goes missing you are without your rifles. Packing a rifle each in two cases means that you will be over the two checked bag limit Plus humping a duffel, two rifle cases and a carry on through the airports would be a PITA.
If you travel with a buddy, he can take one of your and you can take one of his.
JPK
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Grizzly
.333 member
Reged: 05/12/05
Posts: 359
Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA
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Pelican and Starlite have worked well for me, although the airlines managed to break off one of the valves on the Pelican.
I have been reading a lot about Storm cases recently-similar to Pelican but made out of a carbon composite. MIght give one of those a try in the future.
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SCI Life Member
DSC Life Member
DRSS Member
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40702
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Spam post and spammer member deleted.
NitroX
--------------------
John aka NitroX
...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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500grains
.416 member
Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
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Weird. RIP Allen.
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