I've posted before about gun cases and extra long cases for your long/long range rifle. Here are some summary comments:
Starlight: solid case, but my other Starlight, the standard 52" ID case purchased in about 2005, compared to Pelican and Storm, suffered from lack of wheels (an add-on feature) and more difficult opening and closing of the 4 latches (you have to punch them with the side of your fist to close them), and a poorer line-up between the two sides of the cases. Other than that, it ranks with the others.
Pelican 1750: Probably the sturdiest of the cases. BUT, the latches (6) are slightly inferior to the Storm latches which have the push button release mechanisms. But good wheels and handles on the side and end. The lock holes are stainless steel grommet reinforced, but not so solidly that TSA won't botch them, which they did one of mine on an inspection where they removed a tight fitting Master lock. A VERY good case, until now perhaps the best.
Hardigg Storm 3300 (now subsumed under the Pelican brand): Similar to Pelican but with softer plastic more prone to nicks and scrapes in luggage handling, but with superior latches (6 of them). However, the lock clasps are not steel grommet reinforced - they're simple plastic and they suffer wear with repeated use of a padlock.
All three brands have admirably survived many years of airline transport and the Starlight has survived USPS "mail to yourself" rifle transport.
But I have a custom built 300 RUM on a 700 action and McMillan A5 stock with a 32" barrel which is 53.5" OAL and it will not fit in the standard 52" cases. I had a Pelican 1770 case that fit the RUM with room to spare but not weight to spare and it would be overweight unless I removed the bolt. Moreover, it was excessively large, and lacking a handle on the long side of the case it was VERY unwieldy to take to the AP and check in or to carry around anywhere. My wife HATED travelling with this case. I recently sold it for these reasons.
Then I got the SKB 50 Cal case (posted elsewhere) and it was just not up to snuff. Too flimsy, mine arrived damaged and would not close properly, and also oversize and unwieldy. I returned it.
I just now got the Starlight with 54" ID. See photo. It will JUST FIT my 53.5" rifle. But I'm pleased. There are several upgrades over my prior generation Starlight.
The case is tight and solid and has wheels. Also, the locking grommets are BRASS reinforced. The latches (4) have a push button release. And the ID is indeed 54" and it will JUST fit my rifle, with 1/4" to spare on either end. A Barrett 82 will NOT fit assembled, as a measurement would make obvious, I'm just using it as comaparison for reference for any 50 cal shooters out there.
The case even comes with a cutter to cut the foam! It lines up and locks up PERFECTLY. I'm VERY impressed, and I'm very hard to please as evidenced by the fact that I have tried almost ALL the major cases for big rifles, with some minor but notable exceptions.
For about $300 shipped, I'd say this is THE go-to case for your rifle with oversized barrel. It's not cheap, but it has ALL the features you would want and it WILL accommodate your large rifle, if you insist on transporting it assembled.
This is a 2 thumbs up to Starlight for filling this niche. This appears to be a GREAT case. In fact, allowing that I have not yet transported a rifle in it, all the indicators are that it is the BEST case I own.
<a href="http://s277.photobucket.com/user/secondofangle/media/IMG_20131224_211900669_zpsqkmqlnw0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk43/secondofangle/IMG_20131224_211900669_zpsqkmqlnw0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131224_211900669_zpsqkmqlnw0.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s277.photobucket.com/user/secondofangle/media/IMG_20131224_213707370_zpssfhdoymf.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk43/secondofangle/IMG_20131224_213707370_zpssfhdoymf.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131224_213707370_zpssfhdoymf.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s277.photobucket.com/user/secondofangle/media/IMG_20131224_221441696_zps4wlwlsmo.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk43/secondofangle/IMG_20131224_221441696_zps4wlwlsmo.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131224_221441696_zps4wlwlsmo.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s277.photobucket.com/user/secondofangle/media/IMG_20131224_221503405_zpspreog31g.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk43/secondofangle/IMG_20131224_221503405_zpspreog31g.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131224_221503405_zpspreog31g.jpg"/></a>
Starlight: solid case, but my other Starlight, the standard 52" ID case purchased in about 2005, compared to Pelican and Storm, suffered from lack of wheels (an add-on feature) and more difficult opening and closing of the 4 latches (you have to punch them with the side of your fist to close them), and a poorer line-up between the two sides of the cases. Other than that, it ranks with the others.
Pelican 1750: Probably the sturdiest of the cases. BUT, the latches (6) are slightly inferior to the Storm latches which have the push button release mechanisms. But good wheels and handles on the side and end. The lock holes are stainless steel grommet reinforced, but not so solidly that TSA won't botch them, which they did one of mine on an inspection where they removed a tight fitting Master lock. A VERY good case, until now perhaps the best.
Hardigg Storm 3300 (now subsumed under the Pelican brand): Similar to Pelican but with softer plastic more prone to nicks and scrapes in luggage handling, but with superior latches (6 of them). However, the lock clasps are not steel grommet reinforced - they're simple plastic and they suffer wear with repeated use of a padlock.
All three brands have admirably survived many years of airline transport and the Starlight has survived USPS "mail to yourself" rifle transport.
But I have a custom built 300 RUM on a 700 action and McMillan A5 stock with a 32" barrel which is 53.5" OAL and it will not fit in the standard 52" cases. I had a Pelican 1770 case that fit the RUM with room to spare but not weight to spare and it would be overweight unless I removed the bolt. Moreover, it was excessively large, and lacking a handle on the long side of the case it was VERY unwieldy to take to the AP and check in or to carry around anywhere. My wife HATED travelling with this case. I recently sold it for these reasons.
Then I got the SKB 50 Cal case (posted elsewhere) and it was just not up to snuff. Too flimsy, mine arrived damaged and would not close properly, and also oversize and unwieldy. I returned it.
I just now got the Starlight with 54" ID. See photo. It will JUST FIT my 53.5" rifle. But I'm pleased. There are several upgrades over my prior generation Starlight.
The case is tight and solid and has wheels. Also, the locking grommets are BRASS reinforced. The latches (4) have a push button release. And the ID is indeed 54" and it will JUST fit my rifle, with 1/4" to spare on either end. A Barrett 82 will NOT fit assembled, as a measurement would make obvious, I'm just using it as comaparison for reference for any 50 cal shooters out there.
The case even comes with a cutter to cut the foam! It lines up and locks up PERFECTLY. I'm VERY impressed, and I'm very hard to please as evidenced by the fact that I have tried almost ALL the major cases for big rifles, with some minor but notable exceptions.
For about $300 shipped, I'd say this is THE go-to case for your rifle with oversized barrel. It's not cheap, but it has ALL the features you would want and it WILL accommodate your large rifle, if you insist on transporting it assembled.
This is a 2 thumbs up to Starlight for filling this niche. This appears to be a GREAT case. In fact, allowing that I have not yet transported a rifle in it, all the indicators are that it is the BEST case I own.
<a href="http://s277.photobucket.com/user/secondofangle/media/IMG_20131224_211900669_zpsqkmqlnw0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk43/secondofangle/IMG_20131224_211900669_zpsqkmqlnw0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131224_211900669_zpsqkmqlnw0.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s277.photobucket.com/user/secondofangle/media/IMG_20131224_213707370_zpssfhdoymf.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk43/secondofangle/IMG_20131224_213707370_zpssfhdoymf.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131224_213707370_zpssfhdoymf.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s277.photobucket.com/user/secondofangle/media/IMG_20131224_221441696_zps4wlwlsmo.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk43/secondofangle/IMG_20131224_221441696_zps4wlwlsmo.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131224_221441696_zps4wlwlsmo.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s277.photobucket.com/user/secondofangle/media/IMG_20131224_221503405_zpspreog31g.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk43/secondofangle/IMG_20131224_221503405_zpspreog31g.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20131224_221503405_zpspreog31g.jpg"/></a>
Last edited:
