Poll on hard cases, which to buy?

tmix · Post by **tmix** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 1:48 pm

I'm looking for a hard case for my bolt gun.
Should I go with a Pelican 1720 or the Storm IM3200?
Or something else....
Opinions and reasons, please.

Thanks!

V8Astro · Post by **V8Astro** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:05 pm

I voted for the Pelican, although I have no experience with the Storm. I have 2 Pelican cases, both are awesome.

MicroGuy · Post by **MicroGuy** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:15 pm

I got a inexpensive blow molded case, can't remember the name of it. Works well for me, don't need much else. Both filled with foam, both have hard plastic outer shells. One looks better, but hey...

bmanka · Post by **bmanka** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:30 pm

I compared the Pelican and Storm cases at a recent gun show. Both are without question quality cases. I preferred the Storm to the Pelican.

losing nemo · Post by **losing nemo** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:52 pm

I actually don't have any pelican cases to store any of my guns in, and I don't know why that is. But I can say this. Growing up in the surveying industry from the age of 15, I have used Pelican cases exclusively for carrying a number of different precision electronic measuring devices for the past 14 years, and I cant say enough about them. I actually have a reputation for being very hard on my stuff too. I don't know anything about the storm cases, but you will not be disappointed with the Pelican's. I have brutalized a number of they're boxes, and never seen one break. The only thing I have noticed is some of my yellow colored cases have faded in the hot Texas sun while spending summers riding in the bed of my truck.

Post by **silencertalk** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:08 pm

Neither. Pelican is way too heavy. Get an SKB case. They are much lighter and strong enough.

http://www.skbcases.com/sports/product/ ... otgun.html

MisterWilson · Post by **MisterWilson** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:19 pm

+1 on the SKB cases. They could take just about anything a Pelican case could while being much lighter and a good deal cheaper.

If it was a smaller case I'd say pelican, but for something larger, not so much.

Oh, and did I mention that I just happened to have a NIB SKB rifle case for sale HERE?

tmix · Post by **tmix** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:34 pm

rsilvers wrote:Neither. Pelican is way too heavy. Get an SKB case. They are much lighter and strong enough.

http://www.skbcases.com/sports/product/ ... otgun.html

Wow, I looked at their models that are comparable to the pelican/storm models. They are $130 or more than the Storm/pelican.
I'll pass on those.
They have cheaper models, but without the features I'm looking for.

MisterWilson · Post by **MisterWilson** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 10:21 pm

What?

I thought that the SKB's were marketed as a more economic alternative to Pelican.

And what features were you looking for?

Twinsen · Post by **Twinsen** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 10:50 pm

Those prices seem worse than Pelicans... and so does the utility. It seems only the quad rifle case is big enough for a pistol gripped gun, especially with an optic mounted.

If you go super duper cheapy, don't get a Plano brand case. When heated (warm barrel) they release some nasty s--t that corrodes so fast it's ridiculous. The thread protector of my Saiga-12 was completely covered in rust after being placed into one for a period of UNDER 20 minutes.

tmix · Post by **tmix** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 10:55 pm

MisterWilson wrote:What?

I thought that the SKB's were marketed as a more economic alternative to Pelican.

And what features were you looking for?

Waterproof, purge valve, wheels, et cetera.

http://www.exploreproducts.com/skb-roto ... 2r5212.htm

It a bunch more too. $329!

Post by **silencertalk** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:15 pm

Maybe there is a dealer with better SKB prices. I was not suggesting any special dealer.

MisterWilson · Post by **MisterWilson** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:59 am

I believe that there's also a large difference between an ATA Military case and a regular civilian case.

That one you linked to looks bomb proof.
(And is priced accordingly. I don't believe that even the Pelicans are that heavily protected.)

Also, the cheaper ones (like the one I've got for sale) are also wheeled, waterproof, and I believe has the airlock doohickey.

Conqueror · Post by **Conqueror** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:16 pm

I'm a huge fan of Pelican, and I think they are slightly more refined than Storm. SKB is alright but they don't make any cases in the dimensions I need.

Personally I don't mind the weight of Pelican cases. The really heavy ones all come with wheels. And you don't carry the case around in the woods with you, it's to protect it from the Airline Gorillas.

rjs1000 · Post by **rjs1000** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:36 pm

I think one of the current gun mags has a test of a bunch of the hard cases. They drop them and check for external damage, and check the rifle inside for maintained zero on the optics etc. Sorry I don't remember which magazine it is, but IIRC the pelican came out on top.

robpiat · Post by **robpiat** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:59 pm

We were exhibitors at the SOCOM show....I asked around and all the firearm-bearing exhibitors preferred storm cases. They liked pelicans and used both, but the storm has a few key superior design features. One main one they pointed out was having to send back a few pelicans for latches and having to drill out the pad lock latch points for high security pad locks.

I ended up with a Storm IM3300 after hearing a few of the points.

Ramius · Post by **Ramius** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:29 am

I've used both for years and they each have their points.

Pelican cases are made of denser (read heavier) polymer -- if you are going to fly commercial the airline weight allowance will reduce the amount of gear you can carry.

Storm cases feel "lighter" and probably are not as strong as pelicans in appearance. I haven't seen any evidance that they do not protect well.

Storm cases in general are slightly smaller than pelican cases . . . so the stuff you want to protect is going to decide what case you get, JMHO.

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Poll on hard cases, which to buy?