Cases & Bags

Hard Cases vs. Soft Cases: Choosing the Right Protection Level

Hard cases — from brands like Pelican, Plano, and SKB — provide crush-resistant, weather-sealed protection ideal for airline travel, vehicle transport, and long-term storage. TSA regulations require firearms checked on aircraft to be in a hard-sided, locked container. Pelican cases are the benchmark: nearly indestructible, waterproof, and available with customizable foam inserts. Soft cases are lighter, more packable, and easier to carry for routine range trips where crush protection isn’t a concern. For airline travel or vehicle storage, hard case. For range day and local transport, soft case.

Rifle Cases: Length, Fit & Carry Options

Rifle cases are sized by overall length — most rifles require a 48″ to 54″ case, while AR-15 pistols and folding-stock rifles may fit in 36″ cases. Double rifle cases carry two long guns and are popular for hunting trips where a backup rifle is needed. Tactical rifle bags with MOLLE webbing, external magazine pouches, and padded sling mounts appeal to shooters who want quick access at the range. Discreet rifle cases that look like tennis racquet or instrument cases are available for urban transport. Always measure your rifle from muzzle to buttstock before ordering — scopes and suppressors add significant length.

Pistol Cases: Secure Transport for Handguns

Dedicated pistol cases hold one or more handguns with foam-padded compartments that prevent movement and scratching. Single-pistol hard cases with lockable hasps meet most airline checked baggage requirements for handgun transport and double as secure storage. Multi-pistol cases are popular for competition shooters who carry multiple guns to matches. Discreet pistol cases that resemble toiletry bags or document pouches are available for everyday carry. For concealed carry permit holders who transport firearms in vehicles, a quick-access vehicle safe is a better solution than a traditional case for daily use.

Range Bags: Organization for a Full Day at the Range

A dedicated range bag keeps all your shooting gear organized and ready — pistols or revolvers in padded compartments, magazines in dedicated sleeves, ammunition in reinforced pockets, and cleaning supplies in a separate compartment. Quality range bags from 5.11 Tactical, Allen, and GPS have reinforced bottoms that handle the weight of loaded gear, lockable zippers, and enough external attachment points for ear protection, eye protection, and staple guns. For shooters who visit the range regularly, a purpose-built range bag saves the fumbling-through-boxes experience and keeps everything in one ready-to-grab package.

Airline Travel with Firearms: What You Need to Know

Traveling by air with firearms requires a hard-sided, locked case that the owner retains the only key or combination to. The firearm must be unloaded and declared at check-in. Ammunition must be in its original factory packaging or a container specifically designed for ammunition transport — it cannot be in the same case as the firearm on most airlines (check your carrier’s specific policy). A Pelican 1700 or 1750 rifle case is the most commonly used airline-approved long gun case. A Pelican 1510 or 1495 handles most handguns. Always verify TSA and airline regulations before travel as policies can change.

Gun Cases, Bags & Related Pages

For gun safes and home storage solutions, see our handguns page for pistol-specific secure storage. For range shooting accessories including targets and cleaning supplies, see our reloading and accessories page. For holsters for carry and range use, see our Alien Gear holsters page.