Gun Cases

A quality gun case protects your investment in transport, satisfies airline and range requirements, and keeps firearms secure in a vehicle or storage area. Impact Guns carries hard cases, soft cases, pistol bags, rifle and shotgun cases, and range bags for every transport and storage need.

Read our full Gun Cases & Range Bags Buying Guide ↓

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

Hard cases provide maximum impact and crush protection — they’re required for airline travel and strongly preferred for any transport where firearms may be stacked, loaded into cargo holds, or subjected to impact. Pelican and Nanuk cases with foam-lined interiors are the gold standard for hard case protection. Soft cases provide adequate protection for driving to the range and offer lighter weight and easier storage when not in use. For daily range trips in your own vehicle, a quality soft case is practical. For airline travel, vehicle storage in a truck bed, or protecting a scoped precision rifle, a hard case is the right choice.

Rifle Cases: Length, Fit & Carry Options

Rifle cases are sized by overall length — measure your rifle with any attached accessories (suppressor, muzzle device, folded stock if applicable) before purchasing. Standard AR-15 cases fit rifles up to 36–42 inches. Precision rifle cases often run 50+ inches to accommodate longer barrels and bipods. Scoped rifle cases benefit from rigid foam or hard shell construction to protect the optic. For bolt-action rifles with quality scopes, a double rifle case or a hard case with custom foam cutouts provides the best protection.

Pistol Cases: Secure Transport for Handguns

Pistol cases range from simple padded zippered pouches to lockable hard cases for airline transport. For airline travel, the pistol must be in a hard-sided case that the owner can lock — a standard TSA-approved padlock through the zipper pull of a hard case satisfies this requirement. For range use, a pistol rug or padded soft case protects the handgun and provides a clean surface for work at the bench. For concealed carriers who want to transport a loaded handgun securely in a vehicle, a lockable pistol case with a cable tether is a practical option.

Range Bags: Organization for a Full Day at the Range

A dedicated range bag keeps all your shooting gear organized and ready — pistols in padded compartments, magazines in dedicated sleeves, ammunition in reinforced pockets, and cleaning supplies in a separate section. Quality range bags from 5.11 Tactical, Allen, and GPS have reinforced bottoms, 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, and must be in checked baggage. Each airline has its own ammunition weight limits — check before flying. The TSA and airline regulations are separate requirements; both must be satisfied. Pelican cases with TSA-approved padlocks are the most widely used airline travel option for firearms.

Frequently Asked Questions: Gun Cases & Range Bags

What gun case is required for airline travel?
A hard-sided case with a lock that only the owner can open. The firearm must be unloaded and declared at the check-in counter. Pelican cases are the industry standard for airline firearm transport — they are impact-resistant, waterproof, and accept standard padlocks through the latch hasps.

What length rifle case do I need for an AR-15?
A standard AR-15 with a 16-inch barrel and collapsible stock measures approximately 32–35 inches collapsed. A 36-inch case provides adequate room with space for accessories. Measure your specific rifle with any attached devices before purchasing.

What is the difference between a range bag and a gun case?
A gun case is designed to transport a firearm safely and is often required by range rules for bringing firearms in from the parking lot. A range bag carries all your shooting accessories — magazines, ammunition, eye and ear protection, cleaning supplies, and tools. Most serious range trips benefit from both.

Browse Gun Cases & Range Bags

Shop the full selection at Impact Guns. For handgun-specific cases, see Handgun Cases & Bags. For rifle and shotgun cases, see Rifle & Shotgun Cases. For range backpacks, see Backpacks.