Best Hard Cases for Scoped Rifles

Find the Best Hard Case for Scoped Rifles with all Dimensions!

Single and Double Recommendations with Multiple Sizes and Color Options to Choose From!

If you want the maximum protection while transporting your valuable firearm with optics, only the Best Hard Case for Scoped Rifles will do the job.

The shooting sports have become even more popular over the last few years.  A lot of shooters are getting involved with long range precision and tactical rifle shooting.  These challenging variations of the target sports require expensive and often custom rifles with scopes that can cost upward to $5000 or more.

Many of the premium hunting rifles with optics can also get quite expensive. Especially if its been trued and blueprinted.

When it comes time to transport that investment to the range, hunt site, or other shooting venue you want the best protection that only a hard case can provide.

Also SEE:  Best Soft Cases for Scoped Rifles

TOP THREE HARD SHELL SINGLES

PELICAN STORM IM3410	VAULT BY PELICAN – V770	Plano ProMax PillarLock
BEST OVERALL SINGLE	BEST SINGLE for the MONEY	BEST ECONOMY SINGLE

TOP THREE HARD SHELL DOUBLES

Boyt H51 Hard-Sided Double Scoped Rifle Case	Plano All Weather Tactical Gun Case, Watertight with Rustrictor	Flambeau Outdoors 6499NZ Safe Shot
BEST DOUBLE OVERALL	BEST MODERATELY PRICED	BEST BUDGET PRICED

What are the Best Hard Cases for Scoped Rifles?

My Recommendations

Below are the Hard Rifle Cases I concluded are the best available.  You will find all the important Dimensions and Features with each listing.  You will find complete descriptions of the top 3 SINGLE and the top 3 DOUBLE hard rifle cases below.  Most products are available in multiple sizes and some with multiple color options.

Where is the Best Place to Shop for Hard Shell Scoped Rifle Cases?

Personally, I prefer to shop online merchants I am confident will have the products I’m shopping for and at the lowest price.  And just in case (pardon the pun) I’m not happy with my purchase I want to be able to return it with no hassles.  Since prices often fluctuate I like to offer my visitors multiple options.  Almost every shooter knows Amazon has a vast array of accessories for the shooting sports with great prices.  Optics Planet is another excellent resource and specializes in firearm-related products.  Quite often they offer as-good or better prices and have outstanding customer service.

I selected the Pelican Storm iM3410  case for one of my custom Remington 700 Long Range Scoped Rifles with a 24″ non-threaded barrel. Pelican is generally recognized in shooting circles as one of the top makers of hard-shell cases for firearms and I wanted the best.

The Pelican Storm iM3410 has all the features and specs I was looking for in a hard case to fit my rifle and scope.

Specs

• Foam Type: Customizable, must be cut to fit
• Weight With Foam: 20 lbs.
• Waterproof: Yes
• TSA Airline Approved: Yes
• Lockable: Yes
• Wheels: Yes

My Thoughts

My custom Remington 700 has a 24” barrel, chassis-type stock, and a scope with a 52m objective lens and a large turret. It fits perfectly!  The foam must be cut to fit your firearm which provides another level of protection.

I feel like the Pelican iM3410 case provides the ultimate in protection for my rifle while traveling and while its being stored.  Although it is the single rifle case with the smallest foot print, there is still plenty of room for a bipod and a couple other accessories.

 

 

 

Like all Pelican rifle cases the Vault V770 is made in the USA with quality materials and components. The Vault V770 is a meat and potatoes case with all the important features necessary to keep you firearm safe from bumps, collisions, and from the elements.

Check Out this Cool VIDEO!

Specs

• Foam Type: Pre-perforated pluckable foam for easy customization
• Weight With Foam: 16.08 lbs.
• Waterproof: Yes
• TSA Airline Approved: Yes
• Lockable: Yes
• Wheels: No

My Thoughts

I highly recommend the Pelican Vault V770 Case for anyone who wants the maximum level of protection at a more affordable price.

This high quality rifle case is a good fit for the shooter who mostly uses his scoped rifle for hunting and trips to the local range.  But, also wants the option to be able to fly or to be able to ship their firearm.

The foam is pluckable for an easy custom fit.

If you would prefer a case that doesn’t require fitting or cutting the foam, take a look at the SKB iSeries Single Rifle Case. It has similar features to the Pelican Vault V770 and is also American Made.

Like all Pelican cases, the Vault V770 is Guaranteed for Life!

 

 

Talk about value!  This budget priced hard rifle case has high-end security features you would expect to find in a case costing 4x the price.

The Plano ProMax PillarLock Single Rifle Case is injection molded with thick enough walls to protect your rifle and scope from scuffs and scrapes. High-density foam interlocks to prevent shifting and wrap your rifle in a cushion of protection. The proprietary PillarLock® system is designed into the shell halves to make the case crush resistant.

Its plenty rugged enough for most shooting activities as well as for storage.

Specs

• Foam Type: Egg crate, non-customizable
• Weight With Foam: 9 lbs.
• Waterproof: No
• TSA Airline Approved: Yes
• Lockable: Yes
• Wheels: No

My Thoughts

If you are just looking for sensibly priced protection for your hunting rifle while traveling to and from the range or hunt site the Plano ProMax PillarLock Single Rifle Case is a smart option.

Although this case is TSA and Airline compliant, I would not recommend using it to ship a valuable rifle and scope in.

There’s plenty of room for a long-barreled hunting rifle with a scope up to 44m (1.732”) objective. There is enough extra space for magazines and accessories.

When it comes to protecting your firearm the Plano ProMax PillarLock is the best budget-priced Single Rifle Case on the market.

 

 

 

The Boyt Harness Company was founded in 1901 and has become the standard by which all other hard rifle case manufactures are measured by.  Although not as familiar a name as Pelican in shooting circles, their hard rifle cases are second to none.

It’s my personal opinion that the Boyt Harness H51 is the strongest and best built hard-sided case available for two scoped rifles or shotguns.

Check out this Amazing Demo VIDEO!

Specs

• Foam Type: Customizable, cut to fit
• Weight With Foam: 24 lbs.
• Waterproof: Yes
• TSA Airline Approved: Yes
• Lockable: Yes
• Wheels: Yes

My Thoughts

When you set your eyes on the Boyt Harness H-Series Double Rifle Case you will know you made the best choice. The quality is world class and its ruggedness is obvious.  And, perhaps the best feature of this product is the very reasonable price.

If you want the ultimate in protection for your valuable scoped rifles the Boyt Harness H51 Double Rifle Case is as good as it gets.

All Boyt Harness cases come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty!

 

 

 

I can’t fault a company for bumping up their product prices for name-brand recognition. In most ‘cases’ they have earned that perk. Although Plano has become one of the most highly recognized brands when it comes to high quality firearm carry cases they have chosen to keep their prices at a moderate level.

Plano has upped their game with their NEW for 2020 All Weather Tactical Scoped Rifle Case. This visually appealing case is available in 36″, 42″, and 52″ lengths (outside dimensions). Each size is a spacious 14″ wide making it suitable for double carry for most traditional hunting rifles. Dual Tactical or chassis rifles would probably not fit unless you removed the pistol grips.

7″ total inches of foam to sandwich your expensive rifles for maximum protection against extreme handling.

If your hunting or shooting expedition takes you to high elevations these cases have a Pressure-Release Valve to equalize atmospheric pressure.

Maximum Protection

You don’t have to worry about your firearm getting wet because the Plano All Weather Tactical Gun Case has a Continuous Dri-Loc seal gasket that creates a watertight and dust-proof barrier. If you forget to wipe down your rifle before storing a Corrosion Inhibitor Vapor is emitted from the foam that helps prevent rust. Plano claims this protection last 5X longer than competitive products based on lab tests.

Rugged handles feel comfortable in your hand for carrying long distances. Easy Glide Wheels (52″ Model ONLY) facilitate transporting across parking lots and busy airports. And yes, each of the 3 size models are Airline Compliant. (NOTE: Only the 52″ model has a Handle on the end and Wheels.)

The Plano All Weather Tactical Gun Case has dual-stage lockable latches to secure the case from opening accidentally. However, if you intend to transport your rifle via airline you will need to also secure it with appropriate TSA Approved Padlocks available at Amazon.com.

Specs

• Foam Type: Pluck to fit, customizable foam
• Weight With Foam:   Approx.  14 lbs. 36″, 17 lbs. 42″, and 20 lbs. 52″ model
• Waterproof: Yes
• Dust Proof:  Yes
• Pressure Relief Valve:  Yes
• TSA Airline Approved: Yes
• Lockable: Yes
• Wheels: Yes (52″ model ONLY)

My Thoughts

The Plano All Weather Tactical Gun Case is made to accommodate 2 rifles but you should lay out both your firearms and do your measuring before ordering.

Be sure and allow at least 2” of foam for each end and about 1 ½” each side for the best protection.

Negative Customer Reviews

A few of the first cases released for sale received negative customer reviews because of damage resulting from packaging and handling issues. As a semi-retired toolmaker who has designed and built many injection molds the molding and overall quality of this case is on par with Pelican or Boyt.

I believe the Plano All Weather Tactical Gun Case is one of the best double scoped rifle cases for the money currently available.  You won’t find another double scoped rifle case with all the important features as this case for the money.  All Plano rifle cases are made in the USA!

 

 

 

Specs

• Foam Type: Egg Crate (convoluted)
• Weight With Foam: 5.89 lbs.
• Waterproof: No
• TSA Airline Approved: No
• Lockable: Yes
• Wheels: No

My Thoughts

The Flambeau Outdoors 6499NZ Safe Shot Double Rifle Case offers good protection from scratches and cuts while commuting to the range or for hunting. It does not have the rigidity to protect your firearm/s from heavy impacts or crushing. The case is water resistant but not water proof since there is no gasket to seal it.

The overall dimensions do allow up to two scoped rifles according to the manufacture, but it would be a tight fit. I recommend you lay out your rifles or shot guns on the floor, and allow approx. 2” per end and 1 ½” on the width. Make sure there’s at least 1” between the two firearms to avoid rubbing.

Although this case is lockable it is not Airline compliant.

If you just want adequate protection while transporting or storing your firearms without investing a lot of money, the Flambeau Outdoors 6499NZ Safe Shot Double Rifle Case is a good choice.

 

 

Airline Travel and Shipping

TSA and Airline Guidelines for Transporting Firearms and Ammo!

Often times its necessary to ship or fly with your firearm/s so its important to consider TSA and Airline compliance.

TSA Guidelines

According to the TSA website at TSA.gov:

“You may transport unloaded firearms in a locked hard-sided container as checked baggage only. Declare the firearm and/or ammunition to the airline when checking your bag at the ticket counter. The container must completely secure the firearm from being accessed. Locked cases that can be easily opened are not permitted.”

Your hard case should have multiple hasps with a TSA approved padalock on each one.  The TSA must be able to unlock your case for inspection so be sure to use only TSA Compliant Padalocks.

Airline Guidelines

Just because your rifle case happens to be TSA compliant doesn’t mean the Airline will automatically accept it at check in.

Each Airline carrier has its own guidelines and restrictions so be sure to check with your carrier before booking reservations.

And whatever you do be sure and DECLARE YOUR FIREARM!

Air Pressure Equalization

Another consideration when flying is the change of air pressure, or when traveling to any higher elevations.

A top of the line hard rifle case becomes air tight when closed. So, as the airplane altitude the pressure inside the case becomes greater than the air outside.  A pressure equalizer valve is a critical feature to look for when considering a hard case for flying.

Handles and Wheels

A double hard rifle case can way upward to 20 lbs.  Add to that a couple of 7 lb. to 10 lb. rifles with optics and you are looking at 34 lb. to 40 pounds.  That’s a lot of weight to lug across a parking lot and busy airport terminal.

Make certain the case you select has heavy duty handles: one for carry and one for towing.

Also, you should make sure your case has a set of ball bearing wheels.   Trust me, you’ll will be glad you did!

Types of Foam Padding

Hard rifle cases are available with 3 different types of foam padding:

Egg Crate Foam – Egg crate foam has a convoluted surface on one side (usually both upper and lower sheets ) that allows you to place your rifle and scope securely in the case without customization.

Pluckable Foam – Pluckable foam is pre-perforated foam sheets that allow you to pluck out small squares following the profile of your rifle and scope for a custom fit.

Customizable Foam – Customizable foam is just a plain sheet of foam that requires cutting out to fit the profile of your rifle and scope.  Its actually quite easy and if done correctly it really looks great and provides the maximum protection.

Watch this Tutorial Video “How to Customize the Foam in a Hard Shell Rifle Case”

My Search

Recently I spent a whole lot of time trying to find the best hard case to fit my two custom Remington 700 long range rifles.  After researching many and trying out several I decided I wanted a single case for each rifle instead of a double. Sometimes I only carry one rifle to the range and didn’t want to deal with the weight and extra space of a double.

To make the selection process that much more difficult, one rifle has a 24″ non-threaded barrel and the other has a 20″ threaded barrel.  I wanted the smallest case possible to accommodate each rifle without wasted spaced.  This required two different size cases, from two different brands to get that just right fit I wanted.  My search was a very time-consuming and frustrating process which is why I decided to write this article.