Chris Redlich on options for secure gun travel
Apart from your knockabout ‘ute guns’, most owners appreciate the dollar value of their favourite hunting rifle or shotgun, with many now of premium build costing around $2000, while adding a quality scope can potentially double that figure. That’s why it’s important to protect them from the rigours of travel, whether it be local or international.
Apart from loan cases which accompany review items, hard protective gun cases aren’t something I’ve owned before. That said, a custom padded drawer on my vehicle would be the exception, being built to achieve a similar principle only much larger and not so portable. So when the chance arose to review a pair of hard gun cases from Pro-Tactical, I was keen to check them out.
In fact being on the Pro-Tactical mailing list meant I’d seen these ones before, but what caught my eye was their attractive price. But are they as good as others on the market? I was about to find out. They sent me their double gun 55” (1400mm) aluminium case and the popular Cyclone plastic 48” (1250mm) single rifle case.
Cyclone heavy duty
By all appearances the Cyclone plastic case is by far the heavier duty-looking of the two with the same model also available in 45” and 53” double gun cases. They’re extremely tough with the Cyclone made of durable, blow-moulded thermoplastic with stainless steel components at all critical points of strength and wear.
The rib-reinforced top and bottom halves are both one-piece sections connected by four substantial, integrated hinges using thick stainless steel hinge pins. The broad main carriage handle is solid and is the only separate plastic component to the case, once again attached to the main body by stainless steel pins which reinforced my confidence in their strength.
A full perimeter lip and silicone seal on the top and bottom halves provides dust and watertight peace of mind, while the inclusion of heavy duty memory foam in the base and anti-move ‘eggshell’ foam in the lid will ensure your rifle stays cushioned and scope remains zeroed. Conveniently, Cyclone cases also include a separate ½” thick full-length foam spacer which can be added or removed depending on the width of your gun.
Four stainless steel ‘butterfly’ toggles at reinforced sections of the front edge clamp the top and bottom halves together securely. The camming action of the toggles is so strong you can feel the rifle sandwich between the foam when tightening, while a bleed valve on the base will relieve any air pressure if necessary.
Most importantly are the two reinforced sections of the case which require padlocks to secure. The good old-fashioned padlock is still a favourite of mine and it doesn’t matter which brand or make of case you have, it’s a valuable deterrent for opportunistic thieves. The Cyclone was a perfect fit for virtually all my guns, including the large .284Win custom hunter and heavy barrel 6.5 Creedmoor varmint rifle, and would be my preferred choice for interstate or international air travel. The 48” single rifle model retails for an extremely competitive $249 and, at this price, I believe is an absolute bargain considering the value of your favourite gun.
Aluminium gun case
The Pro-Tactical aluminium gun case is the larger of the two under review and in my opinion a lighter-duty alternative to the Cyclone. Yet despite being light this one still provides ample protection for guns where the risk of rough manhandling is minimised. This would be my preference for general vehicular transit by stowing in a lockable ute tray or RV due to its slimline profile.
The external aluminium skin is quite thin to reduce weight but reinforcing its corners are steel caps to prevent dinting. Four plastic caps on the edge and base ensure the case stays clear of the hinges and remains level when sitting upright in either position. Even with my larger guns stowed, the three steel wire hinges looked adequately strong and no slop was observed during opening and closing.
Unlike the Cyclone the aluminium case has only two ‘hook and loop’ catches in the centre, while flanking those are two more attaché-style combination locks on the outside. Although not watertight, a rebated lip on the top and bottom edges ensure dust ingress is kept to a minimum, while top and bottom ‘eggshell’ foam liners cradle the guns securely.
This case holds two guns comfortably and easily accommodated my double-barrel shotgun and .303 hunting rifle combination during testing. Also retailing for $249 (aluminium 55” double case) makes this one a price-appealing alternative for gun protection that’s not quite as chunky as the Cyclone.
And finally
Obviously I wouldn’t go out my way to deliberately try and break a Cyclone case for the purpose of testing their claim of ‘shockproof’. However, all indicators during review revealed a product that would protect my rifle from potential rough treatment by a busy airport baggage handler. Likewise, the aluminium case will offer plenty of protection for your guns, providing you don’t have the misfortune to lose it off the back of a shooting buggy.
The Cyclone on the other hand would be my pick to handle such an unfortunate mishap and I’d be confident enough to say your scope would also remain on-point. For the full range and prices of all their gun cases and bags, rests, cleaning products and much more visit www.protactical.com.au