Whether you're just starting out or already have an arsenal of heavy rifles, finding a good quality case for them can present unique challenges. The ideal rifle case should protect the rifle's stock, action, barrel and scope(s) while still being easy to carry for its owner. This means that in addition to good quality materials, consideration must also be given to how the case will be transported and stored, often weighing up expensive 'thick' options against more practical solutions.

Consider the Full Setup for Accurate Case Selection

A case must also accommodate all other components on your shooting rifle. Examples of accessories that should be taken into account are mounted scope, scope rings, bipod, shooting sling, and other parts that can be detached. These additional components often generate a lot of extra bulk which must be taken into account when selecting a rifle case for transport. Use the total dimensions of your entire shooting rig when selecting the best hard rifle case or soft rifle case for you.

As you consider what types of items you plan to carry in your case for a particular setup, take the longest most rigid section of the rifle (including the mounted scope, rings, bipod, sling, etc.) and measure for the tallest point, including any optics and mounts. The internal dimensions of cases marketed for similar rifles can vary significantly, so make sure to check the interior of any potential case. Also be sure to have enough room for the case's zippers or closures to open and shut with the items inside.

An oversized interior can be cumbersome and potentially cause the rifle to shift around while in transport. However, a case that is too small for your long gun could be problematic in its own right, applying undue pressure to vital components, such as the turrets of your scope's-mount, or even breaking your rifle's lens caps.

Weighing the Options: Soft, Hard, or Hybrid Cases

For short trips, travel by car, etc. a good quality soft case is the best choice. It is light weight, easy to carry and stack. The padding needs to be thick and maintain its shape when weight is applied. The stitching at the stress points must be robust to withstand heavy use.

While a soft rifle case is often perfect for occasional transport to short trips to shooting ranges, heavier gear needs harder protection, especially when stored in crammed compartments, often in heavy and rough storage environments. Besides protection, hard rifle cases are also made to last in heavy duty applications and often will withstand rough storage.

Their main drawbacks are size and weight which make them less than ideal for short trips or being carried around on a regular basis. The interior layout of heavy cases can also be quite large which means that they can contain a lot of other gear as well.

Hard cases are heavier than their soft counterparts, but this added weight allows them to distribute the weight of your rifle more evenly, ensuring they are less prone to sustained pressure. This is particularly important for cases that are stored amongst a mass of other gear, or those that are regularly subject to being stacked upon one another.

Optics: The Crucial Fit Test

The biggest thing to consider when packing a case with mounted optics is to protect the sensitive areas such as the scope's adjustment knobs and the re-arm caps. A good case with protect the rifle from external damage, but a bad case can cause a world of hurt. Make sure that the case's padding will not press against the optic's control knobs. Make sure that any straps or internal ties will not ride on top of the scope's Knobs or re-arm caps and cause any kind of damage.

Check how the scope will interact with the case from all angles. Be careful not to transfer the weight of the case to the scope, and ensure that the scope and its mounting rings are not subjected to any pressure from the padding. If your case is equipped with internal straps these should be used to minimize movement of accessories, but take care not to press any sensitive parts, such as adjustment turrets or lens caps.

When purchasing a case for your rifle and optics, be mindful of the way the case will open. There is nothing worse than trying to put a rifle with a tall optic into a case with a narrow opening. This can result in damage to your expensive optic. A shallow lid may result in a less than perfect closure but will prevent damage to your scope.

Assessing Key Support Components

Furthermore, any rifle case must be able to handle heavy gear. Therefore, in order to test a potential case for rifle, we lift it up by the main handle. There we test all seams, all webbing and all stitching in order to find out potential failure points. In case of any kind of distortion or even twisting of any attachment point, we do not consider this case for our rifles any longer.

This is particularly important for the handles. Central handles are fine for occasional short carries to carry a rifle to a hidden location. However, for the normal transport of hunting gear to and from the field, to and from your vehicle, then he should look for padded shoulder straps, or at least additional quality grab handles. These should be either fixed or easily removed and stowed, to stop them getting tangled up with other bits of gear.

Look for a case's closures too. Zippers should not get caught in other items and should open and close easily and smoothly. Rigid cases should be easy to close with no excessive force needed. Cases that can be locked are very useful where storage in a secure location is needed or where there are laws which require the use of a locked case. Check current legislation for any restrictions concerning the use of locked cases.

Tailor Your Carrier to Your Journey

Short trips from a storage unit to a shooting range might be best handled with a soft padded rifle case. Longer treks or cases that will be loaded among other pieces of heavy equipment and stacked may need a hard cased rifle case to provide the needed protection.

Care must also be taken in storing your gun in a case. Make sure the case is fully dry before storing it away for any length of time as moisture in the case could end up coming into contact with your rifle and cause it to rust or suffer wear and tear. Also make sure you check the lining of the case from time to time for any signs of wear and tear, such as dirt or cleaning being lodged in the foam, or for any loose threads. Also check the padding for any signs of dimpling.

Do not overload a rifle case with too many heavy pieces of equipment as this can lead to strain on your shoulders and hands. Likewise, try to keep the densest items separate and make sure that all of the sensitive components of your rifle are not being crushed by other pieces of equipment.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Rifle Case Selection

A number of mistakes are made when choosing a rifle case. Often the exterior dimensions are used to choose the case. Even though the case may appear long enough for example, it may not be tall enough to accommodate scope mounts. A large hard case may also not have enough internal supports to keep items safe.

Be aware of confusion between light weight of a soft case and protection against scratches. While a soft case might be able to protect your gear against scratches, the thin materials of a soft case do not provide much protection against impact. Equally, oversized hard shells can be a problem if they encourage careless use of your gear.

Another critical area to inspect your case over time is the foam padding. The handles, seams, zippers, closures, and hinges are all critical to ensure your gear will not get damaged in storage or transport. Take the time to inspect your case on a regular basis for signs of wear and tear and replace them as needed. It will be worth the time to ensure your gear is adequately protected in case something unfortunate were to happen.