Need Case: Flying with 18" AR

[penguin0123]

L+W+H < 62" is the airline rule. My rifle from buttstock to FH is 36".

Pelican 1720 fits nicely, but the exterior is at 66.5", so I need to pay oversized bag fee.

Pelican 1700 is doable if I pull the upper and lower apart, and the exterior dimension fits the 62" nicely. But I also want this to be a "daily" case. And pulling upper/lower apart every trip is just plain annoying.

SKB 3i-3614-AR squeaks by at 62" exterior dimension, but the interior length of 36.5" mean *very* little padding when (not if) the baggage handlers toss it across the tarmac.

Any other options?

Have you guys flown with Pelican 1720 and never had to pay the oversized fee?

[God Bless America]

I have never been charged an oversize fee for my double rifle case. Some airlines explicitly exempt them from the oversize calculation.

[Mute]

Pelican, Storm/Hardigg or Nanuk are the hard cases I'd trust to survive the apes that do airline baggage handling. Can't tell you about the size. I've always had larger than 1720 sized cases so always get hit with the fees.

[dwtt]

I've flown with a double rifle case and have never had any problems being charged oversized fees. Also, I this might be difficult for you to believe, but your AR isn't going to be damaged in a SKB case. It's designed to be a battle rifle, not a delicate wall decoration.

[L84CABO]

I know what the regs say about < 62 linear inches, but the 1720 is a pretty standard rifle case that many people travel with. Airlines make certain exceptions for various pieces of sporting equipment such as skis, etc. I think most airlines will accept the 1720 case. I would call the airline and talk to someone...but event then, I'd still use it and hope they didn't up charge me when I checked it.

I'd also find a nice soft rifle case to fit inside the 1720 case. That way you can leave the heavy case behind once you get to your hotel. Pelican makes a great case but it's a bit overkill for most daily needs. YMMV.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Sorry for the image size.

Made this for kicks and my dedicated .22. stock is collapsed but the foam can be cut for a a1/a2.

[TurboS600]

"Sport" cases are explicitly exempt from the size limits. I travel with a HUGE hard sided golf case and never pay oversize fees. BTW, the case fits my golf gear AND my AR AND my SKS or Howa 300 WinMag with scope.


Just giving you some ideas.

[L84CABO]

"Sport" cases are explicitly exempt from the size limits. I travel with a HUGE hard sided golf case and never pay oversize fees. BTW, the case fits my golf gear AND my AR AND my SKS or Howa 300 WinMag with scope.


Just giving you some ideas.

How do they charge for rifle cases? If I check my suitcase and a rifle case will I be paying for one bag or two?

And/or if you travel with one checked bag and a golf bag do they charge you for two checked bags?

[penguin0123]

Delta makes exemption for ski equipment, but no exemption for firearm/bow. Neither does AA. United are a-hats, so I don't even look at them.

I guess it depends on the ticketing agent; if it eyeballs close enough, they won't pull out the tape.

[baih777]

Plano makes two hard cases. Smaller does not have wheels. Larger has wheels but not as big as pelican. Big5 sells them. They do go on sale or see if you can find a discount coupon.

[jarhead714]

Yo Devil, if you're in O.C. I can lend you a 1750 you can put everything in. Pay the extra fee but you don't need to buy a case...

[icsam]

My daughter has flown to Denver and Cleveland for competitions at both the Olympic training center and Camp Perry. Her FWB 800 goes in the Pelican 1750. Shooting jacket, pants, boots etc. goes in the Pelican 1650.
The rest goes in a gear bag.
We didn't get charged extra flying out of San Jose by Southwest Airlines.

[God Bless America]

OP which airline?

Rifle cases are treated like any other piece of checked oversized luggage.

[penguin0123]

OP which airline?

Delta or AA. Preferably Delta, as I see no diff between their policies.

[ProtectThe2nd]

Pretty good prices

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Pelican+rifle+cases

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Plano+rifle+cases&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3APlano+rifle+cases

Personally I don't fly but do own 4 of the Plano and I'm pretty tough on traveling with my rifles in the cases...I toss the cases into my lifted Chevy Avalanche and I think I abuse them like the airlines would...(edit to add my cases are the all weather tactical gun guard)

The cases are beat up pretty good but I've never had a zero issue with any of my leupold optics

As mentioned...ARs are battle tested and can take the abuse unless one of them is equipped with a girly scope in which case take it off before it goes in the case and hand luggage it...