Packed two rifles in a Pelican 1750 and when I went into customs to get my rifles every single latch had unlatched. BS. I'm returning it to Cabela's if it wasn't for both locks on the case the Pelican would've popped right open. Anyone else had this problem on flights transporting rifles in a Pelican? I figured there double catch latches would've been fine.

I've never had any issues with mine. Although between Pelican and Hardigg I'll take the Hardigg every time.

Edit: Apparently Hardigg was bought out by Pelican after I bought my case. I like the fact that the Hardigg has latches on 3 sides.

Any chance some one tried to open it before you.

Wrong emoticon

GinMan said:

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Packed two rifles in a Pelican 1750 and when I went into customs to get my rifles every single latch had unlatched. BS. I'm returning it to Cabela's if it wasn't for both locks on the case the Pelican would've popped right open. Anyone else had this problem on flights transporting rifles in a Pelican? I figured there double catch latches would've been fine.

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You need to be using zip ties and locks with short shackles.

Zip ties keep everyone honest. I make TSA install them after inspecting the case.

GinMan said:

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Packed two rifles in a Pelican 1750 and when I went into customs to get my rifles someone had unlatched every single latch. I'm returning it to Cabela's if it wasn't for both locks on the case the Pelican would've popped right open. Anyone else had this problem on flights transporting rifles in a Pelican? I figured there double catch latches would've been fine.

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There, FIFY

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why you buy locks.

Take your case and drop it a few times from a foot off the ground, if the latches don't open by themselves then someone opened them during the process of the flight.

Is this really, seriously your first assumption? You bought a higher end very well reviewed gun case and you think normal handling on and off a few planes caused every single latch to come undone??? It's is far, far more likely someone tried to open your case. It's far more likely you did something wrong latching it after inspection. It's a slight possibility you got a defective case.

It boggles my mind that you immediately jump to an unlikely conclusion and get so worked up you need to return the case and post about how big a POS it is. Smh.

I did use short shackle locks. The short shackles at least kept the case somewhat closed. Delta also lost my rifles for 24 hrs had to make the 2 1/2 drive back to Johannesburg. Southwest actually takes a large zip tie and wraps it around the case which is comforting. I was surprised they were unlatched. Maybe somebody actually opened the latches. There isn't really a way to half-assed close the latches. They are either closed or open. The main reason I posted was to see if anyone else had a similar problem.... And in the process I antagonized the zoo lol

OP, zip ties and then duct tape.

When I have had to use hard rifle cases I will lock them, zip tie them, and then a couple wraps of duct tape around both ends.

Just got back from taking the Glock Operator course in Smyrna this week and I traveled with three pistols in a large .mil Pelican case (gun bag, belt, and 47.5 pounds of assorted gear in there) and I was amazed at the level of stupidity I had to deal with at the airport. And from SWA folks who normally are well trained.

One genius insisted I had to use one lock on the pistol case inside the larger hard case, and the other lock could go on the hard case. Another idiot concurred and it took a supervisor to finally get there and take 5 seconds to say "no, that's a hard case, locks go on the outside." After all was done and my other checked bag was gone I let that guy have it...he should have stuck with his first career at Burger King. If he had been new, that's one thing...had been doing the job for 18 months.

Duct tape.

OP...the best answer period for flying with rifles.

http://www.nalpak.com/Tuffpak

Not cheap, but worth every last penny. I have several that have been all over hells half acre.

No hinges. No pad locks. No way in without a saws-all.

Mine are stenciled Fragile-Medical Eguipment on three sides. Funny to watch a nosy guy's reaction one time when I was on a tram in the international terminal and was asked about it...told the guy I was an Ebola researcher with samples...and then started coughing.

Everyone should watch this...

DEF CON 17 - Deviant Ollam - Packing and the Friendly Skies

It boggles my mind that you immediately jump to an unlikely conclusion

I'm 90% sure it's "bottles"

GinMan said:

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I did use short shackle locks. The short shackles at least kept the case somewhat closed. Delta also lost my rifles for 24 hrs had to make the 2 1/2 drive back to Johannesburg. Southwest actually takes a large zip tie and wraps it around the case which is comforting. I was surprised they were unlatched. Maybe somebody actually opened the latches. There isn't really a way to half-assed close the latches. They are either closed or open. The main reason I posted was to see if anyone else had a similar problem.... And in the process I antagonized the zoo lol

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Yes, my Pelican latches have popped open on flights. Most latches of that style will. That's why zip ties through the lock holes provide a bit of extra security.

There were some seasoned travelers that were actually transporting their rifles inside of a hard sided golf club case. They put their rifles in soft sided scabbards and shoved them in the golf bag case.

Carl Hungus said:

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It boggles my mind that you immediately jump to an unlikely conclusion

I'm 90% sure it's "bottles"

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Bottles?

I went all the way to Zimbabwe on 3 different flights and no issues with my pellican. Then a short trip to South Dakota and when I arrived all the latches were open and only the locks were holding it together. I also got the gift of a cracked stock

I now carry a roll of duct table and after the tsa inspection I duct tape twice around the latches and case.

Oh and locks. I used high quality brass master locks. When I got back into the states TSA decided the wanted into my locked ammo case and cut the locks but then taped them all together with the shackles. Still better than tsa locks.

Well he did say he was only 90% sure

Puryear Playboy said:

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OP...the best answer period for flying with rifles.

http://www.nalpak.com/Tuffpak

Not cheap, but worth every last penny. I have several that have been all over hells half acre.

No hinges. No pad locks. No way in without a saws-all.

Mine are stenciled Fragile-Medical Eguipment on three sides. Funny to watch a nosy guy's reaction one time when I was on a tram in the international terminal and was asked about it...told the guy I was an Ebola researcher with samples...and then started coughing.

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These look awesome, thanks! Maybe that's what my dumb @ss saw people using that I thought were golf bag cases lol.

03ki11erAG said:

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Take your case and drop it a few times from a foot off the ground, if the latches don't open by themselves then someone opened them during the process of the flight.

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I tried that. I chunked the case off of my roof onto the driveway. Only one latch came loose, but it damaged the ring mounts on both of my scopes.

GinMan said:

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03ki11erAG said:

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Take your case and drop it a few times from a foot off the ground, if the latches don't open by themselves then someone opened them during the process of the flight.

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I tried that. I chunked the case off of my roof onto the driveway. Only one latch came loose, but it damaged the ring mounts on both of my scopes.

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Why did you do it with the guns in the case?

GinMan said:

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03ki11erAG said:

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Take your case and drop it a few times from a foot off the ground, if the latches don't open by themselves then someone opened them during the process of the flight.

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I tried that. I chunked the case off of my roof onto the driveway. Only one latch came loose, but it damaged the ring mounts on both of my scopes.

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Quote:

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No hinges. No pad locks. No way in without a saws-all

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When we went to Brazil a couple of years ago we used a Sage case to carry our rods in. On the trip down we met a couple from Denton that was on a fly rod trip on another boat....save Sage cases.

On the trip down we were all able to carry our rods onto the plane. On the way back we were required to check them for some reason. The cases have a rounded square rubber cap on each end....one is permanent...the other twists off. Upon arrival in Dallas the man's case had been cut with a saws-all on the fixed end severing his rods and then duct tapped. No telling how may of those cases they see ever day.

He was pissed and I felt lucky.......

I have flown double rifles in my 1750 numerous times without problem.

Agree with the comments here. Have 2 TSA-approved locks, and then have 3-4 zipties handy once inspected.

When traveling with my 1750, never once has either riflescope strayed more than 0.5 inches off center (at 100 yards). Worth every penny.