#HardCase

At the beginning of the year, Magpul announced their DAKA Rifle Case R44. I was already impressed with their DAKA Grid Organizer for Pelican Cases but I am a Magpul fan so I had to have the R44 Rifle Case. So when it came out in July, I immediately ordered one online. I have used it for the range and on a recent hunting trip which required checking it in on an airplane. So here is my review of the R44.

Magpul just added a set of hard cases to their lineup of other DAKA products. Magpul DAKA hard cases feature folding handles at the top and side and rolling wheels at the bottom. And, to top it off, they are all made in the USA.

Firearms storage and transport solutions run the full gamut, from mild to wild. Some shooters are fine tossing their guns in the back of a vehicle unprotected. Others may employ an abundance of caution in babying their beloved safe queens and will lament even the slightest spot of discoloration on a weapon’s finish. Most of us fall somewhere in between, with certain guns getting a bit more care paid to them, and others existing closer to the “beater gun” or “truck gun” side of the spectrum. Commonly, the level of shielding we provide our weapons is going to depend largely on the situation. For short car rides with a smaller equipment load, many times a decent soft case may be sufficient. However, for longer travel or with more gear, a more protective hard shell case is often necessary. In particular, if you’re going to fly with a firearm, a quality hard case is essentially an absolute must. For years, Pelican has served as the gold standard for hard cases in the firearms world. Although there are certainly other options, most other gun case makes and models tend to scale back from the Pelican level, offering decreased toughness and weight in exchange for lower price points. However, now one new company, Bear Hyde, is looking to go upscale. See their introductory press release, copied below.

Just about a month ago TFB showed you the new handgun storage cases from MTM CASE-GARD. This time we’re looking at a new solution from MTM for your long guns, like rifles or shotguns. Or perhaps you own very valuable Golf clubs or swords that need protection when you travel?

When thinking about hard and soft rifle cases, it’s easy to just pick one without really looking at what works best. For years I picked one style of case and used it regardless of whether or not it was the best choice for me. Over the last few months, I’ve been asked several times how I pick what case to use and why. I figured this would be a perfect time to sit down and explain the uses of both styles so let’s jump into it.