Gun Case Preference

Which type of case do you prefer with a new handgun?

  • Plastic hard shell case with foam inside

    Votes: 34 50.0%

  • Plastic molded case

    Votes: 7 10.3%

  • Soft-case, zip-pocket

    Votes: 27 39.7%
  • Total voters
    68
  • Poll closed .
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holdencm9

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Okay, just for fun, because why not? This is the internet after all.

This is about cases that come with new handguns from the store. I generally like them to provide a plastic hard shell case with foam inside. When I go to the range I usually use these cases. I have several lying around so I will just load a few and throw them in the range bag.

My Kahr and Buck Mark, however, came with plastic molded cases, such that they are the only guns that fit inside...and now that I added a red dot to the Buck Mark it doesn't even fit anymore!

So I prefer the plastic with foam inside. All else being equal. How about you? :)
 
Cardboard could be recycled.

I have called factory gun cases useless space wasters for 40 or 50 years. I hang onto them in case I ever sell a gun, but I never do and they continue gathering dust.

The two worst offenders are the plastic suitcase that came with the FNP-45 USG and the blue plastic suitcase that came with the RRA AR. What were they thinking?

For road trips I have a variety of zippered and padded range bags for handguns, and hard and soft cases for long guns. None of them are cases that came with a gun, but one rug does say Ruger and one says Browning. I honestly don't remember where they came from, but it wasn't with a gun... they're too nice. :)

John
 
I actually don't use the original container they came in. I have range bags that have pockets in them for multible pistols and ammo, magazine pouches, place for any tools you want to take and so on.
 
While I like the plastic with foam on a new gun they are death to blued finishes if used for storage. I have seen pictures of blued guns that have had the finishes destroyed and deeply pitted from moisture held against the metal by eggshell foam. I believe the plastic foam outgasses as well but I could be wrong there. Just not a good idea.

My blued stuff live in silicone socks either on a rack in the safe or in a fleecy leather gun rug.

The boxes get put in a big plastic crate & stored. If the gun is ever sold the box & paperwork adds a little value.
 
I prefer a wooden box with crush velvet lining, for display. Otherwise, they sit on the gun rack in the safe.
 
Yeah I have been meaning to get a range bag with multiple slots for several pistols. For now I just put one gun in each (usually max of 4) and toss them all in a backpack I call my "range bag." The main advantage of this is that the range I go to, only allows one gun on the firing line at a time, with a shelf behind the firing line to put stuff on. So rather than toting the entire bag back and forth, just bring the case back and forth.

I never use them for storage though (they all go in a safe), just transport. And yeah I can't bring myself to throw any away because if I ever do sell a gun, they'd be nice to have.
 
On a single gun basis, I would say a foam lined hard case. Very neat and professional looking. The thing is, if you have more than a couple guns they quickly become a PITA to store. Given that, in practical terms I would rather have a zippered fabric case. Much more compact and easier to store.
 
I'd prefer the soft case. Neither is good for long term storage and the soft case is a little more range bag friendly if you carry multiple handguns shooting. The hard plastic, foam lined cases are nice, but in reality they just sit in the corner of the closet.
 
I almost never use the case a gun came in for anything but a closet-filler, keeping them in case I ever sell the gun.

So what I'd like from the factory is something minimal and low-profile, and easy to stack. The only cases I've ever used for a range trip were the ones that came with Armscor handguns, they're pretty basic hard-shell cases with foam inside, and fit two pistols easily. Otherwise I use single/double/quadruple pistol cases for handguns, based on what I intend to shoot in a range trip. I once fit 9 handguns in a case advertised as a 4 gun case, to run an informal new-shooter class (3 each .22lr, 9x19mm & .45acp) - and I frequently need a case that will pack 3 handguns and ammo for same to shoot bowling pin matches, plus another case for the Mrs and her gear.
 
I like the plastic case with foam. Easy to use for the range, and presents the gun nicely when reselling.
 
My M&P came with a hard case and foam cut-outs that fit the gun, mag carrier, and uplula loader. Definitely better than the Glock tupperware that came with the G19.
 
True story, I put myself through school by blowing glass, and I carried my artwork around with me in guncases. The best that I found were cheap aluminum winchester guncases, about $40 when I was buying them

f_1674v_1.jpg

they hold very securely. Some of the bigger plastic rifle cases, particularly the two and four gun versions, flex enough that the guns slide against each other and rub. This case holds very tight, has high quality foam, and is overall pretty high quality for the price.

If I want to spend a lot of money,

Pelican.
 
I never really use the cases but I don't mind them. Sig has nice ones and so does Springfield. However, the last S&W I bought came in a cardboard box and my last Ruger in a flimsy plastic one.
 
I very rarily use the hard cases my guns came in I keep them for resale only.
Most are regulated to shelves in the garage.I have a good range bag that is padded every where and has rugs to boot,it actualy holds more than I care to carry.I use one hard case for hunting trips if I travel that holds two scoped rifles and slides under the back seat of my truck,I bring a padded case
for when I get there.
 
I keep nearly all of my handguns in soft cases 24/7. I can pile/stack them in my safe with no worries of damage.
 
Every one of my pistols has it's own Bulldog nylon gun case with mag slots. If I get a new gun, I get a new range bag. The egg crate foam is the worst for long term storage. It can mar the finish if stored for long periods of time.

PM9bagright.jpg
 
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