Tell me about your AR15 cases / bags

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i-SHOT

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Guys,

Some of you may know by now that I've built my business based on feedback from shooters both online and off. For the last 14 months I've been focusing on range bags but the time has come for me to look into rifle cases / bags.

If I may be bold to ask, what are the positive & negative issues you guys are having with your current (soft) cases / bags? What do you like about it? And what don't you?

Your feedback will help me in the development of a new case that I hope to put in the market by mid-year.

Let me thank everyone in advance for your feedback and suggestions.
 
I have a Blackhawk double long gun case. In general, it's a decent design. There are a few things I'd change if I was designing my dream bag:

1: The shoulder strap. The quality of the hooks on the ends of the straps is second rate. They don't swivel, so they get bent when they are torqued at an angle.
2: The position of the shoulder strap. The way it's designed, it's very awkward to carry. It would be much better to have a side mounted strap so that the case can be carried vertically more easily. See the Maxpedition rifle cases for my preferred design of shoulder strap.
3: The exterior pockets. Overall, the pockets are a good design. They should be larger and take advantage of the available real-estate on the side of the case. I do like the fact that one of the pockets is padded. If the non-padded pocket was larger, it could hold a loaded chest harness easier.
4: The interior of the case. There should be some retaining straps to secure the weapon on the inside of the case. PALS webbing inside the case would permit mounting specific pockets and pouches for carrying mags, too.
5: Zipper. The zipper should go all the way around the bottom corners so that the bag can be opened all the way up and layed out flat, possibly as an impromptu shooting mat. Oh yeah, I'd make the pulls from 550 cord instead of the jingle-bell metal pulls.

Here are the basic features that make the case highly desirable:
1. The ablility to hold 2 long guns.
2. Exterior pockets. One padded and one non-padded bellow pocket that expands somewhat.
3. Padded design. Reduces printing and protects your logn guns.
 
I have the same case as Techbrute and the same thoughts. While it's not perfect, it suits my purpose.
 
I have a half dozen soft cases for AR15s. Ones for 16", 20", and 24" versions.
The one thing I don't like about them is the width of the case. It is just barely wide enough to fit an AR with a 30 round magazine in the carbine. I use MagPuls so I really have to struggle to zip it closed. It it was only 1/4" or even 1/2" wider, it would make things so much easier.
I have noticed this on all kinds of cases over the years. They make it fit exactly so that the object that goes in the case has to be in precisely the right position or it won't close. I have always wondered why they can't just give you a fraction of an inch of slop that would make the whole thing so much easier. By the same token, these cases I have have a larger outside pouch. I am not sure what it is supposed to be for, but theoretically you could store some accessory or something in it. However, since the case is so tight when closed, you would be lucky to put a sheet of paper in this outside pouch.

By the way, I don't know who makes the cases I own. There is a guy at the gunshow that sells them. They seem to hold up OK. I have no other complaints with them.
 
The one thing I don't like about them is the width of the case.
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That's something I could get in line behind. My case has a little trouble with 2 ARs with SIR systems on them. Another inch or so would make a world of difference.
 
I have one soft case that has the mag pouches on the outside. I think I'd like one non-gun shaped with the pockets inside, maybe in a non-black color. Padded straps, maybe backpack type straps too for 3-gun toting, lots of pockets.
 
OD Green also! I'm in the market for an OD case now and there aren't many options out there. Also, internal weapons retention straps are a nice feature as well as black hardware.
 
I don't know who made mine but....

the carry handle is on the wrong edge. Weapon only fits in it so that the AR is upside down. That is fine until you mount a scope or other optical sight. If I set the bag down down, I bang the optics.

Mag pouches are also inverted. If I carry by the handle and the velcro lets go the mags are gonna hit the dirt. Hasn't happened, but it could.

Smoke
 
Ive been shopping for a bag for my AR for a few months now. Ill definityl wait until I shot comes out with one! Ive been using your range bags and magazine pouches and love them! Keep up the great work on the designs.
 
I agree with all the suggustions of TechBrute!

Also the color options of Black, Od, and Kahki, or even the darker Coyote would be great.

Discreet design a plus.

Possible Pals/Molle webbing on outside for additional pouches.
 
Discreet design a plus
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Not a plus... a necessity. I won't buy a non-discreet styled case. Period. There is absolutely no advantage to having a gun-shaped case. (Ok, maybe there is, but I haven't thought of one.)

Variable and I see eye-to-eye on color options. ;)

To me, the PALS webbing would be more useful on the inside. That's if I had to choose. PALS webbing on the inside and outside would enhance the flexibility of the case, to be certain.

A point of note: I continually compare my desired design to my existing BHI bag. This is because the BHI bag is the most desirable bag I've come across. I've looked over many, many bags, and even though I don't care much for BHI, this bag offered the closest thing to an ideal solution to my needs.
 
I have half a dozen eagle cases. Make sure the zipper is padded. Shoulder straps should be of high quality. Very few cases I have seen are that way. After all the primary purpose is transport, not storage so the strap should be a primary concern. The mag pockets are nice, although I am not a fan of the velcro. The gear pocket on my eagles should have depth to it so I can cram more junk in there. An Inch of so would be great. The way it is now is just two peices of fabric stiched together with a zipper in the top layer. I know it is a lot more work but true sides on it would give it alot more versitility (they do have sides like this on their shotgun cases). Descreet is fine, but I couldn't care either way. Well maybe I take that back. I like having the pockets for other junk on the outside. I generally don't have room to lay out the case and open it all the way up at the range to get to an interior pocket. If the descreet case still had outside pockets that would be fine in my book. I could care less about pals webbing anywhere on it. I am not carrying it into combat I am carrying it to combat, or the range or whatever.
 
I could care less about pals webbing anywhere on it. I am not carrying it into combat I am carrying it to combat, or the range or whatever.
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I don't see the connection. PALS is a way to attach and remove various pockets and pouches to a surface. It's an organizational method, not a combat system.

PALS webbing throughout the interior of the pack would provide attachments for the weapon securing straps, as well as being able to arrange the pocket configuration around different weapon types. The locations of the pockets can help support the weapon inside the case.
 
I am certainly not discounting your preferance for it but I don't have a use for it. I don't need it modular. I bet 95% of peoples webbing systems are never shifted around. They use them more for putting the pouches (on vests and backpacks) where they want them more than for being able to change them out. On a rifle case I don't need to move them around for assesibility or confort and I am always going to have the same gear in there. Granted that may be different gear than you or anyone else (this is where I can see a use for taking on and off pockets But I can usually get buy with what is provided). By the time you make a discreet case with pals webbing on the inside or out and good padding you are in the 75 dollar range, if not more. Then you add 3 or so pals pockets now your getting close to 150 bucks for a soft case. I don't see myself spending that on a soft case, or ever moving pockets. For me sturdy and rugged is the most important. I don't need it set up or the ability to set it up exactly any certain way as I am just going to pull the rifle out of it and leave it behind anyway.

In regards to the pockets around the weapon, I would just put them on the outside for my needs, as I expressed in my first post. I rather not dig around on the interior of the case. In regards to the pockets helping support the weapon, that certainly is true, but I think it would be limited for my use as the case always lays on its side not up and down. I probally wouldn't buy a case with pockets on the inside, I wouldn't pay extra for modular capability becuase I will never use it. I guess I just don't need the modular ability for a peice of gear used in garrison.
 
I use a Blackhawk for a couple guns. I like the weight of the material and the construction, but it could improved abit. The cases need a couple more inches of height around the mag area- putting the gun up with a mag makes it kinda tight when zippering the case up.

The front pocket could use an extra inch or two in depth- when you stash your possibles, it binds.

The mag pouches also need some extra space. They fit standard AR mags well, but Thermolds and Orlites need some more room. G-36 mags, too, for that matter.

Something that would be nice- add a spot in the front pouch to carry a small optic or sight handle, like a padded pouch. That would be nice for those that carry one or the other and not having to worry about it or tie up a mag pouch carrying it.
 
I bet 95% of peoples webbing systems are never shifted around.
Click to expand...

Like I said though there is the 5% who need something perfectly set up for their needs.
Click to expand...

87% of statistics are made up. 95% of people make them up because 99% of statements made sound better with 5% more numbers randomly insterted in them. ;) :D

Seriously, though, most people won't shift the pockets. It's the ability to arrange them the way you want in the first place that's appealing. Oh yeah, you can always shift them if you want.

By the time you make a discreet case with pals webbing on the inside or out and good padding you are in the 75 dollar range probally if not more. Then you add 3 or so pals pockets now your getting close to 150 bucks for a soft case.
Click to expand...

Not a problem. I'm not looking for another cookie-cutter tactical black gunshow special. The Eagle cases retail for over $100 and they are about as cookie cutter as they get, but durable. The BHI case that I've got retails for something like $125. I'm willing to pay for a single case that will fit all my needs. I have a closet full of cases. I want just one.

Obviously a single case won't appeal to everyone. If I was going to try to break into a market where everyone makes a case that looks exactly the same, and you can buy cheap chinese knockoffs for $15, I'd want to make a case that was different. It's all in the details.
 
>> Discreet design a plus
> Not a plus... a necessity.

I agree - one of my rifle cases is a soft-sided golf travel bag, for this very reason.
 
Ah yes, In addition to the plain brown wrapper look I think min. height should accomodate a carry handle gun with optics and an inserted mag.
 
Another random thought. The shoulder strap should both connect at the ends of the bag for the people who prefer it that way and maybe a 1 ft towards the center from each end. When you throw it over your shoulder with the strap streched out all the way to the end tend to slip off the shoulder and alot of other akwardness in carrying it on the shoulder.

Techbrute - I did say "I bet", I of course was not trying to pass it off as the results of some study. Certainly a Pals covered case would fit a nitch since eagle discontinued their pals covered discreet case, maybe they shouldn't have put the pals on the outside.
 
I have an black Uncle Mike’s Assault Case from way back in the day. It gets the job done, but I have a few issues with it. First, it looks like a gun case.:what:

Next, Velcro is no good for outside pockets. Unless you have 2x 30 rounders in each mag pocket, there’s a chance that anything else in there will fall out. Same thing with bellows pockets.

If I could design the dream case, it would be semi-hardsided (i.e nylon material on the outside, but with a stiff plastic liner insert between the external nylon and the interior padding), but still be able to be folded in half (for storage purposes). The inserts won’t allow the gun to print, either.

No exterior pockets at all. Inside pockets/straps only. Thicker is better, looks more like a keyboard.

Bagmaster’s Heavy Weapons Case is the right shape, but there’s a lot of unused space on the inside, and the available colors yell “Hey, gun over here!â€

Ditto Techbrute’s comments on the zipper. Make ‘em beefy but quiet. Include some extra 550 cord.
Ditto Navyjoe’s comments on shoulder straps in a backpack style. Make ‘em sturdy but soft.

Make ‘em in a medium gray color…I’m ok with looking like some nouveau hippie keyboard player if I don’t get noticed. (Sub)Urban blending is necessary!
 
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