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Shotgun cases protect your smoothbore. No matter how you travel, your gun should be in a case to protect it from the inevitable dings and bumps along the way. Some states have legal requirements about when a gun must be cased in a vehicle, and any gun you take on a plane or a train must be in a hard-sided, locking case.
Not every gun case works in every situation. You may need more than one to keep your guns shielded from all the hazards of travel. There’s a case to protect any shotgun during any mode of travel, whether it’s a short drive to the gun club or a trip through a muddy field on the back of a four-wheeler. Any time you hit the road, you’ll want to keep your gun safe inside one of the best shotgun cases out there.
Best Overall: Pelican IM3300 Storm Long Case
Best Value: Flambeau Outdoors Double Coverage Long Gun Case
Best Floating: Drake Waterfowl Side-Opening Gun Case
Best for Sporting Clays: Browning Encino II Takedown Shotgun Case
Best Hybrid: Plano Stealth EVA Long Gun Case
Best Overall: Pelican IM3300 Storm Long Case
Specs
Weight: 20 pounds
Material: HPX resin, foam interior
Capacity: One long gun up to 52 inches
Pros
Tough, resilient exterior
Seals to keep out moisture and dirt
Wheels for easy transport
Floats
Cons
Heavy for plastic
May be too bulky for bush planes
The industry standard in plastic cases for years, Pelican cases seal so tightly they need to have a built-in pressure relief valve so they can open easily. Made from tough HPX resin, the Storm case is built to fall from conveyor belts, bounce in pickup beds and even go overboard. It has four padlock-able hasps and five latches to ensure your gun is still inside the case when you reach your destination. Three soft-grip handles and small wheels at one end make it easy to transport. The soft foam cushions your shotgun to prevent it from being banged up in the case. The largest model will accommodate semi-auto target guns with 30-inch barrels and extended chokes or 34-inch O/Us.
Best Value: Flambeau Outdoors Double Coverage Long Gun Case
Specs
Weight: 13 pounds
Material: Two layers of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), foam interior, Zerust treatment
Capacity: One long gun up to 47.5 inches
Pros
Sturdy double-layer protection
Zerust inhibits corrosion
Lockable for air travel
Cons
Will not hold long target shotguns
Flambeau has been making plastic products in northeast Ohio since 1948, and while generations of anglers have depended on Flambeau tackle boxes to protect their lures, the company makes solid gun cases as well. The Double Coverage case consists of inner and outer HDPE shells with an air space in between to protect your gun. Crush-proof posts separate the shells, and a thick foam lining surrounds your gun. The case has two locking points for padlocks and four latches. A gasket helps keep dirt and water out.
The case comes with a Zerust plaque that releases a harmless, non-toxic, odorless vapor that protects a gun from corrosion for up to five years. Don’t let the presence of Zerust make you think this is a good case for long-term storage. No hard case is, but it’s still worth having some rust protection on your side, as guns can corrode in a few hours in the right conditions. This case won’t fit your target gun but will hold a pump or semi-auto with a 28-inch barrel which is standard shotgun size.
Best Floating: Drake Waterfowl Side-Opening Gun Case
Specs
Capacity: Guns up to 51.5” (30-inch barreled semiauto with extended tube)
Material: Nylon exterior and an interior filled with padded flotation material
Closure: Velcro top and side closure, top snap
Pros
Floats
Quick-drying
Padded shoulder strap
Cons
Velcro will eventually let water in
Accessory Pocket too small
Floating gun cases are standard issue for waterfowlers. Their zipperless top openings are convenient and won’t scratch wooden stocks, but their biggest drawback is that it’s almost impossible to dry out or clean the inside. Drake’s unique take on this popular design features a full-length Velcro opening so you can air the case out or clean it if you’ve left a very muddy gun inside.
The padding protects your gun and doubles as flotation if it falls out of a boat while duck hunting. The tradeoff to the side-opening feature is that the case isn’t as fully water-tight as its competitors. So if you lost your gun overboard, it might be wet when you find it hours later. It features a comfortable padded strap and carry handle, and an accessory pocket, which is big enough to hold a choke tube and wrench but not much more. The top closes with both Velcro and a snap to keep your gun from falling out.
Best for Sporting Clays: Browning Encino II Takedown Shotgun Case
Specs
Weight: 10 pounds
Material: Vinyl-covered wood with plush interior
Capacity: Break action gun up to 34-inch barrel
Pros
Convenient size
Soft plush interior
Good looks
Cons
Not for air travel
Hard-working shotguns deserve to travel in pampered comfort, and Browning has offered these fitted luggage cases for years for just that purpose. Plush dividers separate compartments for the stock, barrel/forend, accessories and choke tubes, and the padded interior protects guns from bumps and bruises along the way. The faux-leather vinyl exterior with brass accents looks much more elegant than it should, in a throwback kind of way. Four hinges help the case open smoothly, and two locking clasps close it.
Although the case is hard-sided and locks and technically qualifies as TSA approve for air travel, this is not a case built for the hard knocks of carousels and conveyor belts at the airport. It’s made to be compact and good-looking, fit into any car trunk, and secure your gun at the range. Although designed with Browning guns in mind, it will fit any break-action target gun.
Best Hybrid: Plano Stealth EVA Long Gun Case
Specs
Weight: 5 pounds
Material: EVA shell, soft foam interior
Capacity: Shotgun with overall length of 52 inches
Pros
Light weight
Excellent protection
Lockable zippers
Cons
Not for air travel
No shoulder strap
“Hybrid gun case” is not a well-populated category, but it should be. Plano’s Stealth EVA case comes in very handy for the gun owner who wants a little more protection than a soft case offers. It’s lightweight, slim, compact, and lacks the rigid corners of most hard cases. Besides encasing your gun in soft, high-density foam inside, the case has double zippers that can be locked together to deter theft or curious hands.
The Stealth EVA case comes in a 52-inch shotgun size, which will hold a 34-inch single-barreled trap gun or a 30-inch barreled semi-auto. The 48-inch case is made for rifles but would hold any number of the shotgun shotguns in my cabinet. There’s also a 38-inch case for carbines and the like. While the Stealth EVA is not TSA-approved because it’s not hard-sided, it is highly useful otherwise, as I found during turkey season when I used it to transport my optic-mounted shotguns to the woods.
How We Tested Shotgun Cases
Having traveled around the country and abroad to hunt for the past 35 years, I have transported guns in planes, in cars, on ATVs, on horseback, in boats and on foot. The cases here all meet specific needs for different modes of transport.
I evaluated them all based on the following criteria:
Protection: A case needs sufficient padding, and it has to hold a gun immobile to prevent it from bouncing around.
Durability: Cases not only have to protect guns, they have to hold up to hard use themselves.
Capacity: Will it fit any shotgun? Is there room for accessories?
Mode of travel: Is the gun being transported by plane? Car? ATV? Foot?
Hard vs. soft: What type of case is ideal for different uses?
Value: Is it a good buy?
TSA approved: Can you take this case on a commercial flight?
What To Look for in a Shotgun Case
Be sure you’re following the law when you choose a case. Cases for air and Amtrak travel must be hard-sided and lockable. Choose padlocks rather than combination locks, as sometimes you’ll be asked to give the key to your case to a TSA agent. Some states require guns transported in a vehicle be stored in a closed case and a packable gun case makes cheap insurance against a citation.
A gun case is not the best place to store a gun in your home. They don’t breathe, and if you put your gun away from several months, say between hunting seasons, leave the case open or put a silica desiccant inside. Occasionally take the gun out for inspection and a wipe down with a lightly oiled cloth.
Be sure to choose the right length case for your gun. Measure from the butt to the end of any extended choke tubes, and add at least an inch and a half. That’s the internal dimension you’ll need. Shotguns with mounted optics or other accessories may not fit in shotgun cases and may require a rifle case. If you’re choosing a takedown model, measure to be sure it’s long enough to accommodate the gun’s barrel.
FAQs
Q: Do shotguns come with a case?
Many guns do come with a hard plastic case. Some of those cases are even lockable, but by and large, they are too flimsy to stand up to the abuses of air travel. Your gun will probably survive the trip, but the case may not, and you’ll be stuck without a case for the trip home. They do offer good protection for your gun on a road trip, and they make a handy place to keep accessories like choke tubes and maybe a bottle of oil, small rag, and a boresnake all together in one place.
Q: Can I put a shotgun in a rifle case?
You can put a shotgun in a rifle case if the case is long enough. Most shotguns other than turkey, home defense, and slug models have longer barrels than most rifles, and they may be too long to fit in a rifle case. On the other hand, if you mount an optic on your shotgun, or if it has a tactical pistol grip, it may not fit into soft cases designed for traditional shotguns. Then, a rifle case may be a better fit.
Q: Which is better, hard or soft case?
Whether you choose a hard or soft case depends on how you’re transporting your gun. A hard case offers better protection, but it adds bulk and weight you may not need if you’re planning to carry the gun in its case, say, to a duck blind.
Q: How much does a Pelican gun case cost?
Pelican cases are recognized as one of the best in the industry, and they come in several sizes, including takedown models and full-length cases that hold two guns. They range from around $200 to $400 depending on size, material, and features.
Final Thoughts
A gun is more than a tool of the hunt, although it is definitely an indispensable part of any trip. It also might be an heirloom and a treasured possession. Choosing the best shotgun case for your needs helps keep that gun intact. We chose Pelican cases as our top choice because of their solid construction and reputation. They’re also super versatile—you can use them for airplane, boat, or back-of-the-pickup travel.
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
