Best Gun Cases (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023

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A gun case is the best way to safely and securely transport a firearm. You can get a hard case for air travel, a soft case for range use, or maybe a discreet case if you’re the roaming Desperado type. There are so many options, styles, and features to choose from, so finding the best gun case can be challenging. To help you out, we packed up our guns, pretended like we wanted to travel, and found the best gun cases available today.

Best Overall: Pelican 1745 Air Long Case
Best Value: Savior American Classic
Honorable Mention: Plano AW2 Gun Case
Best Rifle Case: Pelican Vault Series
Best Shotgun Case: Tanglefree Flight Series
Best Pistol Case: Seahorse SE 630 4 Pistol Case

Methodology

At Task & Purpose, the majority of our review team are either current or former servicemen or hobbyists like me who work in related professions. I’m a former law enforcement officer and lifelong hunter. No matter our profession, we are serious about gear, especially when it comes to gun stuff. We recognize the importance of gun safety and ease of use. We take this approach when we talk about holsters, optics, gun safes, and now gun cases.

For this guide, I surveyed military personnel, hunters, and other law enforcement officers about the gun cases they use and why. Considering their opinions and my own experiences, I found the best gun cases based on price point, durability, and overall performance in the field — in other words, what I’d want in a gun case.

Looking for the best gun cases, I searched for the highest-rated and best-selling options by the most popular gun case manufacturers and sellers. After identifying a list of top-tier gun cases, I narrowed my search by reading performance and user reviews.

When I reviewed performance, I paid close attention to performance and price. I relied on user reviews published on ecommerce sites like Amazon, reviews on independent websites, and my personal experience with the item. If you want to learn more about our review process, check out the Task & Purpose review guidelines.

Best Overall

Pelican 1745 Air Long Case

Pros

Rugged design and structure
Internal storage allows two rifles and other accessories
Pick and Pluck foam allows you to customize the perfect fit for your gun
TSA-approved

Cons

Heavy empty weight without weapons
Higher price point than others
Larger dimensions than most other cases

Product Specs

Case type: Hard case
Material: Polyethylene
Locking: Yes
Purge valve: Yes

Best Value

Savior American Classic

Pros

Internal padded sleeves for weapon protection
Lockable external zippers
Lightweight design
External MOLLE webbing for extra attachments

Cons

Lacks protection from blunt force
Lack of external security compared to hard shell cases
Weapon likely to shift while in travel compared to a foam insert

Product Specs

Case type: Soft case
Material: PVC nylon
Locking: Lockable zippers
Purge valve: No

Honorable Mention

Plano AW2 Gun Case

Pros

Rugged design and structure
Internal storage allows one rifle and several accessories
Pluck-To-Fit foam allows optimal customization
Approved for air travel by the TSA

Cons

Weak latches
Weak hinges

Product Specs

Case type: Hard case
Material: Polyethylene
Locking: Yes
Purge valve: Yes

Best Rifle Case

Pelican Vault Series

Pros

Practically indestructible external shell
Dust proof and purge valve to keep out moisture
Terrific foam for shock absorption

Cons

Foam is not as snug as some cases (cuttable foam is an additional cost)
Heavy empty weight

Product Specs

Case type: Hard case
Material: Polyethylene
Locking: Yes
Purge valve: Yes

Best Shotgun Case

Tanglefree Flight Series

Pros

Light yet durable design
Cell foam padding for added protection of your shotgun
Will float in water when 12 pounds or less

Cons

Lacks protection to hard falls and crushing to the case
Lacks the ability to be packable (folding into a smaller size)

Product Specs

Case type: Soft case
Material: Polyester
Locking: No
Purge valve: No

Best Pistol Case

Seahorse SE 630 4 Pistol Case

Pros

Rugged hinges and latches (that other cases lack)
Internal storage allows 4 handguns,12 magazines, and ammo
Crush, water, and dust protection

Cons

Higher price point than other pistol cases
One foam insert for all cases
High cost

Product Specs

Case type: Hard case
Material: Polyethylene
Locking: Yes
Purge valve: No

What to consider when buying gun cases

There are currently several different types of gun cases on the market today. Each gun case has its own features and benefits to assist you in keeping your weapons secure and safe. Gun cases are made with a polymer, nylon, or sometimes metal exterior with an internal padding system, whether that be foam or a different type of padding to keep the weapons safe.

Types of gun cases

While gun cases are sized to fit specific firearm types like handguns or long guns, they’re organized by the materials used to make the case, the number of guns it can hold, and whether it looks like a gun case.

Hard shell case

A hard gun case offers the most protection out of all the types of gun cases. They’re constructed from either metal or a durable polymer shell, and the interior is lined with foam padding. Together, they protect the contents from environmental threats and impact. Compared to a soft case, a hard case is bulkier, but it’s a must if you plan on traveling with a firearm.

Soft shell case

A soft shell gun case is meant for quick access and flexibility, such as range or hunting trips. They’re made out of materials like nylon, polyester, and leather with some padding. Additionally, soft cases offer a range of storage options. You can find simple designs that just carry a gun and others with multiple pockets for magazines and other gear.

Multi-gun case

A multi-gun case is not limited to being a hard or soft shell, but rather a design that’s large enough to carry multiple firearms.

Discreet gun case

Gun cases that don’t look like gun cases are growing in popularity. More often than not, they’re referred to as discreet gun cases. Sometimes they’re shaped like a guitar case, violin case, tennis bag, or just a backpack.

Key features of a gun case

Materials

The type of materials used to make a gun case depends entirely on the type of case. Hard gun cases use either metal or polymer for the exterior and foam padding for the interior. Soft gun cases come in nylon, polymer, or leather with some cushion lining the interior.

TSA compliance

If you want to travel by plane with your firearm, you’ll need a case that complies with standards set by the Transportation Security Administration. According to TSA rules, your firearm needs to be packed in a locked hard-sided container. That translates as a hard-sided case that you can secure with a lock like a padlock.

Pricing for gun cases

Gun cases are priced all over the place. For less than $25, you’ll find simple designs like a handgun pouch or plastic box, and lightly padded cases for long guns.

At $25 to $100, you’ll find more storage space, better quality materials, and more features. However, you may need to sacrifice one or two characteristics for the other. Typically, you’ll be able to find a decent quality single-gun case.

If you spend $100 or more, you won’t have to make many sacrifices, or you’re paying for something highly specialized like a discreet gun case or high-end materials.

FAQs about gun cases

You’ve got questions. Task & Purpose has answers.

Q: What type of gun cases are TSA-approved?

A: If you plan to travel with a firearm, the TSA requires you use a lockable hard-sided case. They also require that you check the bag and store ammunition separately. See the TSA guidelines here.