Have you used a hardshell rifle case as a guitar case?

[3-Chord-Genius]

I have a Heritage H-140, which is a guitar of odd dimensions - not as large as a Les Paul, so it would rattle around in a Les Paul case; does not fit in my Gretsch Pro Jet case; does fit into my stratocaster case, but it's loose and flops around a little, plus due to the back angled headstock, the end of the headstock rests against the case which is not good. One good thump and.. crack!!

I could order a case from Heritage but I don't feel like taking out a second mortgage. I was in Walmart today and noticed several hardshell rifle cases that were slightly too small, but were only about $30 each, with the foam interior and everything. This led me to figure that there are probably slightly larger cases that would fit that guitar for around $40.

Are any of you. or have any of you, used a molded rifle case as a guitar case?

 

[Art VanDelay]

The thing about a gun case is the size difference. Think about the width of a rifle and scope vs your strat sized body width. You would probably need a double scoped rifle case.

Would it work? If it fit then most definitely. A word of caution though, a lot of gun cases are junk made to store a deer rifle under your bed...not even tough enough for a truck bed.

Think Pelican, SKB, or Cabelas brand.

 

[noah330]

The Lane Poor basses came in modified gun cases. Killer basses.

 

[telemnemonics]

He he, I did make a guitar case to fit in a backpack years ago with a soft rifle case for just the neck, which stuck out of the top of the backpack, and got me lots of unwanted attention while traveling.

 

[kuvash]

Had the same idea a few years back and had a case so it looked promising but didn't quite make it so I kept looking but could never find one quite big enough but I think it's still a good idea myself.

 

[3-Chord-Genius]

I could be wrong, but it looks like guns cases are less expensive for their size relative to guitar cases. It might be the same reason that walnuts are cheaper by weight if you buy them in the baking aisle than if you were to buy them in the snack aisle.

 

[soulgeezer]

Would a rifle case be deep enough? I’m thinking that might be the deal breaker.

 

[JuneauMike]

Weird, thought that was my secret.

Yes, I have. I've got a hard shell plastic case that is designed to carry either two rifles or a compound bow. It works just fine in a pinch. And I think it was cheaper than a hard shell guitar case.

 

[Ebidis]

No, but I use a soft guitar case as a rifle case.

 

[theprofessor]

My buddy uses a hardshell plastic gun case for his Jazz bass. I think it just barely fits, but they're WAY cheaper than guitar cases.

 

[bluesky1963]

Weird, thought that was my secret.

Yes, I have. I've got a hard shell plastic case that is designed to carry either two rifles or a compound bow. It works just fine in a pinch. And I think it was cheaper than a hard shell guitar case.

This. Double rife should be wide enough, although you'd have to cut your own foam and re-line it. I've seen some fancier rifle cases that really aren't too far from a guitar case, but I expect those would be cost prohibitive.

 

[Art VanDelay]

Would a rifle case be deep enough? I’m thinking that might be the deal breaker.

No archtops that's for sure, but a flat strat/tele would be fine in most gun cases. You would need to use the "pick & pluck" foam (ie - small perforated cubes of foam).

 

[Art VanDelay]

I could be wrong, but it looks like guns cases are less expensive for their size relative to guitar cases. It might be the same reason that walnuts are cheaper by weight if you buy them in the baking aisle than if you were to buy them in the snack aisle.

That depends. My $30 Plano rifle case (I use it for a pellet gun) is clearly made of recycled milk jugs and not suitable for any amount of impact.

A $300 SKB/Pelican case could probably be driven over by a car and sustain minimal damage.

 

[Alamo]

Seems like El Mariachi backwards, no?

 

[JuneauMike]

That depends. My $30 Plano rifle case (I use it for a pellet gun) is clearly made of recycled milk jugs and not suitable for any amount of impact.

I think mine is not much better than the Plano that you describe, the price sure looks like its in the ballpark. And no, I wouldn't take it on a plane, but I'd feel ok about putting it in the back seat and transporting my gear in it. They probably land somewhere between a nice hard shell case and a chipboard case in durability.

It also is good for solid body guitars and not acoustics, because of the depth. Basically it's two equally deep halves of a clam shell so the guitar sits in it differently than in a hard shell case where you've got the cargo pan, and a padded cover just drops over the top.

But it gets the job done in a pinch and serves two purposes (good for space).

 

[ebb soul]

For the headless basses I make, yes.

 

[985plowboy]

Why not
If it fits go for it
Pelican case probably cost dang near as much as a guitar case.

 

[TC6969]

No, but I use a soft guitar case as a rifle case.

Me too!

I dont even own a rifle case.

You walk down the street with a rifle case and Ray Charles would know what it was.

Walk down the street with a guitar case and no one gives you a second look.

 

[mstan72]

I've got an old hardshell Kustom brand guitar case...that I carry something else in.

 

[blowtorch]

I've had the thought of using bow cases for larger guitars like explorers