Gift-giving season is here. Your better half told you to get them a nice new hard case for their favorite deer rifle — or maybe you, yourself, asked your significant other for the same. But the market’s saturated with loads of not-so-good gun cases. Lots of ’em are cheap: They flex and bow underweight, their latches break, and they don’t seal well against the elements. Many are bulky and big, too, making them annoying to transport.
Gun Storage Coverage on AllOutdoor
- AllOutdoor Review – Savior Equipment Fiddle Master “Violin” Gun Case
- Condition1 Gun/Gear Cases: Hard-Shell Protection, Unusual Value
- Do-It-Yourself Project (DIY) – Custom Gun Case Foam Replacement
- AllOutdoor Review: KOR Gun Case Liner – Super-Protective, Like No Other
SKB iSeries Single Rifle Case
I humbly posit the iSeries Single Rifle Case from SKB to be one of the best “skinny” hard gun cases available. It’s one helluva hard case for the price (about $160). Let’s throw a long gun in it and take a closer look.
Specs n’ Features
- Injection-molded resin shell
- Heavy-duty spring latches
- Metal-reinforced padlock locations
- Over-molded, folding carry handle
- Ambient pressure relief valve
- IP67 & MIL-STD-648C rated
- MIL-STD-C-4150J rated
- MIL-STD-810F rated
Measurements
- Interior Length: 49″
- Interior Width: 9″
- Interior Depth: 5″
- Case Length: 51″
- Case Width: 12.25″
- Case Depth: 6.5″
- Case Weight: 14.06 Lb
The iSeries’ biggest selling point is its length and overall “toughness.” It has one of the nicer shells I’ve seen on a budget-minded gun case; it’s not exactly a Pelican Vault, but it’s honestly damn close and, if you take a closer look at the specs above, you’ll see it’s been subjected to some proper impact, water, and other testing to meet certain “MIL” standards for hard-sided gun storage.
MIL-STD-648C standards define ruggedized shipping containers used by the armed forces, while MIL-STD-C-4150J governs waterproof cases used in transit. MIL-STD-810F covers environmental or “field” material testing, so you can be pretty confident the iSeries Case is properly waterproof and capable of handling some abuse on your frequent range trips or off-road excursions.
Outside, things are unassuming. But there a few notables to briefly mention: the hinges sport some over-molded casting that double as free-standing feet, allowing the case to rest upright on its own.
The interior of the case is also ventilated with a one-way pressure relief valve to ensure the O-rings sealing the case don’t pop or fail from altitude or pressure changes. I also like that the shells can be locked with two padlocks. Even higher quality plastic hard cases can be pried open if they’re only secured in one or two locations. The iSeries’ metal-reinforced padlock holes are dispersed across the length of the case, providing some actual security against prying. By the way, the iSeries – when equipped with appropriate locks – is TSA-approved for air travel with a firearm.
The latches securing the two halves of the case are quite nice. They’re snappy and feel solid, without any wiggly bits. They don’t feel cheap, and they clamp with enough force to keep the two shells shut tight, even with a decent amount of weight inside. I was able to easily shove about 20 pounds’ worth of rifle and ammo into the foam without issue. Speaking of foam: the iSeries is optioned with either egg crate foam on the top and bottom, or high-density cut foam on the bottom half with egg crate on top.
I prefer the cut foam bottom, since I like to size the interior of the case for each piece of kit and whatever rifle or long gun I’m storing. Cutting the foam out also gives a bit more volume for whatever you’re storing inside, too – but either option provides more than enough cushion to protect your long gun and any optics from damage. Overall, the iSeries keeps things compact and thin, so you’ll probably have a tough time fitting any AR-type rifle inside this case, if it’s equipped with an optic. Upon removing my .308 AR’s glass and magazine, I was able to squeeze it in with about an inch to spare on either side. So, while you can fit tactical rifles in here, the iSeries is intended for bolt guns and deer rifles, or your favorite hunting shotgun.
SKB iSeries Case: What’s Not to Like?
Sure, product reviews can be biased, but I have no qualms with calling out the foibles in any firearm case – but the SKB iSeries really is one helluva great rifle case, especially for the price. There’s at least on anecdote floating around on the internet from a gentleman whose iSeries case fell off the back of a truck on a dirt road in Arizona, got ran over, and not only managed to stay in one piece, but completely protected his rifle inside while only suffering minor damage to one of the hinges.
Perhaps the only complaint folks may have been the case’s overall “skinny” dimensions – but again, this is intended for bolt guns, not box mag-fed tacticool kit. And the skinnier profile of the iSeries actually contributes to its strength. There’s less surface area across either shell, which adds rigidity and strength to both the hinges, seals, and latches. Less flex means better protection of the gun stuff inside. Now, if you’re looking for a wicked cool gun case that’s short and fat – for those pistols or SBRs – then check out our review of the Fiddle Master “Violin” Case from Savior Equipment. Or if you’re looking for a more affordable, simple soft case, see our coverage of Galco’s Field Grade Zipper Case.
The post AllOutdoor Review – The SKB iSeries Single Rifle Case appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.
