We took a Pelican 1700 for a spin over the last 90 days to review, and it updated my opinion on hard cases.
Hard cases felt like a good idea when I first started my gun collection. Quickly I built a corner of my office that is dedicated to all my assorted sized cases. I seldom used them preferring lighter, collapsible soft cases for most of my uses. Though I do heavily rely on the smaller ones for magazines and pistols when traveling through Il and NY.
As I travel more and spend time in the firearms community my interest in hard cases was rekindled. A trip to PAK Rite in Wixom where Morgan showed me some of the excellent organizational ideas they had developed for the Pelican line of cases. If you’re a fan of custom cases, Pelican cases with Pak Rite (https://www.thepelicancaseoutlet.com/) foam are a must have.
The next thing that happened was the need to travel with a rifle for a class out of state via airplane. A locking secure transportation was a requirement of that course. Having wheels and an easy way to transport equipment was an incredibly nice plus. Pelican cases offer very sturdy locking tabs and with reinforced padlock holes you can meet TSA travel requirements. For those of us who are overly cautious driving through Il and NY with weapons, these cases exceed the requirements of interstate travel and should offer some protection should you be stopped during transit through the state. Your mileage may vary, and we make no legal advice in these regards.
- Watertight, crushproof, and dustproof
- Easy open Double Throw latches
- Open cell core with solid wall design – strong, light weight
- O-ring seal
- Automatic Pressure Equalization Valve – balances interior pressure, keeps water out
- Fold down side handle
- Strong polyurethane wheels with stainless steel bearings
- Stainless steel hardware and padlock protectors
- 3-piece foam set
- BODY: Polypropylene
- LATCH: ABS
- O-RING: Polymer
- PINS: Stainless Steel
- FOAM: 1.3 lb Polyurethane
- PURGE BODY: ABS
- PURGE VENT: 3 Micron Hydrophobic Non-Woven
- PURGE O-RING: 70 Shore Nitrile
- TOTAL DEPTH: 5.25″ (13.3 cm)
- INT VOLUME: 1.47 ft³ (0.042 m³)
- WEIGHT WITH FOAM: 16.98 lbs (7.7 kg)
- BUOYANCY: 136.91 lbs (62.1 kg)
- MINIMUM TEMPERATURE: -40° F (-40 ° C)
- MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE: 210° F (99 ° C)
- WHEELS: 2
Science Decoded:
These cases are designed for temperature ranges that will make an EOTech miss a barn. While -40 to 210 is not a common range you would be surprised the variations in storage compartments traveling from Detroit to Vegas.
The built in vents allow for the release of excess pressure without allowing water or contaminates into the case. I have been testing this with a Pelican 1010 holding ammo in my car for the last year. From warm summers to cold winters, the case and the ammo have held up magnificently.
On The Range
Michigan seldom has perfect weather. Often training takes place in snow (even in April) and rain. Soft bags are less than ideal when you’re heading to a class that is wet. Being able to set out a hard case that you can simply wipe down before stowing back in your truck makes for a much better experience and leads to less moisture in your vehicle.
The 1700 specifically offers a rolling cart solution making transport from vehicle to range an easy trip. With room for a carbine, handgun and magazines in the Pelican 1700, which leaves you with only a range bag with ammo and ear pro to carry.
Product Support
Pelican offers a Lifetime limited warranty on all its products. Pelican will replace or repair any part or item broken for the lifetime of the product. That is HUGE. One of the reasons they can do this is because they are making a high-quality product here in the USA that was designed to meet or exceed military standards. You can find posts around the web praising the customer service in the rare incidents people have had an issue with their case.
Configurability
The Pelican 1700 case is ideal for so many because it’s a blank slate that can fit a lot. When you look at cutting the foam you have a myriad of options on how much gear can fit in. Because carbine classes and travel usually dictate a single AR and pistol my configuration focuses on those with spare mags for each as well as a sling and optic. That does not mean that is what you need to do with it. I have seen the 1700 configured with a single lower and multiple uppers for example.
Conclusion
Pelican is a Mil-spec container for a reason. Sensitive equipment from just about every part of the private sector is stored in these cases for a reason. More competitive shooters use Pelican than any other case for a reason. If you’re looking for a way to keep your gear dry and secure Pelican should be at the top of your list. You can buy Pelican Cases in a wide range of sizes and prices from your local authorized Pelican dealer or online via Amazon here.
Source Article from http://248shooter.com/index.php/pelican-1700-review/
