Cutting Pelican case foam... Wise or Retarded?

[F-Trooper05]

What's everyone's thoughts on this, specifically for long guns? I see where it's nice to have all your crap organized, and it probably makes closing your case a little easier, but it also prevents you from being able to randomly throw in a bunch of stuff on a whim (IE: if you pick up something new when your traveling, and you want to throw it in your case).

So should I do this, or would I just be wasting my time and/or foam?

[Alaskapopo]

What's everyone's thoughts on this, specifically for long guns? I see where it's nice to have all your crap organized, and it probably makes closing your case a little easier, but it also prevents you from being able to randomly throw in a bunch of stuff on a whim (IE: if you pick up something new when your traveling, and you want to throw it in your case).

So should I do this, or would I just be wasting my time and/or foam?

I cut it to fit. You can also get new foam if needed.
Pat

[rob_s]

I did it, and regret it to this day. I think the case has left the house maybe twice. I don't fly though, so if you're looking for something airline safe I'm not the guy.

I prefer to just have top and bottom foam and use the compression to hold it all in place. And by "it all" I mean the gun(s). I'm not a fan of trying to shove mags, ammo, alternative optics, bipeds, lights, lasers, etc. in the case. Tried that with my cutting adventure too and it's part of why I regret doing it.

[Dave J]

The arrangement that I currently prefer is to remove one or two layers of foam and then put a soft case inside the Pelican case. The Pelican flies or goes in the trunk, but need not be lugged to the firing line.

I did cut one for a bolt gun once, and it's worked OK, but my ARs keep changing shape every few years.

[Le Français]

I'm not a fan of trying to shove mags, ammo, alternative optics, bipeds, lights, lasers, etc. in the case.

If you're trying to shove bipeds into your gun case, you're doing it wrong.

[shootist26]

I'm about to buy my first pelican rifle case and thought long and hard about this topic.

My thought is that cutting the foam would result in a single use case. Given it's price, I want my pelican to be useful for all my long guns, so I'm thinking about either #1) ordering it without any foam (and sticking those cheapo $15 soft rifle cases in there), or #2) simply stick the rifles on the uncut foam and close the case on them.

For option #2, am I going to be able to close the case on an AR15 with scope and side mounted flashlight) if I don't remove the middle layer of foam?

[TheRoland]

For option #2, am I going to be able to close the case on an AR15 with scope and side mounted flashlight) if I don't remove the middle layer of foam?

Probably not, depending on the flashlight.

[orionz06]

I am weird, I would get new foam from some local joint and have that foam cut however leaving the OEM foam in tact. I would also likely never sell it and spend years moving the original foam around but never wanting to cut it thinking it had some strange value.

[MDS]

If you're trying to shove bipeds into your gun case, you're doing it wrong.

Without knowing how many bodies you've had to dispose of, I can't tell if your serious. Let's just say rob_s has reason to believe the Pelican plastic stands up to a good scrubbing with bleach... ;)

[Tamara]

If you do cut the foam in the case, do it the way I did: Look incompetent with an Exacto and see if your roommate steps in to take over.

[shootist26]

and against the advice of many, I decided to cut my middle layer of foam with a knife. I can fit my AR, M9, and three mags each, plus a little pocket for some cleaning gear/lube. Theoretically, for the rifle/pistol class that I would theoretically take and need to fly out for sometime in the future...:rolleyes:

It does look like shit. I don't even know why I did it? Maybe because I'm just bored as hell.

[WDW]

Lay the guns in there & touch the foam up with a sharp knife

[Suvorov]

I did. I wish I didn't do it. :(

[Dave J]

The trick to getting a clean cut, in my experience, is to use a long blade, like a filet or boning knife, and use long strokes. The foam will dull the knife quickly, so be prepared to touch up the edge periodically while you're working.

[Maple Syrup Actual]

I am weird, I would get new foam from some local joint and have that foam cut however leaving the OEM foam in tact. I would also likely never sell it and spend years moving the original foam around but never wanting to cut it thinking it had some strange value.

This is an amazing comment...I don't know if everyone relates to this and it's a great description of something everyone goes through or I have just had very similar experiences but this absolutely encapsulates something I believe to be a very human experience.

[Archimagirus]

I'll pick up a case with customizable foam and swear I am going to leave it be. Then the next time Grosse Pointe Blank comes on, and it gets to the scene in the hotel room where he pulls his little black case of death out, and I find myself reaching for the sharpest knife I have and the above mentioned case. Thankfully, these occurrences are rare, and I choose cheaper cases.

[dbateman]

I have cut some but I also have a spare bit of foam to put in if I am using it for other stuff.

[Not HighSpeed]

This is an amazing comment...I don't know if everyone relates to this and it's a great description of something everyone goes through or I have just had very similar experiences but this absolutely encapsulates something I believe to be a very human experience.

Is that why I keep my empty Noveske box in a closet?!


While I don't have a Pelican case, last year I picked up a rifle case with the perforated foam for fitting rifles in them and totally went through the process of what goes where in regards to my rifle, G19, 2 mags for each, extra batteries for x300s and XPS and a place for the detached sling. Finally happy, with where everything would go, I took my time to make sure I didn't remove too many and made it look good. Did a test fit with everything in place felt great about what I did and then suddenly got hit with the whole "Should I have done that to the foam?" feelings of remorse.

[Slavex]

I let my gear sit in the foam with the case closed for a year or so, then when it's taken the shape of the guns I'll trim it to fit. Then usually a few months later I regret it. I've also had custom cases built for rifles and had the shop custom cut the foam. My buddy Steve at Prairie Gun Works gets all their foam waterjet cut to a CAD drawing. Not really an option for the lay person, but man it does a great job.

I also keep every box for everything I buy gun wise or electronic wise. I only get rid of the box when I get rid of the item. Luckily I've got lots of room for all that crap, although my office is starting to get the hoarder feel to it.

[Nate]

I definitely cut mine. The only problem is about 20 minutes after I laid out everything carefully, made sure it'd fit, carefully cut each section out and fitted everything perfectly, I realized that I should have made a spot for my spotting scope since my glasses and sights already live in nice mini-pelican cases and would fare far better in my luggage than my spotting scope. (But, a little extra cutting, and I can fit either the sights/glasses or my spotting scope) If the foam were still in the case, I wouldn't have space to fit everything, plus, the case will be used for air travel (it worked great going to Phoenix this fall), so the extra protection from cutting to fit is very much worth it for me.

Oh, I should probably specify that this was a Starlight case, the huge 8"x14"x54" interior dimensions.

[orionz06]

I let my gear sit in the foam with the case closed for a year or so, then when it's taken the shape of the guns I'll trim it to fit. Then usually a few months later I regret it. I've also had custom cases built for rifles and had the shop custom cut the foam. My buddy Steve at Prairie Gun Works gets all their foam waterjet cut to a CAD drawing. Not really an option for the lay person, but man it does a great job.

I also keep every box for everything I buy gun wise or electronic wise. I only get rid of the box when I get rid of the item. Luckily I've got lots of room for all that crap, although my office is starting to get the hoarder feel to it.

I feel less weird now.


Fwiw I can get a line drawing to cut foam for anyone if they need it, just need a tracing.

[Slavex]

The fact I recognize it is hoarder like means I'm not a hoarder right?

[orionz06]

As someone who just got out the box for a camera purchased in 2006 and has been moved to 4 different residencies since then, no, you are not a hoarder.

:packs up new lens and camera boxes: