Just in Case

posted on April 29, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
feature_image_just_in_case-500x266.jpg

Joe Kurtenbach of American Rifleman is about to embark on his adventure of a lifetime: hunting plains game at the Maroi Conservancy on the Limpopo River in South Africa. Several days ago Joe came to me asking if we had any tough cases lying around which he could use to pack some gear in for Africa. As luck would have it, I happened to have a Pelican case in the vault and the correct length to accommodate a set of PH Series shooting sticks from J&B Pro Outfitters.

I mentioned to Joe we should take the time to modify the case foam for his gear, considering the airlines treat luggage like a 3 year old does a bag of skittles. With a few sharp knives, marker, measuring stick and 10 minutes of our time we were able to recess the two S&W Performance Center revolvers (.460 S&W and .500 S&W) with mounted EOTech Holographic sights as well as a set of Weaver 10.5X 45mm Super Slam binoculars and not to mention the PH Series shooting sticks fit about as snug as a bug in a rug.

Of course we couldn’t leave well enough alone; part of our job here is to test stuff, as you may see in the picture, fully packed with gear, we took the liberty of dropping the case from chest height. Upon opening the case we noticed nothing different from when we originally closed it. It looks like our work is done and Joe is ready for South Africa, except, we forgot to make a spot for his pen. At any rate…Good Luck Joe!

When taking on a task of this nature take your time and carve little by little until you achieve a perfect fit-you can’t grow more foam, unless you know something I don’t.

Latest

9X18 Makarov
9X18 Makarov

Shooting Surplus: Finding Affordable Mil-Surp Ammo in 2026

Today, the market for mil-surp ammo is vastly different than it was even just a few years ago. If you're a military-surplus collector and shooter, what should you look for in 2026? Here's our guide.

Colt Electro-Optics Introduces New Red Dots & Magnifier

No stranger to rebirth, Colt has recently spun off an optics division to make sure that, in a world where optics are considered to be standard equipment, a fully kitted-out gun can be all-pony.

What This Huge NFA Ruling Means for Gun Owners

The recent ruling in Jensen v. ATF and the subsequent lack of an appeal by the U.S. Department of Justice has left many gun owners with questions about purchasing NFA items. Here is some guidance.

Gun of the Week: Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard

In partnership with Lipsey's, Smith & Wesson recently re-introduced two of its classic Night Guard revolvers, the Models 386 and 396, which are chambered for the .357 Magnum and .44 Special, respectively.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 14, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

A (Slightly Confusing) History of Colt's Police Positive Revolver

For one of the most popular law-enforcement revolvers ever made, the history of the Colt Police Positive isn't nearly as linear as one would think it'd be.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.