STRONG BOX- REDO-REVERSE ENGINEER

Hey Everybody,

I posted this on the equipment forum but its so important that I'm going to post the link here in the general discussion.

If this is not allowed, I am sorry and request forgiveness from the moderators.

https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t18143-strong-box-redo-reverse-engineer

Ernie the Eyeball

askernie wrote:Hey Everybody,

I posted this on the equipment forum but its so important that I'm going to post the link here in the general discussion.

If this is not allowed, I am sorry and request forgiveness from the moderators.

https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t18143-strong-box-redo-reverse-engineer

Ernie the Eyeball

Dammit! I thought it was a double post and deleted it!
Can you repost it here.

I recently posted a juicy message regarding a RE-DO of the original Strong Pistol box. 

But it was taken down by mistake and I’m too old to remember the whole post again. 

I you live in Massachusetts in the area of Lowell. 

Please contact me.

Ernie Fuentes
813-598-2902

So, is this posted anywhere?

The post was erased. I had explained everything I was doing. It was long. Do you live in Mass and have a Strong Box?

Hey Everybody,

My name is Ernie Fuentes. Although I don't consider myself a "real" bullseye shooter I do follow the discipline and follow all you guys here on the forum.

I have noticed that Precision Pistol Box has retired and as we all know Strong box closed their business some time ago. I actually had the pleasure of speaking with the owner of Strong Box and gave hims some ideas for specific modification to his early box and he was so grateful that he actually sent me a complimentary gunbox with the new mods and allowed me to sell the new style box.

i went on to sell that box since I found the weight of the box too heavy for my airgun shooting and single .22 caliber pistol shooting.

Some of you may remember me from a project where I reproduced the old Pachmayr magazine holder for bullseye boxes. Here's a link to the discussion:

https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t7341-magazine-holder-for-gunbox?highlight=gunbox
.

Ernie:

There were several variations of the Strong Box gun boxes and and 3 different sizes.  I would recommend finding the latest version of the 3 gun standard (not long) box this project.  I have a couple of the later versions, but am too far away to help. 

The longer 3 gun box was designed more for ISSF / Olympic style (longer guns) and the 5 gun box was just too big and heavy for most folks (especially me when I loaded it with everything and the kitchen sink...).

The latest version had the integral adjustable scope mount and the the box was drilled with 3 different heights for screwing in the drawer guides.  This allow the shooter some accommodations for the heights of different guns with scopes and various sizes of spotting scopes.  

Earlier versions had slots for the drawer guides (making it harder to adjust) and the scope mount could only be installed in a couple of positions.

Cecil

Hey Cecil,

Thanks for responding to my post. Its funny you mentioned all of that because all those mods (except one)were my ideas. The longer box was for free pistol use, the tray height adjustment screw holes to allow for scoped pistols, and the adjustment holes in the tray to allow movement lateral movement of the tray fingers for longer barrel pistols. The integral scope mount was not my idea, cant take credit for that. The owner of Strong was so grateful he sent me a complimentary box with all the mods and an extra tray with the lateral finger adjustments.

My friend Joe just needs to see the construction of the box, the finish...etc, hes a mechanical engineer we can incorporate all those mods and others in the finished product.

Thanks Cecil for your attention to this post. I think its important for all bullseye shooters.

ernie the eyeball

I second the not to copy the 5 gun! It was called 2008 on their website. The one you want to copy was the 1608 3 gun.


The only box I could find to buy was a 2008 back when it was brand new and my shoulder confirmed it is very heavy

The 2-gun was the best one they ever made.

2 gun would be very popular for indoor shooters

I like the look of the 2 gun strongbox - except for one important issue - why do so many of the different  boxes I see on the forum and the line have guns with muzzles pointing back towards the shooter - they should ALWAYS be kept pointing downrange IMHO!!!

RoyDean wrote:I like the look of the 2 gun strongbox - except for one important issue - why do so many of the different  boxes I see on the forum and the line have guns with muzzles pointing back towards the shooter - they should ALWAYS be kept pointing downrange IMHO!!!

Because it’s a left handers, right handed box!!!

Just a personal opinion, I think steel anything is way too heavy.  Would be a lot more impressed with one in aluminum.

Schaumannk wrote:Just a personal opinion, I think steel anything is way too heavy.  Would be a lot more impressed with one in aluminum.

Aluminum would be prone to denting.  

The lightest construction would be Glass filled nylon, blow molded then bonded together.  Probably the most durable too.

Wobbley wrote:

Schaumannk wrote:Just a personal opinion, I think steel anything is way too heavy.  Would be a lot more impressed with one in aluminum.

Aluminum would be prone to denting.  

The lightest construction would be Glass filled nylon, blow molded then bonded together.  Probably the most durable too.

Haven’t had that problem with my aluminum Kalispel box.   However I agree, if that is the material that the Pelican boxes are made out of, that something like that would be a far better choice.   Integrated wheels would sell me as well.

I spent quite a lot of time (and money) trying to create my "perfect" box and still have two, one of which has already gone through at least six iterations!

My converted "Pelican" box which can hold up to 6 guns and is suitable for travel by air has retractable handle and wheels, but they are only really of any use in a hotel or somewhere with a very smooth floor. At the majority of ranges I have visited, if more than 15 yards from car to line, you are better off using some kind of cart. Since I inevitably have other baggage that I need to move from car to hotel room each evening, I have found that the common and inexpensive Walmart folding 4 wheel cart is by far the most practical solution. For Perry (my first visit this year) and to some extent Canton, I bought the "Rolls Royce" Aluminum Geezer cart, but it was overkill to be honest and is no use in a hotel or similar environment.

Multi-gun "everything + the kitchen sink" boxes are all very well for the younger, stronger types, but I am going to go the other way. Keep most guns in the vehicle in simple waterproof Pelican type boxes. One compact, lighter, 2 gun box, preferably with the scope mount deployable without "opening" the box on the line and also equipped with a massive folding brass screen! Box contains 22 + wad gun, or possibly wad + back-up, or other two guns according to the task at hand that morning/day.

Catcher mounted on a 50cal plastic ammo box which contains ammo, oil, glasses, muffs, etc., for the task at hand. Good enough for most "normal" ranges. And I can carry the two boxes comfortably from the car to the line for local matches. But at Perry there are targets, waterproofs, plastic bags, chair, etc., etc., so some kind of cart is needed anyhow (except for some of the hardy military types shooting iron sight guns and minimalist approach). That is a whole other subject that is already covered on numerous other threads!

That is my current plan - yours may be different - we all are!

Actually Roy - given that I am also multiple decades removed from the hardy military types - I'd be tempted to go even further and have a one gun "active" box along the lines you state. At Perry (and many others) you're only shooting one gun a day anyway. For a 'local' match the car is usually a very short walk away so the 'extra guns' case is easy to get. 

One thing I would add - some sort of fold out weighted transparent cover - so I can put the gun down in the rain but the RO can still see that it's safe.

In fact - if anyone has plans for such a thing (or, better, intentions to produce such) I'd be very interesting in purchasing.

The issues I had in the past with the folding carts were due to the wheel sizes - the small wheels get bogged down when it's really wet. I had a large wheel fixed sided one which worked - but was a pain to transport. Now I use a converted rifle wheeled seat which works fairly well.

A little of everything!
Bungee cords may be required!
Benches are super low at Perry!
Mud tires are nice!

Thanks Everybody!

All these suggestions can be incorporated in the new series of boxes. But the bottom line is have to get a box in my friends hands. From there he can modify the computer design and build different designs accordingly.

AGAIN, I stress if you live in MASS, in the Lowell area or close to that please contact me.

Ernie Fuentes
813-598-2902

askernie wrote:Thanks Everybody!

All these suggestions can be incorporated in the new series of boxes. But the bottom line is have to get a box in my friends hands. From there he can modify the computer design and build different designs accordingly.

AGAIN, I stress if you live in MASS, in the Lowell area or close to that please contact me.

Ernie Fuentes
813-598-2902

I'm shooting in the Sharon 900 in late April.  I'll see if anyone there is interested.

Ernie,

I have the Strong Case 3 Gun box. the older one.  I added the collapsible scope part from them.

I shoot every Tuesday in Merrimack, NH on the Nashua, NH border.

Could your guy swing in to take measurements there?

I do not have a LTC permit for Mass, although I do work there.  So I would prefer not to go the border with box, ammo, empty brass, etc.

I  have several people in my league who are looking for boxes, especially the Strong Case ones.

Dan
603-490-0606

I bought this one in 2009:

Strong Case SCR-1608 Aluminum 3 Gun Pistol Box

Options:

Ship:  Flat Rate

I’m sure you need a lot more in way of measurements, but I did run across this information.  I would agree the 3 gun 1608 seemed to be the better option.

Never heard of Strong. Have 2 Pachy boxes though. A fellow club member used to make wood veneer boxes. double keys to keep ammo and pistols separate