What Size/Brand Box?

So I figured I might try to get a little more serious into bullseye and figured I should look into to getting a box.  

I'll be using the box to carry two Pardinis and one 1911, all with Ultradots on them.  Considering the wider width of the Pardini grips and the added height of the Ultradots, what size box would I need to accommodate them?

What other brands are currently made besides Strong Case?

Strongbox, precision pistol box, and national guard team is using some kind of aluminum box that was being sold by the lady who does ear plugs on commercial row. Always the older gun-ho or pachmyr but make sure it's tall enough to accommodate scopes

The counter weights on the sides of your Pardini's will make it tough. I have a couple Benelli's and I can't carry both. I have a 3 gun strong box. I can carry 2 1911's and a Benelli but that's it. I bought a Pelican box that I carry the two Benelli's to matches now that allows me to bring spare 1911's.

Bill

Strong Case options:

1608 (or 2008) with the stock drawer won't fit with guns all pointing down range.  There is a 4-gun drawer option that gives another 1.5" which should be enough if your 1911 has stock grips.  I moved the center rail of the drawer off-center so it grips the Pardini on the barrel shroud -- in front of the bolt "wings".

1812 with the stock drawer should work as-is.  It's going to be heavy when you get it packed.

1608 (or 2008) can probably work if you put the 1911 in the box pointing the opposite direction.  At the ranges where I shoot, that gun would need to be in a soft case or gun-sock inside the box.  Uncased guns pointed away from the berm are a serious safety violation.

When you buy a box, you should know the diameter of your spotting scope if you want to keep it mounted in the box.  It has to fit below the bottom of the drawer.

Americase makes a case in the Aluma Trans line that works very well. It was not on the website when I ordered mine but the person on the company was very helpful and knew exactly what I was asking for. It is the case a number of the Guard Shooters have. If you send me an email I will be glad to forward you a pic.

Russ
rthatcher228@gmail.com

If you need a box where all guns point downrange, and the grips don't touch each other, give me a call.

Greg Walloch
Precision Pistol Box
(949) 280-7092

I have one of Greg's 3-gun boxes, have been using it for 3 years. It is really high quality, worth every penny. Only thing I changed was to add latches to the sides and remove the front/center latch.

I have had a 1608 and 2008. Of the two, I much prefer the 2008. The extra length makes it more stable on the three indoor ranges; because, it has extra length to extend over the bench vice being at an awkward angle. At the two SOCAL outdoor ranges it fits on the bench. At Perry it extended over the bench but it made it easy to use my strap and I prefer that setup. I use a dolly for a cart so the width is irrelevant. Love the box.

Also, unlike the 1608 I can fit 8 center and 4 22 mags with room to spare. I also had trouble fitting my spotting scope in the 1608 with all my match ammo. No problem in the 2008.

If I could do it all over again I would have had Greg make me a box. Plus he lives near me. I sold my 1608 for what I bought it for, so no loss. I would probably still have the 2008 for travel as I wouldn't want a wood box with the airline and the 2008 fits the carry on requirements.

I also have a 2008 and a 1608.  I bought the 2008 because I had a BIG spotting scope and I could just make it fit.  It only took one "Preliminary Match" at Camp Perry to buy a smaller, lighter scope.  Two other issues with the 2008.  The 16" box will fit perfectly in my cart.  The 20" box has to be loaded in the cart length-wise and that makes packing the rest of the stuff awkward. Also, the benches at one of the outdoor ranges that runs matches are too narrow for the box to sit level. Half of the lanes at the indoor range where we have a bullseye league don't really fit either size box but the extra four inches make the big one dramatically more unstable.  I end up strapping/clamping but still worry about the box hitting a concrete floor. 

Different benches, different cart, etc might make your choice different from mine.  Hopefully, I've helped with a couple things to consider.

I have the 1608 due to the length. If I had my choice I would have a 3 gun strong box in 18 inches but....oh darn, they don;t make it that way. The 18 inch 5 (4?) gun box is just so big that I could not go that way. If I had had the time and patience, I would love to have a Precision box built to my exact desires. Maybe someday.......