Shooting Box Design

First topic message reminder :

It seems just about every shooting box I've seen, whether it's a Strong Case, Gun Ho, Pachmayr, etc, has all the guns on held vertically on a tray that slides out. Why is this?

It seems to me that width on most shooting benches is at a greater premium than height...in fact, it seems most cases are designed to have the door swing up vertically pretty high so a spotting scope attached to the door is positioned high enough.

Why aren't boxes designed so that guns lay horizontally on individual shelves (maybe individual drawers) instead? Sized correctly, this would seem to allow fitting three guns with scopes and orthopedic grips without making the box too wide. It would also seem if the guns are on individual shelves/drawers, there would be no concern about them working loose or banging into each other.

Is there some rule or reason for the vertical layout?

joy2shoot wrote:

Slartybartfast wrote:
If I ever go down south and cross the border to compete in a CMP event, I guess I'll need to get an ECI. Although a really basic one did come with the pistol when I bought it.

I make mine out of Nylon Cable Ties.  You can buy these ties at hardware and electronic stores.  Get ones that are longer than your barrel and then put the pointed end through the catch to make a loop large enough for you to grap.  In this way you can easily insert and remove the tie from the chamber.

 You can also get those cable ties in flourescent colors which helps others quickly see your pistol is safe.   A range I go to uses flourescent weed-whacker line cut into 10" sections.

I tend to lose the zip ties and cords. I just decided to spend the big bucks and go all in. Not that $1.50 ea is going to break the bank.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Empty-Chamber-Safety-Flags-Rifle-Pistol-Range-/172450190334?hash=item2826d513fe:g:76AAAMXQDnpTaTcr

Good link Len.  I have seen these same flags in gun stores for $5 EACH.  So buying six of them from this gun store would be $30 plus tax.

I'm familiar with the "weed-whacker" approach. The ISSF standard is nylon line with a flag at the end.

And of course they sell them:
http://www.issf-sports.org/theissf/shop.ashx
Under "Emblems".

I use a length of weed whacker line with a bright yellow wire nut screwed onto the end as the "flag".

I use a Strong Box, which is certainly strong and heavy while only holding 3 scoped pistols. Importantly, I have taped in various places reference tables for scope settings for different loads at 25 and 50 yards for all the calibers I shoot. I also have a table that lists click adjustments distances for the scopes I shoot (Matchdot II and Aimpoint), also for 25 and 50 yards. Instead of that weak magnet sold to hold magazines, I use a kitchen knife bar, which uses stronger magnets, and I've added some extra magnets. Otherwise, I carry the usual array of tools, a brass rod for knocking out a stuck bullet, oil, spare firing pin for the Pardini SPBE 22. In a separate "gunsmith" tool box, I have a set of 1911 springs, punch set, batteries, lens tissue, and other 'emergency' necessities. 

The AMU shooters all use Pelican boxes that have a sporting scope arm added to the lid and a multitude of ways to organizes guns and tools in the foam cut-outs, all safe from bag handlers during flights. While I like the accessibility of the standard BE gun box, I admit the Pelican box solution is attractive, weather proof, and practical. Cheers, dipnet

I usually have 3 guns in my pistol box going to the range or a match.  I always keep ECIs in all my guns, even when in the safe at home. Considering what they do they, are incredibly cheap, hard to believe this could ever be an issue.

CMP estore has ECI's for $5.24 a dozen.
Mike B

mpolans wrote:It seems just about every shooting box I've seen, whether it's a Strong Case, Gun Ho, Pachmayr, etc, has all the guns on held vertically on a tray that slides out.  Why is this?

It seems to me that width on most shooting benches is at a greater premium than height...in fact, it seems most cases are designed to have the door swing up vertically pretty high so a spotting scope attached to the door is positioned high enough.

Why aren't boxes designed so that guns lay horizontally on individual shelves (maybe individual drawers) instead?  Sized correctly, this would seem to allow fitting three guns with scopes and orthopedic grips without making the box too wide.  It would also seem if the guns are on individual shelves/drawers, there would be no concern about them working loose or banging into each other.

Is there some rule or reason for the vertical layout?

I have a 4 gun Strong Case and find it hard to get 3 guns in it with out the side knobs on the Matchdots from hitting the gun next to it.  4 guns will fit fine if two face the wrong way and i am not going to do that.  My Jeep rides petty rough and the box is in the very back and I worry every bump it hit.  I am thinking gun rugs for the aft facing guns or remove the vertical clamps and gun rug them all. Don

I am thinking of getting the 4 gun strong case with a 5 gun tray. When only holding 3 there is the proper spacing to keep the scopes from hitting and if taking more then 3 they are probably EIC or Dr and have no scopes so would fit nicely between the scoped pistols. Just been thinking about it lately. Only problem is Strongcase won't sell me a 5 gun. You have to get a 4 and get the 5 gun tray later. Which means you end up with an extra tray. But, still been thinking about it.

Len

LenV wrote:I am thinking of getting the 4 gun strong case with a 5 gun tray. When only holding 3 there is the proper spacing to keep the scopes from hitting and if taking more then 3 they are probably EIC or Dr and have no scopes so would fit nicely between the scoped pistols. Just been thinking about it lately. Only problem is Strongcase won't sell me a 5 gun. You have to get a 4 and get the 5 gun tray later. Which means you end up with an extra tray. But, still been thinking about it.

Len

That is a good idea I was thinking of figuring a way to convert the four gun tray to a three gun.    Maybe buy a three gun tray and put the mounts in the four gun tray.  Maybe make wood holders probably be a lot cheaper.  Don

Will Strong sell any at all?  They still seem to be in very short supply, or am I looking in the wrong places to find one?

Champions Choice has the 3-gun in stock now.

Dr.Don wrote:Champions Choice has the 3-gun in stock now.

Thanks!!