Bulls Eye shooters....case question.

[Frank237]

Going to start BE shooting again and need a case. I see that Gun- Ho still makes cases as well as the newer style ALUMINUM cases.

I'm trying to find a used case locally but If I can't I'll simply buy a new one.

I'd imagine the aluminum cases are lighter than a wood case. At least until they get filled with guns and scope.

Any advantages/disadvantages to the aluminums over the traditional vinyl covered cases like a Gun-Ho?

FN in MT

 

[wialco]

I purchase a Ziegel Engineering 4 gun case 20 years ago or more and never looked back. Light weight, plenty of room, and rugged. My wife has a Gunho and I've also had a Pachmyr as well as home built. They all work well but I don't believe you will be disappointed with aluminum.

 

[FlyFish]

Where have you located Gun-Ho cases? I haven't seen any new ones for sale in many years, and I know quite a few guys on my Bullseye team who'd buy one in a second if they could. I know some of the catalogs still list them, but they've been "out of stock" for years. You see them come up from time to time (but rarely) on eBay and other similar sites, but they usually go for big money and don't last long at that.

Anyway, I think your best alternative currently is the Strong aluminum cases - they're a bit heavy and clunky, IMHO, but rugged as can be and although not cheap I think they're reasonably good value for money. I see more and more of them on the line every year as new guys enter the sport and can't find any alternatives.

There was a gun shop in Massachusetts that claimed to have purchased the rights to make Gun-Ho cases again, but it's been a few years that they've been claiming that, and no cases have appeared. I believe Larry Carter has someone making up wooden cases (LarrysGuns.com - Larry's Guns Inc.) and I seem to recall there's one other operation also making them on a semi-custom basis at pretty high prices.

My wife and I each have the old Gun-Ho cases - mine is now over 30 years old, has been in near-constant use, and is just beginning to show some light signs of wear. If you do know where they can still be purchased I'd really, really like to know.

 

[RV4driver]

"over 30 years old, has been in near-constant use, and is just beginning to show some light signs of wear"

Oh, boy, good luck with that again!

I'm still kicking myself about passing up an old case when I had the chance.

 

[Frank237]

Further investigation has revealed that there ARE no Gun-Ho cases available. That seller has not removed them from his list of items for sale. Sorry about that.

FN in MT

 

[BE Mike]

I've owned several different pistol boxes. The one I have now is a Precision Pistol Box and my favorite. If you can't find one that suits you, you are very picky. Here is a link: Home - Precision Pistol Box

 

[FlyFish]

Ah, yes - Precision Pistol Box. That's the other semi-custom maker I couldn't recall the name of. They look to be very nice.

 

[PPCSHOOTER]

Bullseye Gear
I'VE USED ABOUT EVERYTHING ON THE MARKET AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. I REALLY PREFER THE STRONG BOXES BEING SOLD AT THE ABOVE LINK. JP

 

[Frank237]

Appreciate all the input.

The Strong cases were the ones that caught my eye months ago....I think that's where I'll go.

 

[FlyFish]

Further investigation has revealed that there ARE no Gun-Ho cases available. That seller has not removed them from his list of items for sale. Sorry about that.

FN in MT

That's too bad. I was really hoping you'd stumbled onto a stash of them.

 

[garbler]

I made a run of these custom boxes in the late 80's but stopped after about eleven or twelve. They are still in use in various league BE shoots but got way too difficult to handle the shooters and all the little change orders that made them a real time a money loser. They are a bit heavier than your average production box but during the outdoor shoots when the weather got a bit snotty they were rock solid and made it easy to scope your shots.

This box is cherry but most were Honduras mahogany with six coats of spar varnish and real wool felt drawer liners. One of the biggest problems I had was that they were designed for iron sight rim and center fire guns which at that time were more or less dominant. Once the red dots took over my pistol tray often lacked vertical clearance -- another nail in the production coffin. They weren't cheap IKEA shooting furniture so the market was limited but when I stopped making them I had fifteen or more shooters wanting one.

 

[6string]

Hi Garbler,

That's a really nice case! The wood, dovetail joinery and general cabinetry are excellent. I, too, just made my own; used Finnish birch ply. I would do another in nice hardwood.
Personally, I like "nice stuff" and find good looking, high quality gear enhance my shooting experience. But, that's just me, maybe.

Thanks for sharing the nice pic!
Jim