The best offence is a good defense!
We send these things across the country all the time and are always concerned with how they will arrive. Is there anything that can be done?
I think so. Here is the method I prefer. Please share if you can think of improvements, or if other methods have worked well for you.
Start with a couple of pictures of the gun itself as proof of condition prior to boxing.
Then separate the action and stock.
Next apply a light coat of oil and cover the action with shrink film to seal it from the elements during its travels.
Build a box to pad and protect the trigger mechanism.
The rest of the action is covered in bubble wrap and shrink wrap.
Then placed in a cardboard tube protecting the ends.
Action complete.
Using a VERY strong cardboard tube or piece of wood, strengthen the forks of the stock (in the case of a springer).
Once again apply a safe oil and shrink wrap.
Then cover in Bubble wrap and cardboard, making sure to protect the ends.
Wrap these two packages to each other securely. This prevents any damage from the action rubbing against the stock and also provides rigidity .
Finally place this into an outer box, fill with packing materials, protect the ends (yes, again).
Now it's ready to go.
Unwrapping is a chore for sure but there is no sticky tape touching the gun and it will survive any commercial shipper.
Total cost of packing materials is about 25 bucks, but much cheaper than a hard case and, much better protected unless the hard case is flight rated and the foam is form fitted.
This also results in a package that is cheaper to ship since it is now about 8x8x36.
Best of all, it no longer even looks like a gun. I've never been asked what I am shipping when packaged this way.
We send these things across the country all the time and are always concerned with how they will arrive. Is there anything that can be done?
I think so. Here is the method I prefer. Please share if you can think of improvements, or if other methods have worked well for you.
Start with a couple of pictures of the gun itself as proof of condition prior to boxing.
Then separate the action and stock.
Next apply a light coat of oil and cover the action with shrink film to seal it from the elements during its travels.
Build a box to pad and protect the trigger mechanism.
The rest of the action is covered in bubble wrap and shrink wrap.
Then placed in a cardboard tube protecting the ends.
Action complete.
Using a VERY strong cardboard tube or piece of wood, strengthen the forks of the stock (in the case of a springer).
Once again apply a safe oil and shrink wrap.
Then cover in Bubble wrap and cardboard, making sure to protect the ends.
Wrap these two packages to each other securely. This prevents any damage from the action rubbing against the stock and also provides rigidity .
Finally place this into an outer box, fill with packing materials, protect the ends (yes, again).
Now it's ready to go.
Unwrapping is a chore for sure but there is no sticky tape touching the gun and it will survive any commercial shipper.
Total cost of packing materials is about 25 bucks, but much cheaper than a hard case and, much better protected unless the hard case is flight rated and the foam is form fitted.
This also results in a package that is cheaper to ship since it is now about 8x8x36.
Best of all, it no longer even looks like a gun. I've never been asked what I am shipping when packaged this way.
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