Custom Americase Double Rifle Takedown Case

[sandman0921]

I've learned about a lot of great gear and products from this forum, especially as it relates to traveling to Africa to hunt. When I can relate first hand my experience with gear, good or bad, I feel like that it can potentially help someone else out that is contemplating the same item (or a similar item), and so I like to post it here.....

In that vein, there has been an ongoing discussion regarding options for gun cases, etc, and one of the forum members (@ rookhawk) recommended the aluminum cases by Americase as a very durable, and well-made option. Furthermore, the suggestion was made for fine rifles to consider getting John and Kelly Fallon at FEI Gun Cases make a custom French-fit interior for one of those cases. I had been looking for something in a take-down variety for my new B. Searcy & Co. double rifle in 450 NE 3 1/4 inch, so I reached out to Mr. Fallon at FEI for a discussion on what my options were, and after talking with he and Kelly, decided to have them perform their custom interior treatment on an Americase take-down gun case.

I ended up ordering an Americase Aluma-Trans Heavy-Duty, Take-Down Shotgun Case w/ wheels (Item # AT-3814HW) direct from Americase, and had it shipped directly to FEI Gun Cases in Wisconsin for them to make a custom French-fit interior:

With my deposit to FEI, I sent a full spec sheet of what I desired as far as compartments, etc., as well as tracings of my double rifle, and they took it from there. The whole process took approximately 6 weeks, and I also had them make a custom canvas covering. The process was as easy and seamless as they come. They also had some leatherette B. Searcy & Co. trade labels that they added on. I received the case in the mail, and I am blown away by the quality of the work. When considering the cost of the case, as well as the custom interior, this whole process wasn't cheap by any means, but for the craftsmanship and desired functionality, one would be hard pressed to find a better company to work with.....

This was before the trade label was placed on the interior of the lid, but one gets the gist....

Americase also offers a custom interior option as well, but suffice it to say, I will continue to utilize FEI when I need this done again....I am considering getting an Americase Aluma-Trans 2-rifle case, and having FEI make a custom interior for it to use with my various bolt guns.

And rookhawk, thanks for the suggestion......

FEI Gun Cases
John and Kelly Fallon
12447 S. County Rd. K
Beloit, WI 53511
(608) 364-4575
feigc2@gmail.com
http://www.feiguncases.com

 

[CAustin]

Very impressive conversion sir!

 

[CAustin]

Looking for one of these now!

 

[sandman0921]

@CAustin

FEI does a great job and I highly recommend them. John and Kelly at FEI are very easy to work with, an they do top notch work. The turnaround time of 6-8 weeks is very reasonable considering the quality of work they do. John and Kelly even had an old leatherette B. Searcy trade label that they mounted on the case for my B. Searcy classic double in 450 NE 3 1/4 inch. Butch Searcy used to use them, but switched to letting Americase do his custom cases since it cut a step out of the process. If you want a real oak and leather custom case, I would definitely use FEI.....

Another option is letting Americase do the custom interior. They do a great job. Below is a custom Americase 2-gun Safari case that they did for me recently. It has red velour interior covering the foam. They even covered the upper foam blocks, and lined the interior lid compartments with velour as well. The blurred out area is my name embroidered in gold thread. They powder-coated the exterior in brown, and contrasted the latches and hardware in a black powder coat finish. When I originally received the case, some of the customization was not completed as I had asked for, and when I notified them of this, the lead sales guy was extremely apologetic for the mistake, and sent me a prepaid shipping label back so I could overnight the case back to them. The case interior was corrected/finished and back to me in under 2 weeks. Americase is another great option and a very good company to work with....

I mainly wanted to show you anther option if you wanted this kind of service done. It's certainly not cheap, but a really nice touch in my opinion for custom rifles....

 

[CAustin]

@sandman0921 thank sfor sharing the pictures. Would you be kind enough to PM me your contact at Americase?

 

[CAustin]

@sandman0921 does the Americase pictured above accommodate a double or SxS rifle in one of the compartments? I would like to have a case like this to accommodate a double and a bolt action rifle. I still have the contact info you PMed me for your contact at Americase but I have not called him yet. I thought I would ask the double question first.
Have you in fact used the case with a double in one side?

 

[sandman0921]

@CAustin

I would expect so. It will fit 2 magnum sized rifles. It’s designed to have the rifles sit down each “well” and facing in opposite directions, with the padded block over each barrel to secure the rifle in the case. With the overall length of a double being much shorter than my AHR 404 Jeffery and 450 Rigby, I would think length wouldn’t be an issue. Width should be fine as well.

I haven’t tried my Searcy 450 NE 3 1/4 inch double yet, but I will definitely try, as I hope to accommodate my double (as a heavy rifle) as well as a smaller bolt rifle, one day on safari.

 

[CAustin]

@sandman0921 give that double a try when you get a minute and let me know how it worked. Thanks

 

[Ridgewalker]

Great information @sandman0921!
I have a takedown Americase I have carried my AyA #2 in from Montana to Texas several times and it has held up well. Not sure that the bed of my F350 can compete with Delta baggage handlers, but it is fairly rough riding!
Thanks again for the info!

 

[sandman0921]

@sandman0921 give that double a try when you get a minute and let me know how it worked. Thanks

@CAustin,

I’ll be glad to do it, but I’m out of town currently and won’t be back until next week. As soon as I check the fit, I’ll let you know as well as send some pics.

 

[CAustin]

Thanks

 

[sandman0921]

@CAustin

It took me a little while, but I was able to try my B. Searcy & Co. Classic Double in 450 NE 3 1/4 inch in my custom Americase double safari travel case, and it fit perfectly. So it definitely would be a viable option as far as carrying a double and a bolt rifle on safari. They come in different lengths, so just make sure you read the overall lengths the different cases will accommodate if you decide to order..

I provided a few pictures of the rifle in the case to demonstrate how the rifle fit....

I also shut the case on the rifle and with the foam block over the barrels to secure the rifle, it still closed and latched easily.

I hope this helps....

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

@CAustin

It took me a little while, but I was able to try my B. Searcy & Co. Classic Double in 450 NE 3 1/4 inch in my custom Americase double safari travel case, and it fit perfectly. So it definitely would be a viable option as far as carrying a double and a bolt rifle on safari. They come in different lengths, so just make sure you read the overall lengths the different cases will accommodate if you decide to order..

I provided a few pictures of the rifle in the case to demonstrate how the rifle fit....

View attachment 213909 View attachment 213910

View attachment 213911
View attachment 213912

I also shut the case on the rifle and with the foam block over the barrels to secure the rifle, it still closed and latched easily.

I hope this helps....

It definitely helped me. Americase was just an aisle over from us at DSC this past week. I meant to stop by and ask this very question of a DR / bolt in the double case, question is now answered, thanks!

 

[CAustin]

@sandman0921 I talked to the contact at Americase today and he has me tracing the rifle out and sending those to him. Thanks for the pictures the rifle seems to fit perfectly in the case.
Charlie