Taking-down a non-take-down rifle for travel?

[BenKK]

Has anybody done that, for ease around airports, etc, and to fit the rifle into the smaller Pelican case? Or is that a silly idea? Thanks in advance.

 

[stug]

Try it before you go. In my experience if you can leave the scope attached to the rifle then point of impact will not change much.

 

[One Day...]

Used to be a big no-no in the old days of wood stocks that took the opportunity to warp, bend, swell, etc. etc., and when torque accuracy on assembly screws was measured by how loud the grunt was when tightening them, but it is just as reliable as assembling and disassembling a Blaser nowadays with the synthetic stocks that have aluminum full length bedding blocks and pillars.

I have not taken rifles to Africa like that yet, but I have been doing a lot of measuring to do it, working to fit 2 Mark V barreled and scoped actions (.257 & .340 Wby), 1 Bell & Carlson stock, and 1 Kreighoff .470 double into a Pelican iM3100 Storm Long Case (39.80" x 16.50" x 6.70"), and I have proofed the concept by taking the steel out of the stock on both Mark V, reassembled them alternatively on a single stock using a Fat Wrench torque limiter to get the exact same screws and receivers tension, and both barreled & scoped actions swapped in the same common stock have kept zero at the 100 yd range. Very promising...

In my case, the 26" Wby barrels and almost 8" long Mark V actions still require a fairly long rifle case (40" external, 36" internal), but it is noticeably shorter than the 53" Pelican 1750 I am currently using, and I 'think' (I still need to final test it in a mock cardboard case) that I will be able to fit 1 stock, 2 barreled & scoped actions and 1 double rifle in it. Worst case scenario, the scopes are mounted on Talley bases with Talley rings that are detachable and have a reputation for being reliably repeatable, but I have not tested that yet.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I recall somebody posting on AH a year or so ago about removing stock from rifles to fit in a much shorter rifle case. Post had photos. Interesting concept, but one I doubt I would try.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Modern aluminum or steel bedding blocks with integral pillars permanently installed in stocks allow removal and replacement of batreled actions will little if any lose of zero. This requires free floating the barrel.

Target shooters use a small torque wrench and tighten action screws to 65 inch pounds.

Of course, a couple rounds into a target once assembled is always a good idea.

 

[Hogpatrol]

If you are just referring to a non removable barrel, disassembling the scoped, barreled action from a glass bedded stock isn't a problem. I do it when the trigger needs cleaned. Torque on the action screws needs to be consistent. The usual caveat, verify POI after reassembly.

 

[Shootist43]

BenKK, I have a slightly different take on the subject. Unless you have a take down rifle, don't bother. You've spent a lot of time and money at the range getting to know the rifle as it is. When and if you disassemble a perfectly good rifle you introduce the possibility of change. Not something I want when going on a hunt. Rifles / firearms are required to be in a separate case so what difference does a few inches make?

 

[Ridgewalker]

My longer Pelican has worked pretty well. When at the airport, my checked bag is strapped low near the wheels of my Pelican. It’s not a large bag. I don’t carry much since everything is washed daily (1 change of clothes, ammo box, etc). Then a 5.11 Rush pack on my back with 1 change of clothes, iPad, converter, toiletries, binos, etc.

 

[Philip Glass]

I think we have all thought of these scenarios when planning an international hunt. I guess my question is why? You are allowed two 50 pound bags and for me one of them is the Pelican 2 rifle case. I will add a few small items to the gun case to try to keep my bag under 50 pounds. Just be sure to not put clothes or make it look like you are trying to hide something in the guncase and all is well.
Best of luck planning your trip!
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

My longer Pelican has worked pretty well. When at the airport, my checked bag is strapped low near the wheels of my Pelican. It’s not a large bag. I don’t carry much since everything is washed daily (1 change of clothes, ammo box, etc). Then a 5.11 Rush pack on my back with 1 change of clothes, iPad, converter, toiletries, binos, etc.

Ditto most of that especially the 5.11 backpack. Really neat stuff for traveling.

 

[fourfive8]

Not a silly idea- have been doing it since mid-70s. Very handy, not cumbersome and can easily carry like a suitcase if desired.

Here's a pic of my set-up. All my hunting rifles are pillar and glass bedded. The actions screws are witnessed marked to the bottom metal and are tightened to those marks when re-assembled at destination. Never had a change of POI. Either strap down or otherwise make sure the parts can't shift during handling (bolt is strapped down and the barreled action has added material on lid for compression when lid is closed).

 

[Red Leg]

Not a silly idea- have been doing it since mid-70s. Very handy, not cumbersome and can easily carry like a suitcase if desired.

Here's a pic of my set-up. All my hunting rifles are pillar and glass bedded. The actions screws are witnessed marked to the bottom metal and are tightened to those marks when re-assembled at destination. Never had a change of POI. Either strap down or otherwise make sure the parts can't shift during handling (bolt is strapped down and the barreled action has added material on lid for compression when lid is closed).
View attachment 266921

Really nice work. The folks who appreciate the shorter cases are on the arriving side. Fitting a lot of these big things into Land Cruisers, and particularly charter flights, is a real challenge. A short case saves them a lot of effort and concern.

 

[TTundra]

Seems if you take extra care you can, and as posted, will have good results. I love takedowns and compact rifles for both hunting and travel. I also subscribe to Murphys law...and think to myself what if I lost a screw during reassembly, what if I strip the threads, etc. Chances of those scenarios I know are slim to none, especially if you prepare and train... but after I had a scope damaged during transport on my first trip over, I know it can go south very quickly.

 

[stug]

In this day and age not having an obvious guncase can make a difference.
My rifle is a Blaser K95, when walking on a public track in to a hunting area it is broken down and just looks like a tent and poles strapped to the side of my pack.
I have noticed other track users are a lot more polite and welcoming compared to when I was obviously carrying a rifle.

 

[One Day...]

Really nice work. The folks who appreciate the shorter cases are on the arriving side. Fitting a lot of these big things into Land Cruisers, and particularly charter flights, is a real challenge. A short case saves them a lot of effort and concern.

That is indeed the reason behind my effort...

... This requires free floating the barrel...

Very good point Mark. Since I am using Bell & Carlson Medalist stocks for Accumark #3 contour barrels with my standard #2 contour 1990's true stainless steel Mk Vs, the barrels are generously floated and I did not think of stating the obvious. Good catch!

 

[GeoffB]

Not a silly idea- have been doing it since mid-70s. Very handy, not cumbersome and can easily carry like a suitcase if desired.

Here's a pic of my set-up. All my hunting rifles are pillar and glass bedded. The actions screws are witnessed marked to the bottom metal and are tightened to those marks when re-assembled at destination. Never had a change of POI. Either strap down or otherwise make sure the parts can't shift during handling (bolt is strapped down and the barreled action has added material on lid for compression when lid is closed).
View attachment 266921

My hunting buddy and I have been doing it this way for years as well.
Our travel guns are all pillar bedded and we use a Fat-Wrench (in its own spot in the gun case) to torque the screws back in once re-assembled.
We also had some tubular spacers turned up to the correct length by our gunsmith (to slide over the front and rear action screws) so the bottom metal can be tightened up to stop these parts rattling around in transit.
We still check the zero once we arrive at the hunting destination.

 

[Buckdog]

I agree that if you are very careful and anal about it you can take SOME guns apart and re-assemble them with minor affect on POI.
BUT why would you want to? You are paying for the 50lbs of case with gun or guns and I think you are asking for Murphys law to bite you. What if some TSA or whatever country version there of decides that they need to re-open your gun case and re-inspect it, they drop some of the action screws or the magazine or whatever out on the ground? then you are SOL. I have had the locks cut off of my case and it re-inspected then summoned and told unless i gave them new locks gun would'nt fly. Luckily I always carry 2 extra locks in my carry on as i have had locks cut off of baggage more than once.
I wish you luck but think you are asking for trouble taking apart and re assembling guns repeatedly that were not made to be take down rifles.

 

[curtism1234]

I agree that you may be asking for small pieces to be lost.

I have a different experience with disassembling rifles off their stock. Poi seems to change at least an inch or two (but I just use a regular screwdriver).

You are limited to the amount of ammo you can bring in, albeit generous. I would just assume shoot as few rounds as needed at the shooting range, but I like to know I have plenty of ammo for the duration