By Joe Berk
I don’t usually buy things with features I don’t need, but I made an exception for MidwayUSA’s soft rifle case. I needed a couple of soft rifle cases because some of mine had worn out (the zippers were tearing on a couple, the inner lining was snagging on the front sight on another, the handle broke on one, etc,). Usually, I spend about $10 or $12 on a rifle case because the only thing I really use them for is bringing a rifle to or from the range. In the past, I’ve purchased them when visiting Bass Pro or Turner’s.
I buy a lot of reloading components from MidwayUSA, so that’s where I went for the cases. MidwayUSA usually ships either the day I order anything, and they have that $100 free shipping threshold. At $26.24, their Heavy Duty Scoped Rifle Case was more than I wanted to spend, but hey, I would only need to order four of the things to get my free shipping. I am a sucker for that free shipping deal.
The cases arrived quickly, and MidwayUSA packaged them well. They arrived in a single large box with plenty of padding. You could have shipped a body in the box (it was that big). Each case was in a separate plastic bag. It’s funny when you think about it: Carefully packing a case in a box to protect it from damage when the purpose of the case is to protect things from damage.
The rifle case itself is impressive. It’s wider than usual and it has heavier padding on the sides. The zippers are higher quality than what I usually see on rifle cases. Inside, there are a couple of Velcro straps to secure a rifle (that’s a feature I don’t need, but it’s a nice touch). The case has a carrying strap so you can carry it from the shoulder (yet another feature I don’t need, but some folks might). There’s an exterior zippered pocket, presumably for carrying ammo. I used it for the Velcro retainers and the shoulder strap, so I guess it came in handy.
I was worried about the case being big enough to accept get some of my longer barreled rifles, but there’s plenty of room. I have a couple of long action bolt rifles with 26-inch barrels, and the MidwayUSA case swallowed those with ease. You can see that in the photo at the top of this blog.
The cases can be had in olive green, desert, or black. I bought the olive green version in a nod to my alma mater (the US Army).
Overall, I give the case 10.0 points (out of a total possible 10 points). I knocked it down a half a point because it had things I didn’t need, but then I gave it a half point back for MidwayUSA’s free (and speedy) shipping. If you are in the market for a rifle case, this is a good one.
Pro Tip: Never store a firearm in a soft case (or a holster) for an extended period of time. The case or the holster will hold moisture and lead to rusting. Take the weapon out regularly and wipe it down with an oiled rag.
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