Today's morning project: Discreet rifle case with cut foam

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Posted: 2/17/2017 2:46:41 PM EDT

29" discreet case from Midway on sale for $26 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/939293374/midwayusa-heavy-duty-discreet-tactical-rifle-case
2'x4'x2.25" Kaizen sheet foam (enough for two cases and then some) for around $35 shipped. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007J2JJYK?tag=vglnk-c102-20

You need a cheap box cutter, straight edge, tape measure, marker.

Roughly cut 29"x9.5" with rounder corners.

Lay the weapon on top and trace with the marker. The Kaizen foam cuts easily. You set a depth that looks good but not all the way through, then the layered foam sheets allow you to pull out the layers you don't want. It is pretty easy.

300 Blackout Pistol
8" BA barrel
Noveske 7" NSR handguard
Shockwave Blade/KAK tube kit

Charcoal color matches interior of vehicle perfectly.

Start to finish, 20 minutes.

Posted: 2/17/2017 2:53:46 PM EDT

[#1]

What vehicle? My rogue has similar storage compartment, but not exactly the same.

Posted: 2/17/2017 2:54:57 PM EDT

[#2]

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Quoted:
What vehicle? My rogue has similar storage compartment, but not exactly the same.

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That's a 2011 Honda Pilot. It has a pretty big compartment there.

Posted: 2/17/2017 2:55:21 PM EDT

[#3]

Nice idea

Posted: 2/17/2017 2:57:57 PM EDT

[#4]

Glad to see somebody is making a discreet rifle case again. I got one of the last ones Bulldog made and it's been pretty great.

Posted: 2/17/2017 2:59:38 PM EDT

[#5]

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Quoted:
Glad to see somebody is making a discreet rifle case again. I got one of the last ones Bulldog made and it's been pretty great.

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The midway 29" is perfect for up to 11" pistols.

The one in the picture is 8" with fully collapsed shockwave blade, and there is plenty of room to go longer

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:04:52 PM EDT

[#6]

I've got some old memory foam mattress material. How's that stuff for gun foam?

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:08:23 PM EDT

[#7]

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Nice idea

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Posted: 2/17/2017 3:08:32 PM EDT

[#8]

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Quoted:
I've got some old memory foam mattress material. How's that stuff for gun foam?

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I feel like foam should be cheaper.

Soft foam is harder to cut.... I like closed cell PE foam.... but the biggest expense of the project is the foam. Even if you got two cases done, it is still $18 in foam per case. You can do cheap foam, but you'd need to cut all the way through, then glue the cut foam to a thin solid piece to have a "bottom"

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:12:29 PM EDT

[#9]

Well, the memory foam mattress stuff I've got is already cut. It was a freebie that I cut into narrow mattresses for my camper, but I've still got a ton of it left.

I've got an old PVS-14 case that my M11/9 will fit into perfectly, but I need to make some custom foam for it, first. Was thinking about using the memory foam I've got on hand (Free) but wasn't sure if there was some reason not to.

I've heard that some types of foam retain moisture.

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:18:15 PM EDT

[#10]

Still looks like a gun case. This one is slightly more discrete in my opinion:

https://www.amazon.com/Bulldog-Cases-Compact-Inch-Discreet-29-Inch/dp/B005CGLUVU?tag=vglnk-c102-20

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:18:23 PM EDT

[#11]

Well Done! I like the idea.

For foam I used the floor mats they sell in Lowes & Home Depot. I prefer the dark gray, but they also have bright colors if that's your thing. The mats link together if they are not big enough. Cost is reasonable

$20 foam floor mats (4 in a package)

I used them in a hard case I set up last year:

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:20:41 PM EDT

[#12]

Nice.

My 10.5" pistol rides behind my seat in a surplus coyote brown spare barrel case.

20 RDS loaded and a 40rd mag in the tool pouch

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:20:43 PM EDT

[#13]

Nice.
I made one from a plastic tool box, utilized cut foam.
Holds an 16" upper, taken down, and 8 or 10 magazines.
I got the idea from a thread that was posted a dozen or so years ago.

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:21:40 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Still looks like a gun case. This one is slightly more discrete in my opinion:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/6159PhWBpDL._SL1147_.jpg
https://www.amazon.com/Bulldog-Cases-Compact-Inch-Discreet-29-Inch/dp/B005CGLUVU?tag=vglnk-c102-20

View Quote

That also looks like a gun case

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:21:54 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Still looks like a gun case. This one is slightly more discrete in my opinion:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/6159PhWBpDL._SL1147_.jpg
https://www.amazon.com/Bulldog-Cases-Compact-Inch-Discreet-29-Inch/dp/B005CGLUVU?tag=vglnk-c102-20

View Quote

That's the one I have. I thought they stopped making them, they all went on super closeout and/or out of stock all at once, so I bought one from Natchez. My dad wanted one once he saw mine and we couldn't find any more.

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:32:37 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Still looks like a gun case. This one is slightly more discrete in my opinion:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/6159PhWBpDL._SL1147_.jpg
https://www.amazon.com/Bulldog-Cases-Compact-Inch-Discreet-29-Inch/dp/B005CGLUVU?tag=vglnk-c102-20

View Quote

Because it is blue?

How exactly does your look different?

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:34:43 PM EDT

[#17]

this is discrete.... Diaper bags are tacticool

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:40:00 PM EDT

[#18]

arfcom store has one

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:42:08 PM EDT

[#19]

Cool project, but what makes that case "discreet" aside from a lack of molle webbing? If I saw someone carrying that case, I'd assume there was a gun inside before anything else.

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:42:34 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
arfcom store has one

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That's a nice looking case. Unfortunately it says "AR15" right on the tag on the outside.

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:47:35 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:

That's a nice looking case. Unfortunately it says "AR15" right on the tag on the outside.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
arfcom store has one

That's a nice looking case. Unfortunately it says "AR15" right on the tag on the outside.

Exactly, there is nothing discreet about it. It is a nice case but discreet it is not.

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:50:43 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
I feel like foam should be cheaper.

Soft foam is harder to cut.... I like closed cell PE foam.... but the biggest expense of the project is the foam. Even if you got two cases done, it is still $18 in foam per case. You can do cheap foam, but you'd need to cut all the way through, then glue the cut foam to a thin solid piece to have a "bottom"

View Quote

Foam is fucking outrageous. It has to have a 5000% mark-up to it.

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:52:25 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
Nice.

My 10.5" pistol rides behind my seat in a surplus coyote brown spare barrel case.

20 RDS loaded and a 40rd mag in the tool pouch

View Quote

My AR pistol rides in the map pocket on the back of my passenger seat...with a towel covering the exposed part.

Posted: 2/17/2017 3:57:28 PM EDT

[#24]

Good job.

Posted: 2/17/2017 4:03:30 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:

That's a 2011 Honda Pilot. It has a pretty big compartment there.

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Is the compartment lockable, or just a snug fitting panel?

Posted: 2/17/2017 4:13:38 PM EDT

[#26]

I'm still using a soft electric guitar case. I need to cut some foam for it. I've taken it to the indoor gun range 3x now, no one has said anything, so it must be fairly common.

I do see more of the round backpack discrete type rifle cases at the range. No idea what they're carrying in there.

Posted: 2/17/2017 4:15:36 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
My AR pistol rides in the map pocket on the back of my passenger seat...with a towel covering the exposed part.

View Quote

That's a solid way to roll with that.
Easy reach.

Posted: 2/17/2017 4:23:40 PM EDT

[#28]

This, is a discreet gun case:

Or, if I don't want to carry my 9mm AR...

The case was made by Eagle Industries, according to the tag, but I can't find any online reference to what it is supposed to be. I assume it was for a small contract run for a military client, as I got it from a USGI surplus dealer based around Ft. Campbell. It's about 25"x8"x1.5". I can't imagine too many people would look at it and automatically assume there's a rifle inside.

Posted: 2/17/2017 4:36:52 PM EDT

[#29]

I foamed up a tennis racket bag for my under folder AK. Mags go in the outside zipper pocket. No one is the wiser.

Posted: 2/17/2017 4:42:43 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
My AR pistol rides in the map pocket on the back of my passenger seat...with a towel covering the exposed part.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Nice.

My 10.5" pistol rides behind my seat in a surplus coyote brown spare barrel case.

20 RDS loaded and a 40rd mag in the tool pouch

My AR pistol rides in the map pocket on the back of my passenger seat...with a towel covering the exposed part.

I needed something to keep the dog hair off. Yours is much faster

Posted: 2/17/2017 4:47:33 PM EDT

[#31]

paint an emergency triangle on it, then it would just look like a roadside kit

Posted: 2/17/2017 4:51:32 PM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
This, is a discreet gun case:

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/242045/90194.JPG

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/242045/90191.JPG

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/242045/90190.JPG

Or, if I don't want to carry my 9mm AR...

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/242045/90192.JPG

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/242045/90193.JPG

The case was made by Eagle Industries, according to the tag, but I can't find any online reference to what it is supposed to be. I assume it was for a small contract run for a military client, as I got it from a USGI surplus dealer based around Ft. Campbell. It's about 25"x8"x1.5". I can't imagine too many people would look at it and automatically assume there's a rifle inside.

View Quote

That looks like a pistol case to me.

Posted: 2/17/2017 5:08:22 PM EDT

[#33]

Now this is discrete:

Posted: 2/17/2017 5:11:11 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:

I feel like foam should be cheaper.

Soft foam is harder to cut.... I like closed cell PE foam.... but the biggest expense of the project is the foam. Even if you got two cases done, it is still $18 in foam per case. You can do cheap foam, but you'd need to cut all the way through, then glue the cut foam to a thin solid piece to have a "bottom"

View Quote

I went to Amazon and looked up Camping Sleeping Pads, and looked for WHSE deals. You can get almost 12sf of 3/8" closed cell foam for about $12 shipped. Stacked 3 deep it's about $3/sf, plus some spray adhesive.

Now that I think about it, I wonder if the big Makita tool case I got would hold a broken down AR. Hmmmmm

Posted: 2/17/2017 5:13:12 PM EDT

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:
paint an emergency triangle on it, then it would just look like a roadside kit

View Quote

Or maybe your car model's logo. Make it look like a factory jack?

How about a couple of cardboard cat litter boxes glued together side-by-side?

Posted: 2/17/2017 5:13:14 PM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:
Well, the memory foam mattress stuff I've got is already cut. It was a freebie that I cut into narrow mattresses for my camper, but I've still got a ton of it left.

I've got an old PVS-14 case that my M11/9 will fit into perfectly, but I need to make some custom foam for it, first. Was thinking about using the memory foam I've got on hand (Free) but wasn't sure if there was some reason not to.

I've heard that some types of foam retain moisture.

View Quote

Maybe cut it and then apply latex paint? We used to do that with EPDM pipe insulation and it worked pretty well - it was actually the manufacturer's recommended treatment for outdoors piping.

Posted: 2/17/2017 5:14:25 PM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
this is discrete.... Diaper bags are tacticool

https://item4.tradesy.com/images/vera-bradley-diaper-bag-heather-17790463-0-1.jpg?width=720&height=960

View Quote

Good idea, but someone will think that's a Vera Bradley and snatch that sucker.

Posted: 2/17/2017 5:17:37 PM EDT

[#38]

OP, looks good! Only thing I would suggest is adding a cheap red dot.

Posted: 2/17/2017 5:30:51 PM EDT

[#39]

A discreet case is shaped like a tennis racket...

Posted: 2/17/2017 5:38:45 PM EDT

[#40]

OP, did you hot glue the foam to the case? Just ordered a 42" and 36"...

Posted: 2/17/2017 5:42:03 PM EDT

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
A discreet case is shaped like a tennis racket...

View Quote

Don't know what you're talking about.

Guitar cases work well too.

Posted: 2/17/2017 5:50:30 PM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:

Guitar cases work well too.

View Quote

I figure a guitar would be more likely to be stolen than a tennis racket. But I have nothing to base that one.

Posted: 2/17/2017 5:52:33 PM EDT

[#43]

Cool

This is what I use

Posted: 2/17/2017 6:01:39 PM EDT

[#44]

My discreet case.

Posted: 2/17/2017 6:05:37 PM EDT

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:

I figure a guitar would be more likely to be stolen than a tennis racket. But I have nothing to base that one.

View Quote

People bring this up all the time.

It's NOT ABOUT THEFT PREVENTION - people steal shit all the time.

It's about hiding the fact you have a firearm to not draw unwanted attention. I do not suggest leaving a firearm in your unattended vehicle even with a discrete case.

Posted: 2/17/2017 6:25:56 PM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:
OP, looks good! Only thing I would suggest is adding a cheap red dot.

View Quote

I thought about it.... but this is 8" 300 blackout just to have something REALLY small, and still have decent terminal ballistics.

After going through this project.... I am still not convinced that a 10.5" 5.56 pistol is not a better choice.... especially for penetration against harder targets.

Either way, irons are fine for what the intended purpose is.... which is simply increased capacity and terminal ballistics beyond a handgun, should the need ever arise.