WTH Happened to Pelican Cases? Time to Try a Clone?

Mountain

Mountain

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I've been a fan of the original Pelican Storm cases and have a few of different types including the big double rifle 1750's (if I have the # correct). Thought I'd get something more compact for take-down stuff like O/U shotguns or AR carbines and looked at Pelican's iM3100. WTF? $304 for that thing and they no longer have the metal covers on the lock hasps. Did the Yeti cooler company buy Pelican? I never cared for their 'Vault' offering despite its more reasonable cost. Anyway, I don't really consider myself a pro NES skinflinter but $300 for a carbine case?

I'm going to try the Pelican clone made by 'Eylar'. Supposed to meet standard for 1 meter submersion blah blah blah and it does have the metal covers for the hasps. I'll come back and post feedback once I've had a chance to check it out, will be a while as they have a short backlog.
 
Mountain said:
I've been a fan of the original Pelican Storm cases and have a few of different types including the big double rifle 1750's (if I have the # correct). Thought I'd get something more compact for take-down stuff like O/U shotguns or AR carbines and looked at Pelican's iM3100. WTF? $304 for that thing and they no longer have the metal covers on the lock hasps. Did the Yeti cooler company buy Pelican? I never cared for their 'Vault' offering despite its more reasonable cost. Anyway, I don't really consider myself a pro NES skinflinter but $300 for a carbine case?

I'm going to try the Pelican clone made by 'Eylar'. Supposed to meet standard for 1 meter submersion blah blah blah and it does have the metal covers for the hasps. I'll come back and post feedback once I've had a chance to check it out, will be a while as they have a short backlog.
Click to expand...
FWIW I have a couple SKB i series cases and I really like them. I don’t have pelicans to compare them to though.
Prices seem to be just as high now. Midway blew them out for almost nothing last year.

This one in black is on clearance but not good for an AR. Too narrow.

www.midwayusa.com

SKB iSeries 4909 Scoped Single Rifle Case 49 Layered Foam Polymer Tan

The 3i-4909-SR Single Rifle case holds scoped rifles up to 49" long and is part of the iSeries waterproof case line. The interior is made of high...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com
 
38ExtraSpecial said:
FWIW I have a couple SKB i series cases and I really like them. I don’t have pelicans to compare them to though.
Prices seem to be just as high now. Midway blew them out for almost nothing last year.

This one in black is on clearance but not good for an AR. Too narrow.

www.midwayusa.com

SKB iSeries 4909 Scoped Single Rifle Case 49 Layered Foam Polymer Tan

The 3i-4909-SR Single Rifle case holds scoped rifles up to 49" long and is part of the iSeries waterproof case line. The interior is made of high...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com
Click to expand...
Looks solid. That's a good price for the black ones. Other colors more expensive. I'll keep SKB in mind if I need something else.
 
milktree said:
Look at Harbor Freight’s offerings.

Waaaay cheaper, and appear to have the same features and very similar construction.
Click to expand...
They look identical to the offbrand one I ordered, though HF doesn't offer that ~38" size I wanted. Next time I want a 1750 clone for sure I'll take a look at HF.

My main issue is that Pelican appears to have done some cost cutting on the features while increasing price nearly 50% over the last couple years. That triggered my inner NES skinflint response. [laugh]
 
For hard cases, I like Boyt. I have some Eylar caseses, they're ok, but the plastic is thinner.
Nanuk also makes nice cases, and I think the holes are metal lined
 
I worked for Hardigg/Pelican my entire life after getting out of the Marines. Hardigg made the storm case and Pelican made a cheaper version made in CA. (Hardigg is in S. Deerfield, MA). Hardigg Ind was family owned and when Jim and Alice were quite old back in 2005 or so, they turned over 51% of the business to their scumbag kids. They quickly sold the business to Pelican which was the competition for Hardigg. So here is the truth…. Jim Hardigg had invested a shitload of money into injection molding, buying the largest machines in the US, and spent millions and millions on molds when they got into the injection molded case business basically putting Pelican out of business. Big machines equal high pressure, and high pressure mean you can run much better material. Plus Hardigg’s had patented a much better latch which was a big selling point. So now Pelican makes the pelican case made in CA, but has re-branded the Hardigg “storm case” using their own name.

I usually don’t rant about stuff like this, but Pelican does not like veterans…. You may think after seeing their ads that they love a guy with prior service, but that is simply not true. Example: In 2017 my co-worker bought me a 3x5’ USMC flag that I kept in my locker. On Veterans day I mounted the flag on the wall behind our work area. Within 30 minutes, HR and my manager came down to the floor and told me to remove the flag. Obviously I asked why and they told me some of the employees felt threatened by the flag. I told them that I was a disabled USMC veteran and also reminded them it was Veterans Day. My choice was to take down the flag or be terminated. So I took down the flag, went home sick, made arrangements for insurance and stuff, then retired on Dec 3, 2017. f*** Pelican…. Hardigg was a cool place to work, Pelican…. Not so much. BTW I was number 7 out of 800 employees in seniority so they actually lost a small bit of knowledge that day.
 
@Steve600 - no company can replace someone who knows where all the skeletons are, no matter how hard they try.

I looked at Pelican years ago and was really intrigued, but never pulled the proverbial trigger. It seems their new stuff is now missing most of the items that made them excellent before. It’s sad, and it’ll come back to bite them.
 
Christian said:
While Pelican HR may hire and protect the pussies that work there(as well as hating vets), Pelican itself does give a 15% discount through ID.me to take away some of the ouch.

Pelican 1700
View attachment 887623
View attachment 887624
Click to expand...
They’re $200 shipped from Amazon right now they used to be a little cheaper sometimes if you wait they go down sometimes they go up. I probably have 10 of them.
 
MGnoob said:
They’re $200 shipped from Amazon right now they used to be a little cheaper sometimes if you wait they go down sometimes they go up. I probably have 10 of them.
Click to expand...
You sure you're looking at the 1700 and not the Vault model?

All I'm seeing for the 1700 is $313(I'm on my phone so I didn't look to hard).
 
Christian said:
You sure you're looking at the 1700 and not the Vault model?

All I'm seeing for the 1700 is $313(I'm on my phone so I didn't look to hard).
Click to expand...
That’s trash it was there this morning. I wish I took a screenshot or sent a link. I have 1700,1720,1750s. And all kinds of randoms.

It’s strange just like check back with Amazon the prices fluctuate a lot for some reason.. I always wait to buy them when they’re at their cheapest. I think one of them I got for 170 to keep an eye out. I bet you can find one for 200


$313 is ridiculous
 
Steve600 said:
I worked for Hardigg/Pelican my entire life after getting out of the Marines. Hardigg made the storm case and Pelican made a cheaper version made in CA. (Hardigg is in S. Deerfield, MA). Hardigg Ind was family owned and when Jim and Alice were quite old back in 2005 or so, they turned over 51% of the business to their scumbag kids. They quickly sold the business to Pelican which was the competition for Hardigg. So here is the truth…. Jim Hardigg had invested a shitload of money into injection molding, buying the largest machines in the US, and spent millions and millions on molds when they got into the injection molded case business basically putting Pelican out of business. Big machines equal high pressure, and high pressure mean you can run much better material. Plus Hardigg’s had patented a much better latch which was a big selling point. So now Pelican makes the pelican case made in CA, but has re-branded the Hardigg “storm case” using their own name.

I usually don’t rant about stuff like this, but Pelican does not like veterans…. You may think after seeing their ads that they love a guy with prior service, but that is simply not true. Example: In 2017 my co-worker bought me a 3x5’ USMC flag that I kept in my locker. On Veterans day I mounted the flag on the wall behind our work area. Within 30 minutes, HR and my manager came down to the floor and told me to remove the flag. Obviously I asked why and they told me some of the employees felt threatened by the flag. I told them that I was a disabled USMC veteran and also reminded them it was Veterans Day. My choice was to take down the flag or be terminated. So I took down the flag, went home sick, made arrangements for insurance and stuff, then retired on Dec 3, 2017. f*** Pelican…. Hardigg was a cool place to work, Pelican…. Not so much. BTW I was number 7 out of 800 employees in seniority so they actually lost a small bit of knowledge that day.
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting this. Those old Hardigg cases look bomb proof! Outrageous that Pelican couldn't at least give you the day to leave the flag up, given it was Veterans Day. I would have handled it 180 degrees different. Such a divisive whiner would have no place on my team and would be at the top of the short list for personnel change.
 
After using the Eylar case a bit, I think it was a good value- especially for a carbine case. My impressions so far-

61BNqj3RvsL._AC_SX679_.jpg


81fqqb5rF0L._AC_SX679_.jpg


The bad or at worst so-so:
  • While the latches are solid, they are not anywhere near as nice as Pelican latches. Not sure how tough they will be, though there are four of them on a medium size case so I'm sure they'll keep it securely closed.
  • Handles are not quite as heavy duty as the Pelican handles but they do appear to be adequate.
  • Quality of the injection mold is not the same- you can seem some swirling and texture vs. a Pelican that would be completely smooth. Seems consistent with @Steve600 's comments about the size of the Hardigg molding machines.
The good:
  • Overall seems to be a very well made case and offer solid protection.
  • The ~38" case works great to fit two carbines / SBR's if the uppers and lower are separated. Will fit one and some pistols if the SBR is left together.
  • The gasket seal appears to be as good or better than Pelican.
  • The foam is better than Pelican. Comes with solid and pick-n-pull inserts, and the inserts are well fitted. Sometimes Pelican misses the mark with foam cut a little too small or too big. Also the Eylar foam is slightly more pliable yet holds things just as securely.
  • The lock hasps are more solid and as before mentioned, covered in metal.
  • I made a recent trip to Harbor Freight and by comparison, I think this is a slightly nicer case than the HF Pelican clone.
In conclusion I'd say it was the right choice for what I needed, and I'd buy another if I needed something similar for carbines or pistol size. I'll need more time to see how it holds up before I'd prefer one in a rifle size vs. the Pelican ones I have.
 
Magpul makes this ridiculous insert kit for pelican cases. I’m not gonna pull it up. It’s been discussed here before I’m not saying it’s not kind of neat but..

I don’t get people spreading half the price of the rifle on a case. I’ve got some rifles and things that are worth a fortune and I still won’t even justify some of these prices.
 
MGnoob said:
That’s trash it was there this morning. I wish I took a screenshot or sent a link. I have 1700,1720,1750s. And all kinds of randoms.

It’s strange just like check back with Amazon the prices fluctuate a lot for some reason.. I always wait to buy them when they’re at their cheapest. I think one of them I got for 170 to keep an eye out. I bet you can find one for 200


$313 is ridiculous
Click to expand...
Think $300 is bad, I picked up a 1730 transport case back in 2013 for just shy of $400.
1720294541412.png

Same case, same store today.
1720294638337.png

[rofl2] And that doesn't even include shipping!
 
SKB, Pelican, Hardigg - all the same company. The 1700 series is the Pelican most people think of for the typical rifle case with the metal on the hasps. The im3100 is what used to be in the Hardigg lineup, I think. Not sure that model ever had metal on the hasps, but the 1700s still do.
 
MGnoob said:
Magpul makes this ridiculous insert kit for pelican cases. I’m not gonna pull it up. It’s been discussed here before I’m not saying it’s not kind of neat but..

I don’t get people spreading half the price of the rifle on a case. I’ve got some rifles and things that are worth a fortune and I still won’t even justify some of these prices.
Click to expand...
If somebody picked up a foam-less Pelican for short money, that Magpul insert might be OK for the money. I see people try to sell Pelican cases w/o foam for stupid prices, especially when you consider how much the foam will cost.

The old prices on my Pelican rifle cases we OK for me. I've had near misses for rifle damage when cheap ass cases failed.
 
strangenh said:
SKB, Pelican, Hardigg - all the same company. The 1700 series is the Pelican most people think of for the typical rifle case with the metal on the hasps. The im3100 is what used to be in the Hardigg lineup, I think. Not sure that model ever had metal on the hasps, but the 1700s still do.
Click to expand...
I was looking for a carbine size- 3100 might be that size? In any case, over $300 for a carbine size case is the main reason I sought clones.
 
Mountain said:
I was looking for a carbine size- 3100 might be that size? In any case, over $300 for a carbine size case is the main reason I sought clones.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the 1700 with foam (with coupon) comes out to $272 at that place I linked above. It's heavier than the 3100 tho. Both are meant to handle the same content.
 
The biggest difference in the original Pelican cases (1700, 1720, 1750, etc) is the material used. The Pelican have a temperature rating of 210 degrees, most other cases are rated for 140 degrees. I fly in to Phoenix and Tucson with cases a few times per year, I don’t want them failing on the tarmac or in the trunk of the car that exceeds 160 degrees on a 115 degree day. I was in the market for another case recently. Pelican Storm and Vault use the 140 degree material. Harbor Freight and Eylar come out of the same factory, 140 degree and the case lid flexes too much for air travel. Nanuk cases look and feel good, but 140 degree and when you open all the latches and only have the locks holding it closed you can easily pry the case open enough to stick a finger in the gap. That wouldn’t fly on American these days. I bought another Pelican 1720. I do want to order one of the Magpul systems for the inside rather than cutting the foam for a specific rifle.

Pelican updated the 1700, 1720, and 1750 a couple years back. They finally have a folding handle on the 1700. I’ll be upgrading the two 1700’s I have at some point. I use my 1700 and 1720 for range trips here in MA due to the storage requirements for large capacity firearms.
 
The only people who buy new pelican cases are retards and the federal government. After 25 years of gwot you can get stacks of them for 25% of the original cost at surplus places and most still look nearly unused.
 

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