I figure that I will buy hard plastic rifle case(s) from amazingdotcom and some rifle socks... That way I will have the box that the case comes in to use as well.
First, wipe down the air rifle wirh renwax, put in sock then wrap that in waxed paper and ship inside the gun case and its box.
I'd rather spend a little than to get a bunch of bits and pieces back.
Plus, take pics of the process to put in forsale ad... So, it will be boxed and ready to go before posting ad.
Am I missing anyrhing?
Put the gun in the case and shake it. You'll find that the gun is moving all around in there. They don't hold securely. Add a bunch of packing. I use carpet padding because I can get it from carpet layers for nothing.
Wrapped in carpet padding in a box with corners reinforced with strong cardboard angle (a friend saved a bunch for me) that comes on new appliances is hard to beat. Layers of cardboard reinforcing the ends.
I received a gun in a cheap plastic case. The barrel had broken through. A beautiful Webley Tomahawk and fortunately the gun wasn't damaged.
KWK is absolutely 1000% correct, an off-the-shelf hard case makes a terrible shipping container (ask me how I know, and I'll show you an irreplaceable vintage BSF diopter sight snapped in two). Stuff can move quite forcefully when it's dropped or hit.
Building-in firm but padded restraints as KWK describes is the best way. My bud "Jim in PGH" is the master of this, hope he will put up a pic of one of his shipping containers!
I'm a bit lazier, but it also works well to separate the action and stock, pad and bubble-wrap them very securely, and wedge into a box so they cannot move (the sturdy boxes that large-format plotter paper comes in are ideal). Wadded up newspaper is great for this, and extra cardboard, etc., on the ends is extra insurance. Such a short fat box has the added advantage of not shouting "Hey I'm a rifle, please break me!" like a long skinny one can.
Whilst on my soapbox...foam "peanuts" are another packing no-no. Utterly worthless for restraining any narrow or heavy item like a rifle.
Can't find any pictures of how I pack air rifles, but you are right, large-format printer paper boxes are perfect. One layer of 2" rigid foam on the bottom, one layer in the middle with cut-outs for the separated action and stock, and another layer of 2" rigid foam on top. Shake the box before you tape it. If anything moves, go back in and add padding/isolation. Hard gun cases are shite for shipping, unless you isolate the gun from movement. Shake it before you ship it!
See the link for one of BB's blogs about a gun I sent to him for testing.
https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2009/11/relum-supertornado-part-1/
@jim_in_pgh Thanks Jim!
You da MAN in the packing department, no doubt about it.
One more, then I'll stop tooting my own horn. Gotta scroll a bit to get to the packing. Look for the second picture.
https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2009/03/haenel-model-1-part-1-a-compulsive-airgun-buy/
@jim_in_pgh Thanks Jim! That one got a bookmark for the next time this question come up... 😀
