Stupid Hurts
Stolen from Wirecutter’s
This is the equivalent of carrying a $7,000 custom 1911 in a gun show-made nylon holster and expecting it will hold a weekend at Thunder Ranch.
Soft cases are for controlled trips where the item does not leave your side or are encased on a stronger “box” like the trunk of your car. They are only for ease of transportation and avoid scratches and light bumps.
If you do travel, get a decent hard case. Pelican cases seem to be the standard, but if I’d travel, had a healthy back and had the money to waste, I would take my guns in Anvil cases or Calzone cases. Not only they are hard as hell, but I believe they may be used a hard cover against small calibers. OK, I am kidding on the last part.
As painful as that photo is to look at, it's not unexpected or surprising, either.
Air travel is notoriously hard on luggage; items are NOT handled gently, often literally THROWN into the plane. Soft-sided suitcases are for soft items that can stand being crushed a bit -- or a lot (read: if ALL you're packing is clothing, a soft-sided suitcase is probably fine). If you have anything that can't withstand crushing forces, it NEEDS to be in a hard-shelled case that can protect it. For example, a friend of mine plays -- and sometimes travels with -- a cello. Cellos are not cheap to begin with, but hers is worth 5 or 6 figures. The hard case she uses for travel weighs several times as much as the instrument it protects, and possibly COULD serve as hard cover against small calibers.
Using a soft-case on an airplane shows a failure to plan for the rigors of air travel. And as we all know, failure to plan is a plan for failure.
and If I can’t drive there Im not going…. any travel other than personal you are putting yer ass in way too many hands that just don’t give a shiite..