Replacement foam for rifle cases

[thomasair]

When we were prepping to travel to Finland I got to looking for replacement foam for a couple rifle cases that had already been plucked for other configurations.

I was surprised by the cost of foam and quickly concluded that it was about the same to just buy a whole new case.

My wife suggested that maybe we just buy a 2" memory foam pad for a twin mattress and cut it up into case sized pieces. I was not sure how they would work out but it ended up far surpassing the original case foams and didn't need gun specific cutting. We got 4 case sized pieces from one twin pad...plus a little extra.

I used 2 pieces of the foam to sandwich the guns, actions, and extra barrels ....plus the original solid top and bottom foam from the cases and everything was exactly in the same place when we arrived and returned. Nothing moved a millimeter. Plus it can be used again and again for any new configuration since you are not cutting pockets in it.

It's actually way better than custom cut foam inserts.

It was a happy surprise.

Mike

 

[Bramezy]

Awesome info!!

 

[Ranchibi]

That's genius from your wife! I have been using Plano cases and I did purchase extra foam str8 from them and like you said cost is close to the cost of a new case! And, for every new rifle one needs different foam to form fit it if it's not exactly the same.....

 

[Ezana4CE]

When we were prepping to travel to Finland I got to looking for replacement foam for a couple rifle cases that had already been plucked for other configurations.

I was surprised by the cost of foam and quickly concluded that it was about the same to just buy a whole new case.

My wife suggested that maybe we just buy a 2" memory foam pad for a twin mattress and cut it up into case sized pieces. I was not sure how they would work out but it ended up far surpassing the original case foams and didn't need gun specific cutting. We got 4 case sized pieces from one twin pad...plus a little extra.

I used 2 pieces of the foam to sandwich the guns, actions, and extra barrels ....plus the original solid top and bottom foam from the cases and everything was exactly in the same place when we arrived and returned. Nothing moved a millimeter. Plus it can be used again and again for any new configuration since you are not cutting pockets in it.

It's actually way better than custom cut foam inserts.

It was a happy surprise.

Mike

I’ve done the sandwiching guns between foam pads before. It can work depending upon the quality of your case and its sealing mechanisms and your environment. A thing or two to be mindful of when doing this:

1) look for gaps around the rubber gasket and/or hinges of the case.

2) be sure that you’re using foam that doesn’t absorb and hold moistur from the air.

Edit: After entering the question “Is memory foam water absorbent?,” here’s the first answer that populated.

I live in the humid south and learned quickly about squishing guns between sponge-like material in an enclosed case. i suggest looking into closed cell foam. If there‘s a memory foam like it, that would probably work. I imagine that it exists for bedwetters.

 

[JW.]

I’ve done the sandwiching guns between foam pads before. It can work depending upon the quality of your case and its sealing mechanisms and your environment. A thing or two to be mindful of when doing this:

1) look for gaps around the rubber gasket and/or hinges of the case.

2) be sure that you’re using foam that doesn’t absorb and hold moistur from the air.

Edit: After entering the question “Is memory foam water absorbent?,” here’s the first answer that populated.

View attachment 589183

I live in the humid south and learned quickly about squishing guns between sponge-like material in an enclosed case. i suggest looking into closed cell foam. If there‘s a memory foam like it, that would probably work. I imagine that it exists for bedwetters.

The cross linked polyethylene stuff is non-absorbent, there are closed cell foams that will absorb water (polyurethane).

 

[thomasair]

It could very well be that the foam was water absorbent. There was no evidence of any corrosion whatsoever from the trip both ways, though. They arrived exactly in the same condition as they left and in exactly the same places as when we left.

I tried the same thing with regular foam first and as soon as I picked up the case, I could hear the barrels clanking against other parts. The 4 inches of memory foam stuffed into a 2 inch thick space was the key to keeping everything in place. I don't store guns in cases… So I probably will never know if the foam holds water and would cause a problem. It wasn't a problem during our trip there and back.

Mike

 

[Bramezy]

10/10 rule, removed

About?

 

[Gerry52]

Timely that you mentioned this. We're about to replace our memory foam mattress & was thinking about doing this very thing with it (the one being replaced). Thanks!

 

[lopezvega95]

When we were prepping to travel to Finland I got to looking for replacement foam for a couple rifle cases that had already been plucked for other configurations.

I was surprised by the cost of foam and quickly concluded that it was about the same to just buy a whole new case.

My wife suggested that maybe we just buy a 2" memory foam pad for a twin mattress and cut it up into case sized pieces. I was not sure how they would work out but it ended up far surpassing the original case foams and didn't need gun specific cutting. We got 4 case sized pieces from one twin pad...plus a little extra.

I used 2 pieces of the foam to sandwich the guns, actions, and extra barrels ....plus the original solid top and bottom foam from the cases and everything was exactly in the same place when we arrived and returned. Nothing moved a millimeter. Plus it can be used again and again for any new configuration since you are not cutting pockets in it.

It's actually way better than custom cut foam inserts.

It was a happy surprise.

Mike

I just came across a great website that sells foam cheap. And just ordered some, we'll see the quality of it, ill come in, in around 10 days. But you can check them out. Its https://www.foambymail.com/
It sells memory foam, but if you search charcoal foam, it'll give you the option for solid firm pad, solid pad, eggshell, or pick and pull, which is awesome for gun cases

 

[Lewis]

Pictures please.

 

[bigHUN]

Years back I run into a foam making/selling company in Toronto, and I bought a 2" thick 4'x8' sheet, black closed cell foam. The price for that big sheet was about a same like the white 2" styrofoam (XPS) sheets from HD. Long time ago, I still have about half of it somewhere in my lockers, after many years.
I don't have many airguns, but keeping all in a hard case. I cut the recessed shapes for arrangements.
In the beginning I was picky for a precision, but after swapping couple of scopes (larger smaller) I gave up with that madness .

 

[rxtargetssys]

When we were prepping to travel to Finland I got to looking for replacement foam for a couple rifle cases that had already been plucked for other configurations.

I was surprised by the cost of foam and quickly concluded that it was about the same to just buy a whole new case.

My wife suggested that maybe we just buy a 2" memory foam pad for a twin mattress and cut it up into case sized pieces. I was not sure how they would work out but it ended up far surpassing the original case foams and didn't need gun specific cutting. We got 4 case sized pieces from one twin pad...plus a little extra.

I used 2 pieces of the foam to sandwich the guns, actions, and extra barrels ....plus the original solid top and bottom foam from the cases and everything was exactly in the same place when we arrived and returned. Nothing moved a millimeter. Plus it can be used again and again for any new configuration since you are not cutting pockets in it.

It's actually way better than custom cut foam inserts.

It was a happy surprise.

Mike

Great idea! This might help me with target packaging. Commercial packing material can be expensive