The Pelican 1720 Long Case kept my rifle dry through 24 hours in a snowstorm, a pickup ride through an ice storm and four hours of pouring rain, held 250 pounds on its lid for a six hour drive with only nicked ribs, and opened easily after flights thanks to its pressure equalization valve. It weighs 19 pounds, takes rifles up to 42 inches, and its short wheelbase corners poorly.
Still in production? Yes. Pelican still sells the 1720 on pelican.com (checked October 2026). This review dates to 2013.
Specs, test results and the verdict come first, then the full review.
Table of contents
Pelican 1720 Long Case Specs
| Pelican 1720 (as tested) | |
|---|---|
| Interior | 42 x 13.5 x 5.25 in (lid 1.75 in, base 3.5 in deep) |
| Exterior | 44.37 x 16 x 6.12 in |
| Weight | 19 lb with foam |
| Max rifle length | 42 in |
| Latches | 4 Double Throw |
| Lock points | 2, stainless reinforced (4 lock version available) |
| Handles / wheels | 3 handles; 2 polyurethane wheels with ball bearings |
| Seal | O-ring plus automatic pressure equalization valve |
| Foam | 3 inserts (no foam version available) |
Test Results
- Water: no leaks after 24 hours in snow, an ice storm in a truck bed, and four hours of rain.
- Load: 250 pounds on the lid for six hours; ribs nicked, lid otherwise unmarked.
- Travel: opened easily after long flights; one scope lost zero during a flight.
Verdict
- Good: stayed dry, strong ribbed lid, easy opening latches, reinforced lock points, three handles.
- Know this: 19 lb, 42 inch limit is short for many hunting rifles, short wheelbase, may need longer padlocks.
See more options in our rifle hard case picks.
Another Pelican test: Pelican CRATE 45L.
🛒 Check Current Price for Pelican 1720 on GunsAmerica
Despite being left out in the snow the day before, 24 hours later the Pelican 1720 Long Case had not leaked. Notice the four pairs of vertical ribs, which help strengthen the polymer case.
Even if you’re only driving to a nearby destination, there’s no reason to risk your long-term investments on a bargain-basement rifle case. There are some great deals out there, but if you value your firearms and gear, a good travel case is cheap insurance.
Whether it’s an unexpected downpour or clumsy baggage handlers, the Pelican 1720 Long Case is designed to maximize the chances of your rifle’s safe arrival. Lots of companies make the same claim about their products, but during testing this case kept its contents moisture free after 24 hours in the snow, four hours in the rain and in the back of a truck driving through an ice storm. The automatic pressure equalization valve let in no water, and the polymer case remains relatively scar free, despite airline travel. Internally, three foam inserts mean there’s little risk to the thousands of dollars and countless hours you’ve invested in setting up your rifle and optic.
Quarter-inch-thick ribs are found at each interior corner, making the rifle case even more sturdy.
There are tradeoffs, though. The Pelican 1720 Long Case is hardly a flyweight at 19 pounds, it cost around $200 when tested in 2013, and the maximum rifle length it can hold is 42 inches (ideal for most ARs, but too short for many hunting rifles).
Reinforcements
The polymer case measures 44.37x16x6.12 inches and is available in black, desert tan and OD green (special order). Walls, lid and base all have ¼ inch thick polymer walls, which accounts for some of the heft, and the reinforcement adds more.
A slightly thicker “Y” section of polymer is found in the cases’ bottom, minimizing the chances it will begin to bend and fatigue after prolonged use.
A good example of the thought that went into this case is found on the lid. Its 709.9 square inches of flat surface begs for heavy objects to be placed atop when loading a truck, van or cargo hold. A quarter inch of polymer is pretty tough, but with enough pressure it can fatigue, inching closer to the rifle and optic as it bends and warps. Pelican remedies the problem by adding four pairs of vertical ribs across the lid, each ¼ inch tall and ¼ inch wide, effectively making ½ inch of polymer bear (and distribute) most of the weight.
The treatment also explains why the case didn’t suffer extensive scarring during testing. The ribs were nicked in a few places after 250 pounds rested on the case during a six-hour drive, but the remainder of the lid was unblemished. Improper packing, obviously, will change that equation, but even through airline handling the case held up well thanks to the (to borrow an electrical term) standoff insulation.
An O-ring is located in a channel in the lid (left) and the case’s base (right) has a 1/4 inch raised section that invades that space, providing an airtight seal once the rifle case is closed and latches secured.
The ribs continue on the sides and underside of the case, encircling it and maximizing the strength-enhancing effect. In addition, the bottom has eight ovals of the same height. They appear to serve as “feet” to elevate the Pelican above abrasive gravel, taking part of the brunt if you have to drag the case downrange or off a dirty truck.
Radiating from each corner is a quartet of ¼ inch-thick polymer ribs for added stability in a particularly vulnerable area. Internally a similar treatment is employed, although it’s hidden by foam.
The automatic pressure-equalization valve apparently works well, since the case was never tough to open, even after long flights. Despite being doused several times with water, it did not leak.
Providing structural integrity horizontally is a beefy lip where the lid and base meet. Sealed, it measures 1 inch thick, and .655 inch wide. Each side has added reinforcement, as well.
Air Tight
Some companies would be content calling the unit watertight with a lip that generous, but not Pelican. Pelican rates the 1720 Long Case for 160 pounds of buoyancy and says it keeps out air, snow, dust and ice.
To test those claims, the case was subjected to 24 hours in a snowstorm. Then it rode in the back of a pickup truck driving through an ice storm and was left in a pouring rain for four hours. It didn’t leak at all.
When closed, the “Double Throw” latches are flush against the case and relatively protected by heavy polymer barriers.
This is what the “Double Throw” latch looks like from underneath, before the bottom paddle is pulled.
To open, the bottom section of the “paddle” is pulled. Notice the upper, beefier part of the latch still has a secure hold of the lid.
Seen from the bottom, as the first paddle is pulled, leverage is applied from within by the bar now seen protruding. As a result, the case is one of the easiest opening I have tested.
The lid’s O-ring, located in a ¼ inch channel that encircles the entire case, explains the feat. A ridged portion on the main body applies pressure when the case is closed and ensures a watertight seal. If after prolonged use the seal begins to leak, Pelican sells a replacement. Although the rubber “gasket” is located in the lid, in testing it didn’t drop or fall, which can be annoying with some models.
To maximize the effort required to break into the case, stainless steel reinforcement is found on the lock points.
But an airtight seal can provide its own challenges after an airline flight or when changing altitudes. Getting those latches open when there’s a significant difference between the barometric pressure and the pressure captured inside the case can be a lesson in frustration. The Pelican 1720 Long Case remedies the problem with an automatic pressure equalization valve. There were no problems opening the case, even after a long flight. And it did not leak water at all during testing.
Latches
Part of the ease of access can be attributed to what Pelican calls “Double Throw” latches, which have two paddles. Opening begins when the generous 2.027 inch-wide, lower paddle is pulled. At first, the bigger, more secure one remains stationary. But, as the first bar moves, a mechanism underneath applies leverage against the case’s main body, freeing the lid almost effortlessly.
The main handle is wide enough for comfortable carry and has enough room for use with gloved hands.
The upper latch really doesn’t come into play when opening the case, but its slightly wider profile and beefy size snaps with authority when closing. Despite the ease of opening, the case stayed secure and airtight in testing. The case comes with four latches.
Whenever traveling, locks are a good idea, but criminals know how to work a hacksaw through polymer. There are two padlock locations on this case (a four-lock version is also available), and to slow thieves down they are reinforced with stainless steel protectors in both the lid and main body. Remember, though, the walls and reinforcement on this case are thick, so you may need to buy longer padlocks.
Get a Grip
The case can carry rifles up to 42 inches in length, which may be too short for many hunting rifles, but there’s room to spare with most AR-15s.
Dragging a case this big around an airport or out of your car when it’s filled with gear can be a real chore. Luckily, this case comes with three handles.
The largest is located between the padlock locations and is 12 ½ inches long and 1 inch wide. It secures against the side to minimize the chances it will be broken or damaged while in transit. Two more, smaller handles are found at the sides, just in case it’s going to take a team effort to move all that gear. They measure 6 ¾ inches long and ¾ inch wide and also secure when not in use.
Wheels
The Pelican 1720 Long Case also has a pair of well-protected polyurethane wheels that are 1 3/8 inches wide. They take abuse well and the ball bearings make wheeling the case up to the check-in counters easy.
The wheels and bearings work well, but the short 10 7/8 inch wheelbase makes things tough when taking a corner and almost impossible if you’re piggybacking a soft bag on top.
The only real complaint is the short wheelbase. A case this thin can’t provide much of one, but at only 10 7/8 inches it doesn’t corner well and not at all when a soft bag is atop.
Interior dimensions are 42×13.5×5.25 inches. The lid’s depth is 1.75 inches, while the main body is 3.5 inches deep. The test case came with three foam inserts, although a version without any is available.
Four hours of pouring rain failed to invade the Pelican’s interior.
This Pelican took a beating in testing. The only incident encountered during testing was a scope that lost its zero, a minor inconvenience when you consider the damage that could have been done to the rifle, optics and gear during the flight.
FAQ
Is the Pelican 1720 still made?
Yes. Pelican still sells the 1720 on pelican.com as of October 2026.
What length rifle fits in a Pelican 1720?
Up to 42 inches; interior is 42 x 13.5 x 5.25 inches.
Is the Pelican 1720 waterproof?
Mine did not leak after 24 hours in snow, an ice storm and four hours of rain. Pelican rates it for 160 pounds of buoyancy.
It is unbelievable that no hard gun case maker has one longer than 52-53″. I have a Ruger with a 26″ bull barrel and it is a very tight fit. With the thought of a gun with a 32-36″ barrel in my future there is not a case out there to fit it. I like long range coyote hunting.