Pelican Re-Set: One Rifle Case to Rule Them All?

With a new, endlessly adjustable internal storage system, you can quickly reconfigure a single Pelican Protector-series rifle case to securely transport most any rifle in your collection

by Mike Dickerson

Imagine one hard rifle case that can provide a custom fit for virtually any rifle — and then be quickly reconfigured to fit any other rifle in your collection.

That’s what the Pelican Re-Set system does. Re-Set isn’t a rifle case per se, but a customizable internal storage system that replaces the bottom foam padding in popular Pelican Protector 1700, 1720, and 1750 cases. With Re-Set in place, you have an infinitely configurable system that eliminates the shortcomings of existing solutions.

Re-Set is designed around an ingeniously simple concept. You simply push down or pull up high-density foam pegs within a raised grid system to create a custom fit for your firearm. This eliminates the need to cut custom patterns in foam padding or deal with tedious pick-and-pluck foam inserts. It can also eliminate the need for multiple cases — or multiple custom-cut foam inserts — for the traveling hunter or shooter.

Upon unboxing the Re-Set system for the Pelican 1750 case, which has long been my favorite for scoped hunting rifles, I was a little intimidated by the assembly chore confronting me based on the sheer number of parts in the box. There were three plastic grids with a multitude of square openings filled with 50mm high-density foam pegs, one extra grid with a sizeable cutout section, and multiple plastic bags filled with 50mm and 82mm pegs, plus a bunch of peg collars.

Conveniently, Pelican provides video guidance on the assembly process, and the assembly turned out to be far simpler than I anticipated. I simply had to insert 21 of the 82mm foam pegs into peg collars and insert those into empty “standoff” squares in the grids. These standoff pegs allow the grids to stand up from the bottom of the case, providing vertical clearance for the pegs to be pushed down in a customized pattern to accommodate a rifle, optic, and accessories.

Pelican includes an optional fourth grid with a cutout section that can be used in the middle position of the case when transporting guns with optics that have large turrets. I didn’t find it necessary to use this for rifles wearing scopes with some sizeable turrets. I also actually prefer that optics be directly cushioned by the foam pegs and the foam cushion in the top of the case.

I found that it took a few minutes to initially configure the Re-Set system for each rifle or accessory to ensure that everything fit snugly against the raised pegs and to eliminate any movement within the case. The more I worked with the system, the faster things went. The easiest part of the process is resetting the system to customize it for another rifle. You simply lift the grid out and push all the depressed pegs back to their raised position. If you’re only switching between rifles of similar size and configuration, as I often do, you don’t even have to reset all the pegs. You will likely just need to manipulate a few pegs to ensure a snug fit.

One initial concern I had about the system was whether the cylindrical pegs would allow too much wiggle room for a scoped rifle compared to custom-cut foam. I quickly found that this was not an issue at all. With a little fine-tuning of peg positions and with the foam-padded case lid closed, guns were completely protected and secured, and did not move at all.

I was sold, but I couldn’t help wondering if the foam pegs might wear down through heavy use over time. This doesn’t appear to be a problem. Pelican says the durable, high-density pegs are good for hundreds of resets. Should any wear a little loose, rotate them 45 degrees and they’re good for hundreds more resets. Pegs can obviously also be moved to different positions within the grid.

The kit I tested also came with 20 extra 50mm pegs and the same number of spare 82mm pegs. Some of these are intended to help build up the alternate fourth cutout grid panel, which does not come with pegs already in place. If you don’t use this panel (I found it unnecessary for my purposes), you’ll have an ample supply of spare pegs should you ever need to replace any. I would use the cutout panel if I were transporting a rifle with something truly bulky attached, such as a light attached to the side of the handguard on an AR.

Of course, the internal storage system is just one component in designing rifle cases that will stand up to harsh travel conditions. Pelican has long been the 800-pound gorilla in the high-quality, hard rifle case market, and with good reason. Here’s a quick look at the Protector series of cases that accept the Re-Set system (other models will be added in the future).

The 1750 case is the largest and most versatile of the group, measuring 54 inches long. Internal dimensions are 50.4 x 13.3 x 5.3 inches. This is the case to use for scoped hunting rifles or when you want to pack a lot of accessories with the rifle. Most AR-platform rifles will fit in the shorter 1720 case, which measures 41.8 x 13.6 x 5.3 inches internally. The smallest Protector rifle case is the 1700, which has 35.8 13.7 x 5.4 inches of internal storage. This can be a good choice for SBRs, AR pistols, or multiple handguns. Pelican recommends that you use a case big enough to have at least one row of foam pegs between the walls of the case and your gun or optic.

All these cases are watertight, crushproof, and dustproof, and are designed to withstand the harshest environments. They are equipped with an automatic purge valve to equalize air pressure and host a watertight silicone O-ring lid. Standard features include strong polyurethane wheels with stainless steel bearings, as well as new over-molded, fold-down top and side handles for better grip and comfort when wheeling cases through airports. The cases have easy-open, double-throw latches, and all hardware is stainless steel, including the padlock protectors. (Note: to ensure no issues with TSA, make sure you use a padlock for each padlock hole). Cases are available in black, desert tan, and OD green colors.

If you already have one of these cases, you need only order the Re-Set system from Pelican. Prices are $169.95 for the 1700 kit, $199.95 for the 1720 kit, and $229.95 for the 1750 kit. MSRPs for the Protector cases are $331.95 for the 1700, $346.95 for the 1720, and $357.95 for the 1750, but you can often find them for a bit less.

In many decades of flying to far-flung hunting destinations, I have always relied on Pelican 1750 cases to get my firearms there safely. Even when I have sat on a plane and watched baggage handlers literally throw my case onto the tarmac, I have never arrived at a destination and found the zero on a rifle to be changed from where I left it, and I’m confident that the Re-Set system will deliver the same level of protection.

With the Re-Set system, Pelican has made a great rifle case even better.

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Mike Dickerson

Mike Dickerson is an award-winning outdoor writer who has published thousands of magazine and newspaper articles. He is an avid hunter and recreational shooter with decades of experience, specializing in rifles, shotguns, optics, and ammunition. He is also a proud Vietnam veteran who maintains close ties with the US military.

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