Ive been researching discreet rifle cases for a few weeks and after looking at the options I found, I decided to try and make my own. And Im glad I did because because Im very happy with how it turned out. I went to a local music shop and found a used guitar case with a lock for $50(cheap lock but it will keep honest people honest). I picked up some foam padding at walmart for under $20 and cut it to fit the case. It fits nicely and doesnt move at all inside the case. The only thing I might change would be the foam padding if I can ever get my hands on some grey or black foam. I looked all over locally before settling for the white foam stuff. Does anyone know where to get the dark colored foam? I do like the contrast between the white padding and black rifle though but Im sure It will get dirty after a while. This case will be used mostly for vacations, I dont want to leave the rifle in the trunk of my car or be seen carrying a rifle case through a hotel lobby so mission accomplished:D Heres a pic.
Thanks I didnt think to try a medical supply shop, we got a few around here Ill try to get some tomorrow. 
I’ve been thinking about a discreet carry bag too. It seems the Sneaky Bags are the sh$t. An M4 member, Esskay, was nice enough to PM me a nice review with pics. I’m a little put out by the price tag though! I might have to try this soft guitar case first. I like that it has back straps and can be carried like a back pack. It could come in handy in a “Katrina” type natural disaster.
It’s only $20.00 and has plenty of room left over for other goodies. Guess I can pony up for the Sneaky Bag if i don’t like the setup. Any other members ever used a guitar case before?
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=22625&page=4
Pic of Esskay’s Sneak Bags about halfway down the page. Nice gear.
a buddy of mine was in a band in college and had extra soft guitar cases that he used to carry his M4. I don’t think his neighbors ever figured out he was carrying a rifle down stairs cause he would keep people up with his guitar practice. everyone just assumed he was going to band practice.
On the other hand I’ve seen SBRs going into tennis racket bags, and gym bags.
I once saw a SIG 552 in a helmet bag. that was educational.
The cheapest guitar cases I found were Fender Strat soft cases on ebay for under $20. Theres a few out there in the $20 price range, hard to beat that for discreet carry. I opted for a hard case because I wanted to be able to lock it. Makes me feel better knowing a hotel maid or valet parker cant just open the case for a quick peek. Ive got $70 tied up in my case, $20 was for the foam padding but I had enough left over to give my brother who is now looking for a guitar case for his AK-47. I think the guitar case is better than any other discreet case on the market. When people see a discreet case, its just that, discreet. They dont know whats in it so you leave room for their assumptions. People see a guitar case and assume its just a guitar.
Now im gonna see if I can find some Metallica and AC/DC stickers to complete the look:cool:
That’s an excellent solution to the recurring problem of discreet rifle carry.
Take a look at these resources:
http://www.unitedcase.com/choosing-foam.html
http://www.unitedcase-pelican.com/pick-n-pluck-foam.html
http://www.unitedcase-pelican.com/replacement-foam-sets.html
http://www.casesbysource.com/product/2-0-firm-black-polyethylene-foam-sheets-fs06
http://www.polyethylenefoam.net/
I’m looking forward to how it works out, complete with pictorial steps. 
wow fastpat great links, thanks. Im not as happy with my plain jane white foam after seeing some of the products you linked. 
Ill have to place an order very soon, thats exaclty what Im looking for, gonna make this case look professionally done. Two thumbs up to you:)
Be aware that cheap soft cases for guitars will likely include cheap zippers. You may need to secure the gun inside the case either with foam borders or some sort of retention to keep the gun from bouncing against the zipper and popping it open, sending your gun to the floor.
Guitar cases move in and out of non-permissive environments easily. They are not as low-theft as some would imagine, but they don’t cause handwringing or bedwetting in others either.
You’re very welcome. Just remember my fee, photos of the process if you can.
By the way, some foam can be cut via the hot wire method, seems to me that polystyrene can, but polyurethane produces fumes and is dangerous and cannot.
One solution for obtaining foam: FoamByMail.Com
I’ve used their services for re-foaming Pelican cases and turning cheap carpenter/plumber tool boxes from the Home Despot into discreet cases. Another thing that might be looked into is, lining a racquetball case with the padding from a GI sleeping pad. It’s quick, easy and won’t show any identifying bulges.
Evil Colt, you got me to looking at various guitar cases, which in turn took me to the SKB web site to look at their very nice rigid cases.
They have one for “jumbo” guitar sizes, I know little about guitars, but this is for an acoustic guitar with a long fret I think. It’s the SKB 20 case.
The interesting thing is that it’s already lined with closed cell cross-linked polystyrene with a very nice velour cloth cover. It seems to me that one might take out the cloth cover, reshape the foam for a rifle by adding foam purchased for that purpose, and then reinstall the cloth liner. This case is long enough inside to accommodate at least four, maybe six magazines I think. The positives are locking latches and a very strong case, the negatives are just one I think, it’s a bit over $140.00.
I intend to use a Gibson type stencil to disguise a case at some point. Below is my current Gibson case, I suspect I can fit two complete rifles with a few mags no issue. I will probably start with an SKB type case that is lockable.
EDIT:
here are a few of interest for a soft case:
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Electric-Guitar-Gig-Bag?sku=547963
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gator-GBEExtreme1-Guitar-Gig-Bag?sku=541689
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Coffin-Case-Universal-Fit-Body-Bag?sku=543057
The last might be the most useful:
Thanks for the idea fastpat, my case has a nice liner in it already that I would look better than the gray foam. That would save me some $$$ by not having to buy the gray foam. My case is fairly small but I have room to stack about 4 30rnds mags on top of eacther. The pic of the acoustic case looks great, but yeah, the price is a bit much but it still seems like a good buy.
Heres an idea…what about using an insulating foam like Great Stuff in a case, laying a fabric on it and pushing the rifle and mags into place. Then wait for the Great Stuff to harden and then trim the fabric on top to fit? Just an idea, it may be hard to get the fabric to look good without any wrinkles though. A fabric with some strecth to it may work well. Ive seen this done with small motors, the fill a bag with foam, slap a small motor between 2 bags, stuff it in a box and let the foam harden taking shape of the box and motor before shipping.
bag the gun and mold the foam. you would then shape the cured foam, if need be, ,prior to applying the fabric. the spray foam will be absorbed into fabric (ask me how I know). this thought slowly approaches the pelican case type foam approach anyway, so in the long run, that might be the best choice. cut the foam into a guitar shape, reinforce where needed, cut the gun-mag shapes into the foam and secure it in the gig bag.
Only issue I would have with the guitar cases is that they can be as large of a theft target as a not so discrete gun case.
Folding chair in a bag bags make for fairly discrete movement.
I assumed the fabric would absorb some wet foam, so I thought about letting that dry then applying a 2nd layer of fabric.
But you are right on, If I bag the gun and mags and fill the entire case with foam, then set the rifle and mags in place and let it dry, perfect mold! As the foam dries it will harden and expand beyond the case. After trimming the foam back, and then covering it with fabric, the finished product should be really nice. I will go to Home Depot in a few hours and see what different insulating foams they have. Hopefully Ill find something that will harden more than the stuff Im familiar with. Ill be sure to take pics as I move the project along.
Keep any new thoughts coming guys I like how this thread is turning out, ideas leading to more ideas etc. Every time Ive checked this thread I found something of value to the project:) Thanks to all! Were gonna find an easy DIY method that looks and works great before were done here;)
Now that’s an interesting idea that I haven’t thought of before.
golf bag