Best AR-15 Pistol Case

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By Dennis Howard •  12 min read

AR-15 pistols are popular for many reasons. Their portability and light weight make them easy to transport and carry.  Protecting your AR-15 pistol is always a concern during transportation. Of course, a hard case is the best protection. However, budget, and other considerations often make a soft case a more viable choice. Finding that best case for your AR-15 pistol is the challenge.

There are several factors that any good AR-15 pistol case should offer. We have looked at many of the AR-15 pistol cases available. We have compiled this list of what we consider the best AR-15 pistol cases.

Of course, your needs and expectations may be different than ours. Your priorities in an AR-15 pistol case will affect your decision on which case you buy.

Our Choices for the Best Case for an AR-15 Pistol

The following are our choices for the best AR-15 cases. We have tried to identify the best AR-15 pistol case in each category. We understand that your needs and expectations may be different than ours. That is to be expected. However, you can make a more informed decision by understanding what we look for in an AR-15 case.

AR-15 PISTOL CASE DETAILS
  • Collapsible over-molded comfort grip handles that fold down for travel or storage.
  • TSA Approved for airline travel.
  • Made in the USA.
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  • The padded primary compartment accepts rifles up to 36 inches long.
  • A secondary compartment 26 inches long is divided into two compartments to carry accessories.
  • Lockable heavy-duty zipper on both the main and secondary compartments.
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  • All nylon construction.
  • Racket bag styling doesn’t betray what is inside the bag.
  • Fully padded for the most in weapon protection.
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Boyt H-Series Hard-Sided Travel Cases

Boyt H-Series Hard-Sided Travel Cases

The Boyt H-Series hard cases are the best protection you can give to your AR-15 pistol when traveling. Boyt cases are built to withstand an amazing amount of abuse. Boyt cases offer features usually found in hard-sided cases costing hundreds of dollars more. You can expect features such as:

Users of the Boyt H-Series hard-sided travel cases are exuberant in their praise. In general, the comments by users of these hard-sided cases fall into these categories.

Some users of the Boyt cases report quality control issues with the assembly of the cases. We suggest you examine your case closely when it arrives.

  • Collapsible over-molded comfort grip handles that fold down for travel or storage.
  • TSA Approved for airline travel.
  • Made in the USA.
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Condor Single Rifle Case 36″

Condor Single Rifle Case 36

Condor Outdoor is not a well-recognized for its rifle cases as some other manufacturers, but I have found them great value. If your AR-15 pistol has a 16-inch barrel, you will need a longer rifle-style case. The Condor 36  inch tactical rifle case is a perfect solution to protect and carry your AR-15 pistol. Condor includes such features in their bags as:

Reviewing the comments of users of these Condor bags is a clear indication of the utility and durability of these cases. Most of the comments fall into these categories.

Not only do I have several Condor rifle cases, but I also carried Condor gear in my store when it was open. I can honestly say that the Condor gear was some of our best-selling equipment, and I think they have only gotten better.

  • The padded primary compartment accepts rifles up to 36 inches long.
  • A secondary compartment 26 inches long is divided into two compartments to carry accessories.
  • Lockable heavy-duty zipper on both the main and secondary compartments.
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HAZARD 4 Dropshot(TM) ‘Racket’ CCW Padded Case

HAZARD 4 Dropshot(TM) 'Racket' CCW Padded Case

Carrying a tactical rifle case is often an attention-getting situation. Many of us prefer to adopt the
“Gray man” attitude and keep a low profile when possible. A discreet style case for your AR-15 pistol is the perfect way to protect your AR-15 pistol and not attract unwanted attention.

There is no bag more discreet for carrying your AR-15 pistol than the MAZARD Dropshot racket style bag. The HAZARD bag is shaped like any other racket bag. This bag is optimized on the interior to carry a smaller AR-15 style pistol or SBR. HAZARD gives you a feature-rich bag as well.

Users of the HAZARD rackety style cases find them perfect for discreet carry. The comments we found are categorized into these general areas.

If you want to move your AR-15 pistol around without anyone having a clue what you are carrying, a HAZARD racket-style case is a perfect choice. Anyone seeing you will think nothing more than you are on your way to the courts for a brisk game of tennis.

  • All nylon construction.
  • Racket bag styling doesn’t betray what is inside the bag.
  • Fully padded for the most in weapon protection.
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HUNTSEN Tactical Rifle Bag Backpack

HUNTSEN Tactical Rifle Bag Backpack

Our alternative choice for a tactical soft side AR-15 pistol case is the Huntsen tactical rifle backpack. This bag resembles a small guitar case in shape which adds a bit of discreet carry cover for your AR-15 pistol. The Huntsen bag has several additional features that we like.

We looked at the comments from users of the HUNTSEN tactical rifle backpack and found that most users praise these bags. The general categories of the comments are:

For an AR-15 pistol, the Huntsen bag seems to be a sensible solution. It is not as discreet as some bags. It is a comfortable compromise between a full-on tactical rifle bag and a covert case.

  • Water-resistant polyester material provides excellent all-weather protection for your firearm.
  • Heavy-duty lockable zippers for added security.
  • Two compartments allow carrying your firearm and up to five loaded magazines.
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Condor 26” Transporter Gun Bag

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Suppose your AR-15 is on the smaller side with a shorter barrel. In that case, you might consider an even more compact method for carrying your AR-15 pistol.  Many AR-15 pistol owners prefer to carry their pistol in an even smaller bag by disassembling it into its upper and lower halves. Condor makes a bag especially for this type of carrying.

The Condor 26 inch transporter bag features two internal compartments with tie-down straps to hold the upper and lower for an AR-15 pistol snuggly and securely. There are other great features that make this one of my favorite bags for my AR-15 pistol.

Surveying users of the Condor Outdoor Transport bag find solid reviews and many positive comments. The comments fall into these main categories.

This is one of my favorite bags to carry a disassembled AR or AR-15 pistol. The quality is exceptional, and the design is perfect for my use. I highly recommend this bag.

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  • Lockable padded main compartment with a removable divider for easy configuration.
  • Four tie-down straps with Velcro closures to keep your rifle or pistol secure.
  • An exterior zipper compartment with elastic loops for magazines and other accessories.
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What Should I Look for in an AR-15 Pistol Case?

Several features are unique to find the best case for an AR1-5 pistol. You can, of course, put your AR-15 pistol in all most any rifle case. However, the characteristics of an AR-15 pistol can make a normal rifle case cumbersome and difficult to use. In general, the things you should look for in an AR-15 pistol case include:

Size – The size of your AR-15 pistol determines the best size of the case. In general, the case should not be more than 2 or 3 inches longer than the overall length of your AR-15 pistol. The case length maybe even shorter if you prefer to carry your AR-15 broken down into lower and upper halves.

Style – Typically, AR-15 cases are classed as either tactical style or discreet style. Tactical style bags are what many consider the traditional case style with numerous pockets, magazine carriers and pouches on the bag’s exterior. Tactical bags may be solid-colored or camouflage. Discreet bags are what you would expect. These bags are designed to conceal the purpose of the bag and usually have no outside magazine pouches. Some discreet bags look more like standard briefcases or backpacks.

Construction Quality and Durability – If you intend to trust the well-being of your Ar-15 pistol to a case, you should find the highest possible construction quality and materials available. The material should be durable and tear-resistant. Water-resistance is also a good idea. Zippers should be heavy-duty and sturdy to resist breaking.

Padding and Protection – You may want to look for several features that will keep your AR-15 pistol safe and secure. Lockable zippers are one recommendation. The heavier the padding on the case, the better it protects your AR-15 pistol. Heavy padding also helps disguise the outline of your AR-15 pistol from casual observation.


Which is Better? A Hard Case or a Soft Case?

There is a lot of debate about whether a hard case or a soft case is the better choice for transporting your AR-15 pistol. In our opinion, the situation and the conditions should dictate which is the best choice. Some of the considerations that can affect your choice are:

In the end, your needs and expectations will dictate which style of case you need for your AR-15 pistol. If you are like many of us, one case won’t fit all the needs. Having several different styles and types makes moving your AR-15 much easier depending on where you are going and what you are doing?


Finding the Right Case for Your AR-15 Pistol

Finding the right case to carry your AR-15 pistol can take some investigation and some thought. Determining your needs and expectations is one side of the coin. Protecting your AR-15 pistol and getting the best value for your dollar is the other. Hopefully, this article will give you some insight and help you make the best choice for your AR-15 pistol.

Dennis Howard

A life long hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman, after surviving a devastating tornado in his home town, he saw the effects on people's lives as they struggled to cope. He built his first bugout bag a few weeks later and has been a dedicated prepper/survivalist since that time. After a career as a fireman, Dennis opened a retail store (FFL approved) catering to the military, law enforcement, and like-minded individuals. The store built their own AR platforms. Furthermore, Dennis was also an NRA instructor in both long gun and handgun as well as a certified range safety officer. Read his full interview here.