Field Tested: Axelson Tactical Axe Advanced Rifle Case

by
posted on August 25, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
axe_007_01-axelson-cover_01.jpg
While some rifles enjoy a rather sedate working life consisting of occasional trips to the range and a cozy nook in a fireproof gun safe, other rifles are regularly dragged through all the tough and unfriendly conditions the great outdoors has to offer. Axelson Tactical recognizes that quality long guns deserve top-notch protection and easy transport. The company has developed the 3-in-1 Axe Advanced Rifle Case (ARC) to meet the needs of those shooting enthusiasts who insist on working and playing in rough-and-tumble environments.



Axelson did away with the relatively weak and leaky hinged clamshell type outer shell in favor of a single-piece hard plastic tube with a molded-in carry handle and strap loops that allow the shell to be secured to ATVs and other recreational vehicles. The removable end cap seals the tube snuggly, allowing the case to float or be buried in an emergency. Lockable end caps that meet air travel requirements are available.

 

Inside the tube is a 38" multi-function, padded soft carry case. The interior is designed to protect an AR type rifle with pockets for rifle magazines, a handgun, handgun magazines and an integrated hydration pouch carrier. Because the case fully opens and spreads out flat, it can serve as a shooting mat in a pinch.

The soft case can also be converted into a comfortable and useful backpack. With the rifle removed, the case is folded in half and secured using the integrated straps. The padded shoulder straps extend from a concealed pocket. Once configured as a backpack, the ARC provides full access to the interior pockets, hydration pouch and Mollie straps for additional accessories. Strategically located support straps allow the pack to carry the rifle without sacrificing any of the interior storage space.

This is one of those products that might sound like a gimmick or too-good-to-be-true at first glance. But that's not the case with the ARC. It's a well-designed system that lived up to my expectations. It's a smart set-up that makes traveling short or long distances with a rifle much easier while providing a hard case, a range bag and a tactical backpack all rolled into one. The ARC is available in Black or Dark Earth. MSRP: $159.95

For more, visit axelsonusa.com.

Latest

Us Army 250 Th Part 3 1
Us Army 250 Th Part 3 1

250 Years of the U.S. Army: Bolt-Actions & Semi-Automatics on the Battlefield

In just a few decades, the U.S. Army would see itself go from a single-shot, blackpowder design in the form of the Trapdoor Springfield to a modern, semi-automatic fighting rifle in the M1 Garand.

Modernized & Economical Muzzleloaders: The CVA Optima XP & XP-SB

CVA's longest-lasting muzzleloader design, the Optima, has been updated in 2026 with "modern ergonomics and modularity."

MidwayUSA Awards $7.5 Million in Cash Grants to Support Youth Shooting Teams

MidwayUSA Foundation recently announced that it concluded its most recent grant cycle, which resulted in a total payout of more than $7.5 million to youth shooting teams and organizations nationwide.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act is on the Move

The story of American freedom, now almost 250 years on since delegates to the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, leads irrevocably to the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.

Mixing & Matching Gun Parts: What’s The Catch?

How would one about verifying that parts from one gun would fit and function on another of the same make and model? What about aftermarket parts sold as replacement parts for hard-to-get original parts?

U.S. Army & Navy Award FN a $9.9 Million Contract for Machine Guns

FN America has been awarded a $9.9 million contract to supply the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy with FN M240B machine guns, continuing the supply of FN America’s longest-standing military weapons platform.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.