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Choose a pistol case by padded fit and transport needs

By the Plain Prepper editors. Updated 2026-10-17.

We research products from makers' specs, manuals and safety agencies; we do not run hands-on tests. Links to Amazon may earn us a commission at no cost to you. How this works.

Quick answer

Choose the Pelican V100 when its documented interior fits your padded handgun layout. Choose the V200 for a larger or deeper arrangement. Compare the Plano 140300 for a simple foam lined single pistol case, but obtain its usable interior dimensions before ordering for a close fit. These are transport cases. Padlock tabs, weather resistance and a foam insert do not establish the security of unattended home storage.

Start with the actual padded layout

The useful comparison is the space remaining around the contents after padding, rather than the number of handguns advertised. We compared opened maker pages and exact model listings. No impact, water entry or forced entry performance was assessed for this guide.

The V100 interior is 11 by 8 by 4.50 inches. The V200 interior is 14 by 10 by 5.50 inches. Those are Pelican shell dimensions, not a promise that any handgun of that length fits with sufficient foam. Include the actual sight or optic in your measurements.

Plano prints 11.5 inches of length and 2.75 inches of height for model 140300, but the opened page does not give a complete usable interior specification. Its outer measurements cannot be substituted for Pelican’s interior measurements. Ask for the missing drawing if close clearance determines your choice.

Case	Interior, in.	Insert
V100	11 × 8 × 4.50	Foam
V200	14 × 10 × 5.50	Foam
140300	Not verified	Foam liner

Choose between a compact case and room for accessories

Start with the unloaded equipment in the configuration you intend to transport. List everything that must travel in the case and make a layout that preserves the padding specified by the maker. If the lid presses on an optic or the foam cannot support the contents, a nominal fit is not enough.

V100 is the compact documented option here; V200 adds interior length, width and depth. Both selected black models have foam rather than a universal molded handgun tray. Choose the extra space only when your layout uses it. A larger shell also takes up more space in luggage and in a vehicle.

The Plano is a different design: molded handle, heavy duty latches, padlock tabs and two layers of high density foam. The product name says single pistol. Do not treat a photograph or a different seller’s claim as a measured capacity for your own equipment. Its simpler liner is a reason to compare it, not proof of equal protection.

Foam and closures need separate checks

Pelican describes four foam layers and two push button latches on each Vault model. Choose the standard foam package compared here rather than assuming a custom insert is included. Confirm the actual insert before planning a cut; a similarly named custom foam bundle may have a different layout.

Our buying order is fit first, then insert, then closure. Check whether replacement foam is available for the exact case and whether the intended padlock fits without leaving access to the contents. The V100 and V200 product pages list a 0.46 inch padlock hole diameter. That measurement does not rate a lock or certify a packed case.

Skip an insert whose layout is fixed for equipment you do not own. If you expect to change an optic or carry a different handgun later, consider how you will replace the insert. Do not assume foam that has already been cut will support a substantially different arrangement.

Keep transport separate from secure home storage

ATF’s firearm owner guidance recommends unloaded storage, locking ammunition separately and keeping keys and combinations away from children. A case’s carry handle and foam do not answer those storage requirements. Decide where and how the unloaded contents will be secured when the trip ends.

Pelican calls the Vault cases weather resistant and dustproof. We have not established a submersion rating or a burglary rating for either one. Nor does this comparison establish those ratings for the Plano. Do not read a general protective claim as permission to leave a firearm unattended in a vehicle.

For the separate home enclosure decision, compare our handgun safe guide. For a longer firearm, the rifle case guide compares another size category. A long case is not automatically a better choice for a compact pistol layout.

Read the airline conditions for the complete trip

TSA requires unloaded firearms in a locked hard sided container in checked baggage, declared to the airline. The container must prevent access; a locked case that can be easily opened is not permitted. A manufacturer’s airline wording cannot approve your particular packed setup.

Read the airline’s current policy and the applicable rules at departure, connection and destination before travel. This guide is a case comparison, not a legal assessment of a route or advice on operating a firearm. Keep the complete official instructions available for your trip.

Check whether locks are included in the selected package rather than assuming accessories shown nearby come with it. Obtain the closure and padlock details before ordering. If a carrier requires a particular configuration, verify that directly rather than relying on the word travel in a shopping title.

Match the model before ordering

The selected V100 is VCV100-0000-BLK, while V200 is VCV200-0000-BLK. The black case with standard foam is the package compared here. Plano’s maker model 140300 matches the selected listing; PMC140300 is its maker SKU.

New offers sold by Amazon were available for all three on October 17, 2026. Check the current condition, seller and exact insert when ordering. A later seller, color or custom foam option can change the package even if a search result still shows the same case family.

Our choice is V100 when the complete padded layout fits, V200 when it needs more depth or room, and Plano when its simple liner suits the job and the missing interior fit has been confirmed. None is selected for an unverified security, airline or weather performance advantage.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

Which measurements should I compare?

Compare usable padded interior space with the complete unloaded equipment. The Pelican figures are interior measurements. The incomplete Plano measurements are not a directly comparable padded interior.

Does a padlock make a case a gun safe?

No security rating was established here. Plan secure unloaded home storage separately, with ammunition locked separately and controlled keys and combinations, following ATF guidance and applicable law.

Are these cases approved for every airline?

No universal approval is claimed. TSA sets container and declaration requirements, and the airline and route can add conditions. Confirm the actual locked configuration for your trip.

Is the V100 waterproof?

The opened maker page describes weather resistance and dustproof construction. This guide does not establish a submersion rating.

Should I buy precut foam?

Only when the exact insert matches your equipment and the maker’s support requirements. A custom foam bundle is a different package from the standard foam cases compared here.

Sources

• V100 exact SKU, interior and foam (pelican.com), Pelican
• V200 exact SKU, interior and foam (pelican.com), Pelican
• Protector Single Pistol Case model 140300 (planooutdoors.com), Plano
• Transporting Firearms and Ammunition, TSA (maker page: www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition)
• Safety and Security for Firearm Owners (atf.gov), ATF

Sources checked 2026-10-17.