When it comes to accessories for shooting sports, things can get out of hand quickly. There are gadgets and devices galore. There are some people I know who have their standard containers or cases that they’ve used for years. And, then there are people like me who end up with cases and bags and gadgets on top of gadgets, in bins of shootist nesting doll proportions. A gun case I got my hands on is the Plano All Weather 2 Rustrictor®, and it piqued my interest.
Plano is a trusted name and brand
What makes talking about the All Weather 2 Rustrictor® series of cases easy to start, is they’re made by Plano. Plano has been around for over 70 years and sportsmen have been trusting their products since. For the first few decades, Plano focused on fishing tackle boxes and storage solutions for anglers. Come 1987 – paging the past – Caboodles®, a cosmetic storage solution hit the market, and anyone with a sister, daughter, girlfriend, or mother from the late 80’s or early 90’s must have a keen recollection of those groovy boxes – apparently they’re still a thing. By 1995 Plano entered into the realm of cases for firearms and bows.
Since entering the fray of storage cases and solutions for hunters and other sportsmen, consumers have relied on Plano to protect their equipment. When I think of hard cases for storing guns or other assorted equipment, including cameras, video equipment, etc., I think of two companies, and Plano is one of them.
What’s “Rustrictor®”?
Rustrictor®, according to Plano, “delivers unbeatable rust protection to the Plano line. Designed in partnership with industry leader Armor Protective Packaging, Rustrictor® cases surround their contents with 360 degrees Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI).” The concept is that the VCI creates a small and invisible barrier between an item and air/moisture. That barrier helps decrease how quickly an item may oxidize – corrode/rust – and offer some protection.
The pluck-apart foam is impregnated with the VCI compound, protecting firearms and other metal objects that one might put inside. Plano touts that the “VCI-infused resin and foam emitter blocks rust/corrosion 5x longer than competing products.”
The All Weather 2 line
One of Plano’s line of products is the All Weather line. The second iteration of the All Weather line includes several enhancements upon the original design. The design elements of the All Weather 2 line give robust protection to whatever is being housed in the container, as well as sturdy latches and security features.
Latch mechanisms
The AW2 Rustrictor® that I got a chance to try out is a single pistol case. The case has two sturdy latches, one on either side of the box, which pull the lid down securely onto the box body.
The latches are also a two step design. They don’t just snap the box shut. Latches have to be swung into place and then pushed down, pulling the lid into position upon the flange face.
The “All Weather 2 gun cases create a watertight and dust-proof shield”
The lid top has an O-ring set into a groove. That O-ring interfaces with a flange on the case body, allowing there to be a good air/water tight seal.
The flange and O-ring interface is not completely “anti-pry,” however, when shut, the box would make it a bit of a weighty task to try to pry open without aggressive measures. “The Continuous Dri-Loc seal provides a watertight, dust-proof shield to protect your gear, even in the most extreme conditions,” according to Plano’s product description on the AW2 box.
The box is equipped with a pressure relief valve. The Plano AW2 boxes are advertised to be TSA compliant, and as such, the box is outfitted with a valve to allow it to adjust when needed during altitude changes. The box is also fashioned to allow two padlocks to be used to secure the unit.
The size
The AW2 and AW2 Rustrictor® series of boxes come in multiple sizes. The one pistol case that I tested was plenty big for my sub-compact carry gun, my G43. The internal dimensions are 10″ L x 8″ W x 4.25″ H, and the box can easily accommodate medium and larger sized handguns.
Other sizes in the AW2 line include long gun cases in 36”, 42”, and 52”, as well as double and quadruple pistol boxes.
The quick and dirty
Pluses: Sturdy, well-made design. Incorporated VCI for corrosion resistance. Keeps firearms protected. Pluck-apart foam allows for custom fit.
Minuses: Slightly costly in comparison to products without VCI inhibitors. Scarcity of Rustrictor® line.
The All Weather 2 line of Plano gun cases seems like a sturdy and great offering. The added benefit of Rustrictor® does appear to help when it comes to corrosion resistance, but I did not bury a gun in one of these boxes in a swamp for a year to test that out. If faced with the option to purchase an All Weather 2 case and or one with Rustrictor®, I’d personally probably opt for it without the corrosion protection. However, if I were looking to get this as a gift, I’d pluck down the extra money to get a friend or family member the case with the added enhancement.
The Plano All Weather 2 Rustrictor®, one pistol case can be purchased at Amazon, as well as a whole slew of other Plano gun storage solutions.
