Intended to support the needs of the military, the 1720 Protector Case is one of several hard cases by Pelican that provides reliable storage and protection to firearms, sensitive items, or other operational accessories.
As with other Pelican hard cases, the 1720 Protector Long Case is made from Polypropylene to deliver a watertight, crushproof, and dustproof case that provides a significant amount of external protection and stackabiliy. Redesigned in 2022, the 1720 itself has four locking cleats on the lid and eight corresponding points on the base designed to reinforce its stacking strength.
Exterior
With an overall exterior dimension of 44.48” (L) x 6.25” (H) x 16.07” (W), the 1720 Protector case’s exterior is comprised of Pelican’s traditional polymer-blended construction for maximum strength and an impact resistant shell.
The 1720 includes four C-clamp, ABS throw latches that secure the lid to the bottom. In addition, there is one handle (mid-length) and one handle (on top and bottom) to aid in picking up and stacking. One of the redesign improvements is now all handles are foldable and collapse against the case. Stainless steel hinge pins help provide maximum strength and durability to keep the lid secure.
Several protective features are built into the 1720, and include two outer stainless-steel padlock protectors (in addition to two inner polymer-only padlock points), and one automatic pressure equalization valve made with 3 Micron Hydrophobic Non-Woven material.
The 1720 has two polyurethane wheels to aid in rolling and transport of the case and its fully packed weight.
Interior
With an interior space of 41.80” (L) x 13.58” (H) x 5.33” (W), the 1720 has an overall internal storage capacity of 1.75 ft³.
A one-piece, polymer O-ring provides a watertight seal to the interior storage space.
The 1720 comes with three layers (two in the bottom, one in the lid) of 1.3 lb. polyurethane, open-cell foam that can be cut and is customizable to meet storage needs. Another aspect of the recent case redesign is the lid now comes with the mounting points for Pelican’s 1500 EZ-Click MOLLE panels (sold separately), which can be either the single, or double panel usage.
Specifications:
- Foam Layers………….…1.63″ each
- Minimum Temperature…-40° F (-40 ° C)
- Maximum Temperature…210° F (99 ° C)
- The Protector series comes with Pelican’s Lifetime Guarantee of Excellence
The 1720 Protector Long Case is available in Black (featured), Desert Tan, and OD Green.
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Average (3/5): With its MSRP of $324.95, the Protector 1720 is within the higher range of the Pelican Protector series and other Pelican long rifle cases. The additional reinforcement; and dense polymer of the case material made for a strong, durable exterior that is specifically intended to serve law enforcement and the military. While Pelican acquired its closest competitor Hardigg in 2017, many of its mid/larger products don’t have direct peers with the same attention to strength, continuing to place Pelican as a leader in hard polymer equipment cases. The closest competitor to the 1720 case would be the Nanuk 990 ($453.97), the single AR Rifle Case ($199.95) by Case Club, or the 42” Tactical Gun Case ($125.99) by Plano; however, in both the Case Club and Plano the cases lack the strength and design of Pelican (something reflected in its lower price). Considering all factors, and within the market, the 1720 Protector is of the appropriate (or average) market price point.
- Comfort – Good (4/5): As a single rifle case with an overall length of 44”, a slim profile, and multiple handles—the 1720 made for an easily maneuverable hard case that did not feel oversized when carried. The case itself had the storage space allowing for either a full-length rifle, shotgun, or SBR though could only reasonably accommodate one at a time. Once fully loaded with gear or firearms, the 1720 was somewhat heavier than its listed 23 pounds, but the limited depth also kept how many added items carried inside it to a reasonable level. The deep locking cleats provided a secure anchoring point for stacking, and gave the overall shell a very good amount of rigidity. The two polyurethane wheels rolled quietly and easily without any resistance (excluding over loose/rocky terrain where they expectedly struggled). Pelican improved on the previous Protector design by adding a third handle (which made it easier to maneuver the fully loaded case), and re-designed the handles to be collapsible, which in turn reduced the bulk and snag-risk inherit in the previous design.
- Durability – Good (4/5): The dominant material of the 1720 (and indeed almost all of Pelican’s hard cases) is Polyethylene, a type of high-density plastic that made it very durable and resistant to shock. The open-cell foam inserts provided a good level of impact protection to the equipment and firearms contained inside (more so if the user would take the time to cut specific patterns into the one-piece foam for a specific item), but the foam (by design) tore somewhat easily. The case was dragged over rocks, thrown into a truck bed a number of times, and left out in inclement weather (cold/rain) with no detrimental effect to the foam, stored contents (although some surface marring was noted), or moisture penetration. The strength of the latches remained consistent throughout usage and did not wear or fail to retain a secure lock. Each Pelican Protector case comes with a limited lifetime guarantee from the manufacturer.
- Functionality – Good (4/5): From a functional aspect, the 1720 was like all Pelican cases – a protective box with very a straight-forward design (it’s a box – it opens, it closes, it has foam for add padding). It is left to the imagination of the end-user to customize the internal foam for use, and to expand on the functionality of the case. This simplistic functionality was further expanded on with the inclusion of the new EZ-Click MOLLE panels (which replaced the foam in the lid), and provided space for added magazine pouches (the pouches also serve for added support and stability against the rifle that is somewhat lost by removing the foam insert), storage, or accessories. When fully loaded, the EZ-Click panels themselves yielded almost no flex and retained its rigidity. The quick detach points also allowed for easy access to the rear of the panels as needed. It was noted upon closer inspection that the interior of the 1720 had a textured surface that gave the foam something to grip into, and prevented slippage/movement of the foam from inadvertently coming out when opening or removing items. The downside to customizing the interior foam is then it must be specific to that item (unless you make the cut pattern very generalized). Elsewhere, features like the rolling wheels and pressurization valves were an essential part of the design for long-term use or carrying. The stainless-steel protectors and hinge pins likewise fill an essential aspect of design as it ensured forced entry (shy of cutting) wasn’t possible. Pelican offers a large variety of products for the consumer, military/LEOs, first responders, photographers and more to choose one that best fits their specific needs. So, while Pelican cases have a fixed level of functionality, the end-user can expand upon those with other accessories to find a fit that best meets their mission needs.
- Weight – Good (4/5): Given its size, and volume of Polypropylene material needed to mold the case, the 1720 weighed in at 23.10 pounds (with foam added). This was well balanced with the overall dimensions of the 1720, and made it easy to transport by any of the handles, or rolling via the wheels. While the contents added did not make the case excessively heavy to carry, the available wheels did prove to be an viable alternative method should the user need it (with the exclusion of over loose/rough rock). In comparison; the Nanuk 990 (17.8 pounds), the AR Rifle Case (16 pounds), or the 42” Tactical Gun Case (8.25 pounds) show that for its materials and design, the 1720 owes its weight to its good level of durability and function. Other hard cases can be lighter, but they will lack the robust design of Pelican’s Protector series.
Overall Rating – Above Average (19/25)
Product Link: https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/cases/long-case/protector/1720
I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via High Ground Media, LLC, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.
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