I finally found a great replacement for the pick-n-pluck foam! Home Depot sells pads for kneeling down, they are 2" thick and about 12"x18". Walmart and other stores sell foam that is used as cushions for buckets and they are about 1" thick. These and maybe the 1" non-PP foam will stack up to the top of the case, leaving maybe 1/2". I then use garage floor pads that have puzzle piece edges. I use that to cut out the shape of the pistol. I recommend an electric knife. I tried knives, razor blades, etc. Electric knife is the best for me at least. The kneeling pad is strong and easy and neat to cut. So is the bucket cushion foam. I have also used foam pads made for seat and couch cushions. They were fairly well. I do spray these it Plastidip to strengthen them. But they are weak compared to the kneeling pad. I do use this underneath the kneeling pad material when needed for height adjustments.
They are not as tough as Pelican, but they are a good knockoff. And I don’t run over my hard cases with a truck. I have a yellow 4800 as emergency kit in one vehicle, and plan brightly colored 3800s in a couple of others.
Actual Pelican cases are definitely the real deal!! I don't need that level of protection in the back seat of my truck on a trip to the range. For a cheap knock around case, the Apache series is going to be hard to beat!!
