There are a lot of products on the market that are designed to protect, house, carry, and store firearms and firearm accessories. When I had the opportunity to test out one of the Plano All Weather 2 series hard gun cases, I was happy to check them out. Having a rugged case for your gear might be a priority depending on what your needs are. The All Weather 2 Series case I received was enhanced with the “Rustrictor” coating used within the pluck-apart foam and case materials.

What’s immediately appealing about the AW2 case is its robust design. Not everyone needs a case that’s as stout as the AW2 series, but for those who need high-quality protection, this box does more than step up to the plate and swing. The hard plastic exterior gives the box some heft while the interior pluck-apart foam gives the necessary protection to your firearm/gear. 

Upon giving the box a close inspection, the latches are designed to lock the box closed securely utilizing a two-step design. The latch must be disengaged and then swung away from the female indentation of the box lid in order to gain entry to the container.

An o-ring/seal is set into an integral groove in the box lid. The seal in the lid mates with a raised male flange to create and maintain the integrity of the box seal. The O-ring is Plano’s “Dri-Loc” seal and keeps the box contents free from water, dust, and moisture.

There’s no rating to measure the box against on its watertight integrity, the company just advertises it as having a “watertight, dustproof seal.” If there were a standard, such as a water depth rating, I’d have submerged the box at a given depth of water to test any claims. The box is not going to have any issues keeping your firearm/gear dry due to any normal exposure to the elements, perhaps even abnormal exposure.

To keep the contents secure, there are two lock shank holes that can accommodate padlocks. For boxes like the AW2, without putting in excessive engineering and leaving the box vulnerable to unauthorized penetration via design flaws, boxes need to be secured with two locks. This is pretty much standard on comparable products.

According to Plano, the AW2 case meets TSA’s requirements for transport in checked luggage on an airplane. I recommend checking with the TSA and any airliner prior to checking a firearm in for any flight, and fully know and understand all applicable laws. That being said, the box was designed with air travel in mind and is outfitted with “a pressure release valve to equalize pressure caused by altitude or temperature changes.”

The box that I received for T and E was the “small” box, with the following dimensions:

Interior Dimensions: 9.8”L x 7.8”W x 3.8”H Exterior Dimensions: 12.5”L x 10.1”W x 4.8”H

Keeping in mind the internal design, the box can accommodate a variety of handgun sizes and or accessories. My subcompact Glock fits handsomely within the constraints and the pluck-apart foam allows for a custom configuration.

The unique part of the AW2 case that I tested is the “Rustrictor” impregnation into the case materials. Rustrictor is a “VCI-infused resin and foam emitter that blocks rust/corrosion 5x longer than competing products (per accelerated lab testing) for all-weather protection.” VCI is a compound known as a volatile corrosion inhibitor. The compounds work to chemically offset the effects of moisture on ferrous metals – there’s a bunch of science involved.

Does the Rustrictor coating work? No idea for sure. Is it present? Yeah, you can smell it and kind of feel a slight film when contacting the foam. The advertised benefit is that the boxes would have 5x longer protection from rust/corrosion. I don’t have access to the “accelerated lab testing” results in order to conduct my own test to see how the box measures up.

If Plano wants to outfit me with a few AW2 boxes of both Rustrictor and plain design, I’d be happy to give a college try at getting results to severe torture testing. But as it stands, I don’t have a control to compare the Rustrictor against.

Looking at the Rustrictor AW2 box in comparison to the plain vanilla AW2 box, the small size shows a price differential of $20.00. If twenty bucks is worth it to you for the alleged benefits of Rustrictor, then go for it. Do I think this is a gimmick? No. VCI’s are proven to mitigate the effects of oxidation and slow the rusting/patina process. The toss-up is going to be your intended use for the box and what hazards it will be exposed to.

The price point on these boxes seems reasonable. The small AW2 box is listed at $49.99 and the small AW2 box with Rustrictor is listed at $69.99. High-quality boxes are not going to come cheap and these products are priced accordingly to comparable products. Plano is a trusted brand with a great reputation too.

The matter of the Rustrictor option is going to depend on taste – you either want it, or you don’t. I don’t see it being a negative if the sole purpose is storing or transporting products compatible with that kind of compound built into the materials.

Pluses: Robust heavy duty design. Strong latches and aggressive mating surfaces in order to maintain a seal. Lockable with user-supplied padlocks. Alleged to be TSA compliant. Valve to allow for pressure/temperature changes during flight, altitude change, etc.

Minuses: No warranty listed, only a 30 day return policy.

Would I buy an AW2 pistol box? Sure. I think these are pretty nice boxes and seem well-made. Would I opt for the Rustrictor option? Honestly, only if I were looking for a long-term storage or if I knew I’d be in an environment just oozing with moisture. I think that I could just as easily get away with a quick wipe down with a lubricant/oil of any firearm for temporary storage during transport, versus the need for a sophisticated feature to the box. But for twenty bucks more, might be worth it to you.

Would I recommend the AW2 or the AW2 with Rustrictor? Absolutely. There are more than one person out there I know that this line of boxes, with or without the rust protection, would speak to. I also think that the AW2 box in either configuration would make a great gift for that gun guy or gal that has everything or has seen everything. These are useful and high quality units.

Some information on the AW2 line of boxes and AW2 Rustrictor configuration:

All Weather 2 Line:

Plano All-Weather pistol cases defend your firearms from damage and the elements. Plano has enhanced the best-selling cases with an upgraded look and improved functionality in the All Weather 2 line. They’re still your handgun case favorites – just better. With rugged, industrial-strength construction and a continuous Dri-Loc seal, All Weather 2 gun cases create a watertight and dust-proof shield that protects your gear even in the most extreme conditions. Heavy-duty, dual-stage lockable latches and a built-in pressure release valve also help the cases withstand the continuous bumping and jarring of airline travel.

Life can box you in. Work. Household chores. Every after-school activity ever. Ironically, the best way to break free is with a box. And not just any box, but a PLANO. We’ve been helping anglers, hunters, and outdoor-loving families bust out of their routines for over 70 years. From tackle boxes to storage trunks to coolers – all as smartly designed as they are rugged. So you can keep all your gear neatly stowed and ready to throw in the truck whenever adventure calls. Because being prepared means you can say “Hell, yeah” to that last minute camping trip. Hit the road while the bite is hot. And be ready to make your getaway every chance you get.

All Weather 2 with Rustrictor:

Plano’s most popular pistol cases are now backed by the power of Rustrictor. This revolutionary technology surrounds case contents with rust-blocking protection. This means whether something tries to mess with your handgun outside or in, the Rustrictor AW2 Single Pistol case is equipped to fight back and keep your firearm secure.

Life can box you in. Work. Household chores. Every after-school activity ever. Ironically, the best way to break free is with a box. And not just any box, but a PLANO. We’ve been helping anglers, hunters, and outdoor-loving families bust out of their routines for over 70 years. From tackle boxes to storage trunks to coolers – all as smartly designed as they are rugged. So you can keep all your gear neatly stowed and ready to throw in the truck whenever adventure calls. Because being prepared means you can say “Hell, yeah” to that last minute camping trip. Hit the road while the bite is hot. And be ready to make your getaway every chance you get.