I'm making a thousand mile trip starting Sunday, taking 3 long rifles, 39-42" barrels, and 2 plains rifles. Each has it's own soft case (the Dixie $10-15 one). I drive a full size pickup crew cab 1500. I put wool blankets in the back seat footwells and the drive train hump (3 piece tipi liner sections also work), and carefully stack the firearms across those (the Bess just barely fits). Moving blankets/towels, etc provide additional protection and keep the guns from shifting if a Bat-Turn is required. I've made a dozen or more of these trips in the last few years. No damage at any time and a lot cheaper than buying 5 of the $100 cases. Just pack them like they were a couple dozen raw eggs, don't drop anything heavy on them and Bob's your uncle.