The Modular Rifle Case You Wish You’d Thought Of: Magpul DAKA GRID Organizer (Full Review)

The DAKA is a modular organization system that allows you to customize a rifle case layout to your specific needs–and then re-customize that layout without damaging or destroying any part of the case or foam insert. The best part: it keeps all your crap where it’s supposed to be.

The GRID system is customizable for virtually any rifle/pistol combo.

What Is the DAKA GRID Organizer?

Magpul’s new DAKA Hard Case is thoughtfully designed (more on that below), but the real innovation lies in the DAKA GRID Organizer system. A standard foam insert sits in the bottom of the case, and the GRID panel rests on top of that.

The space can be customized using the provided GRID blocks. These are a bit like the Duplo toys you played with as a kid, except they’re not hard plastic. The blocks and grid are constructed from expanded polypropylene (EPP)—a closed-cell bead foam that offers energy absorption, multiple impact resistance, and a high strength-to-weight ratio. Those properties help the blocks protect your firearms without weighing too much to carry. Plus, they’re washable.

Each DAKA GRID comes with enough blocks for most gear setups.

The number of blocks you'll receive depends on which GRID Organizer you purchase. The largest come with ten two-square blocks and ten three-square blocks while smaller options come with six or eight of each.

This system offers several advantages over other foam inserts. First, it keeps your gear more secure than egg carton foam. Those cases use compression alone to prevent rifles and gear from moving around. The DAKA system, on the other hand, can be arranged to form a hefty barrier around everything in the case–from rifles to magazines to binoculars.

Second, the DAKA GRID can be rearranged without purchasing a new insert. Pick-and-pluck foamies can be customized more precisely, but they can only be used with one (maybe two) rifle and gear setups. Magpul’s new system can be customized to a bolt-action rifle and then rearranged for an AR-15 and a handgun in a matter of minutes.

Magpul offers a GRID system for their own line of rifle cases, but they also sell GRIDs tailored for other popular case systems:

• Pelican™ V730 Vault
• Pelican™ 1750 Protector Long Case
• Eylar 53” Tactical Roller Rifle Hard Case
• Pelican™ V800 Vault
• APACHE® 9800 Weatherproof Protective Rifle Case
• Plano® AW2™ 42” Rifle Case
• Pelican™ 1720 Protector Long Case
• Eylar 44” Tactical Roller Rifle Hard Case
• Plano® Rustrictor™ All Weather 2™ 52" Gun Case

In addition to these options, Magpul has recently released three more:

• Pelican™ 700 and 770 Vault
• Pelican™ 1700
• Plano® 36 and 52

The standalone GRID systems run between $140 and $160 depending on the case you want to use, and additional block and panel kits are all less than $30.

DAKA Hard Cases

You can incorporate the GRID system into a case you already own, or you can purchase one of Magpul’s new hard cases. These cases come in three sizes: the 35-inch C35 ($309), the 44-inch R44 ($339), and the 53-inch LR53 ($369) (all measurements describe internal dimensions).

This is the 53-inch (internal) LR53.

DAKA Hard Cases are constructed with gas charged polypropylene, which, as with the DAKA blocks, offers strength and durability while saving as much weight as possible. The corners are also double-walled, which increases durability and offers a handy storage space for small parts.

You might think, as I do, that all hard cases are created more or less equal. But the thoughtful details in this DAKA case might have you rethinking that paradigm. Polymer has always been Magpul’s MO, and that expertise is apparent in this product as well.

Latches are any case’s most distinguishing feature. They’re what you interact with the most, and they’re often the first thing to fail when a case gets old or overstuffed. All DAKA cases, no matter the size, feature the same large, beefy latches. These latches use a push-button in the middle to disengage the mechanism, and they feature a positive detent so they stay in the open position until they’re pushed down again. The latch uses a cammed closing system, so you can push anywhere on the latch to close it, and it shuts with a positive click. Each latch also features a lock passthrough, which prevents the latch or case from opening if a lock is affixed.

The oversized latches are incredibly durable.

More broadly, the case is designed to be streamlined and prevent snags on trunks, truck beds, and careless baggage agents. All the hinges and latches are tucked into the body of the case, and the edges and hard corners are minimized. Even the lock passthrough allows the lock to be tucked into the latch to keep it from getting caught.

Even more importantly, the hinges are rock solid to prevent tampering and break-ins. Magpul beefed up the hinges by adding material while maintaining the snag-free design. The hinges also double as case stands, so the unit can be set on the ground without falling over.

First Impressions

The DAKA GRID and hard case system is loaded with features, but how does it perform?

I was most curious to see how long it takes to set up a containment grid for different rifles. Magpul bills the DAKA GRID as infinitely customizable, but that won’t do you much good if it’s a headache to create a new grid for each firearm.

Magpul offers a few tips for setting up these grids. First, the blocks that secure the firearm should be stacked to reach the edge of the case. A block with space between the case wall and the firearm will still hold the rifle in place, but it won’t be as secure if the case is dropped. If the rifle is seven pounds or less, Magpul recommends at least two block columns to brace the rifle against the case; if the rifle is more than seven pounds, three columns should be used.

Start by adding blocks to the front and rear of the rifle, then surround the firearm with additional supports, making sure all touch the side of the case.

I found this restriction to be easy to implement, but it does limit the space in the case. The LR53 product description says it can hold “one or more long rifles and shotguns comfortably.” While there’s plenty of space for one long gun and tons of other gear, it would be difficult to fit two full-sized, scoped rifles and maintain the recommended block buffers. I should note here that the buffers for the barrel and stock need to be 2-3 blocks laterally, not horizontally (as I did). That will save a bit more space, and you can see a full setup in the video below.

The good news is that if you need to swap firearms, it won’t take long to set up a new grid. I switched from a small, lightweight bolt action to a heavier bolt action to an AR-15 and pistol in a matter of about 10 minutes. If I was more familiar with the system, it could have taken even less time. I didn’t need to remove any panels to fit my rifle accessories, but Magpul says either of the two center grid panels can be removed to accommodate large lights or optics.

I also wanted to know whether the system is actually more durable than more traditional foam inserts. The blocks are easy to slide in and out of the grid, but they still fit snugly in each square. There’s zero movement when the blocks are installed, especially if they’re stacked against the case well.

The blocks are durable but lightweight.

The block material itself feels like heavy-duty foam–the Arnold Schwarzenegger of packing peanuts. I haven’t had the system long enough to know whether it might degrade over time, but I haven’t seen any sign of wear in the time I’ve had it. Plus, if one or two of the blocks somehow becomes damaged, a replacement kit is extremely affordable.

In addition, Magpul offers bins to keep small items secure and straps to really cinch down your firearms and other gear.

Those beefy latches also really come in handy. The case’s contents are kept in place with the GRID blocks, but also with compression via the lid. With some less high-quality cases, it feels like the latches are about to break if the lid has to be compressed too much. But the Hard Case latches are easy to close even with a jam-packed case, and I’ve never felt like they have any trouble keeping the lid closed.

I haven’t traveled with the DAKA case yet (that will be the real test), but I haven’t seen any rifle or accessory movement when I’ve thrown the case in the back of my truck to visit the gun range. Everything arrives exactly where I left it and in excellent condition–you can’t really ask much more of a rifle case.

Along with full-sized firearms, the case can be used to carry handguns, accessories, and ammunition boxes.

I see two potential weaknesses of the DAKA system. First, there’s a bit of an art to organizing the blocks in a way that maximizes rifle security. The included instructions cover the basics, which aren’t difficult to master. But I can imagine someone tossing the instructions in the trash (because who reads instructions?), throwing a few blocks around a heavy rifle, and putting their long gun at the mercy of airport baggage handlers (sorry to pick on that particular profession, but c’mon guys).

With a pluck-and-pull insert, you don’t have much choice but to create a perfect outline of the rifle, which will probably keep it safe until your final destination. However, as Magpul's drop testing has shown, these foam inserts aren't as secure as they may seem. While they might keep your gear safe during normal travel conditions, a significant drop can shred this type of foam and damage whatever it's supposed to be protecting.

Speaking of pluck-and-pull or cutout panels, those systems also maximize space better than the DAKA GRID. Each two-square block measures 3.75 inches long and 1.75 inches wide; the three-square blocks are the same width but 5.5 inches long. That space isn’t being utilized for anything, and if my math is correct, using all 20 blocks would take up about 160 square inches of space.

That’s less than 20% of the total 900 square inches in the LR53, and you don’t need to use all the blocks to secure one long gun and a few boxes of ammunition. You can use bins to secure small items without wasting any space, and it only takes one wall to immobilize large objects and compartmentalize small objects. I maximized security with my three setups, but truth be told, I probably didn't need to use that many blocks to keep everything in place.

Still, if you have a bunch of accessories or ammunition boxes, wasted space can add up if you aren't thoughtful about utilizing every square inch in possible. There's a learning curve to using the GRID Organizer. It isn't steep, but it takes some trial and error to find a balance between security and space optimization.

Last Shot

Even given these potential weaknesses, I think the DAKA GRID system keeps its basic promise–it offers the customizability of a pluck-and-pull foam insert with the rifle-switching ability of an egg shell foam compression case. You can surround your firearms with padding without purchasing a dedicated case or foam insert for each gun, and you can trust that your most valuable possessions will stay safe until you get wherever you’re going. Whether you're making a quick trip to the range or embarking on an overseas hunting adventure, the DAKA GRID and Hard Cases are a bombproof solution to traveling with a firearm.