For a long time, I have struggled with a pile of cases and foam that have accumulated over the years. Something I imagine many gun owners can relate to is the pile of soft and hard cases that will inevitably stack up as you acquire firearms. This problem is aggravated even more if you have pelican cases. Not only will you have multiple bulky hard cases but piles of replacement foam cut into specific configurations for certain loadouts. That’s where the Magpul DAKA organizer comes in.
MAGPUL @ TFB:
A pile of used foam for my Pelican cases.
DAKA setup for 2 rifles and a PVS-14
When I initially heard about the DAKA organizer, it immediately caught my attention. The DAKA seemed like the perfect solution to my growing pile of foam. Unfortunately, I didn’t own a Pelican VAULT series case only the IM3300 storm series. Thankfully, the VAULT line is generally cheaper so picking up a V800 was not a huge deal. Availability on the DAKA organizers is surprisingly good, I picked up mine from a local sporting goods store and they seem to be readily available from all the major chain stores.
Empty DAKA case configuration
Initially, the organizer was a very tight fit and I could barely close the case, however, Magpul emphasizes in the instructions that the DAKA case organizer needs time to rest and form to the case once installed. I left the case closed overnight and the foam seemed to settle. After initial installation and forming, the case opens and closes the same as the OEM foam even when fully loaded.
Case fully filled after foam settling
The initial setup for a basic two-rifle configuration was easy enough using the supplied foam. Magpul recommends in their installation video to build pillars to the side of the case. This allows the foam to better support the major weight of a firearm as shown in the photo above. They also highly recommend setting up the case so your optic does not touch the case walls. I found the supplied foam inserts were more than enough to build out the layout for two AR-style rifles and two accessories. Magpul also sells add-on foam insert packs to supplement the supplied inserts if needed. An initial concern I had when looking into the organizer was whether bulky optic setups such as large scopes or offset dots would interfere with the organizer or lid but it seems that so far those concerns were unwarranted. I had an SPR setup with a Leupold Mark 5 and an offset DeltaPoint Pro and it fit well and remained unharmed through several range trips.
Accessory pockets in the organizer
The grid pattern in which you install the foam inserts fits very well in a multitude of configurations. I set up the case for my two main rifles initially but also made pockets for multiple addons such as a PVS-14, rangefinder and a Kestrel. Magpul have done their research on the optimal space between grid squares as I was able to configure the case to fit ARs, PCCs and bolt guns snugly. So far, the case organizer has held up well and survived three range trips two of which required an hour-long drive through a bumpy foresting road up a mountain.
I think that the DAKA organizer is an excellent upgrade if you already own a Vault case and might even be worth looking into even if you don’t. This one case has replaced three other Storm series pelicans already. In the full review, I will set up the rifle in many different configurations and test them for durability off-road.
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