IIRC those cases are UPS's idea.

by cas, Thursday, March 07, 2013, 21:21 (4224 days ago) @ John K.

I recall when I bought my Sharps from Bill Goodman he said something about the crappy cases he uses, that it was the only way UPS would insure them. Meaning THOSE cases, better one's they wouldn't. Or something like that. I believe the CMP is shipping in them now too instead of the heavy duty cardboard gun case/box they used to use.

I bought a rolling block years ago and when I went to the post office that's what was waiting, a big hard plastic rifle case with and address label and tape in two places. When the clerk carried it from around back he said.. "Well… it' not a guitar, that's for sure." (it was like 14 pounds)

On the other end, I recall watching a local shop owner screaming into the telephone to the shop that had just sent him a transfer.
Guy bought an SKB Over/Under shotgun and they'd shipped it in a cardboard FedEx triangle tube. No cushion, bubble wrap, newspaper… nothing. Just put it in the box and mailed it.

I got a pistol that way once too. A Single Six. But it came loose in a box big enough to ship a sleeping bag. That's what happens when you have some FFL's send them and don't provide EVERYTHING they need to do it.