In most areas, one should be able to find a local or nearby "box manufacturer" who probably makes packaging to suit your realistic needs. As a side comment to redirect thinking - the shock absorbing materal used to absorb landing impact when they drop a 60 ton tank out of an airplane is essentially nothing but corrugated paper. Properly applied, paper and/or "cardboard" is a very versatile material.

"Map tubes" made of impregnated paper probably can be found that are stronger than PVC pipe, although the PVC is actually pretty rugged. A problem with the cylindrical shape of either is providing proper suspension of something as irregularly shaped as a bow inside the cylindrical shape - and with making the package look "legitimate" in our current political climate. I would suggest NOT using the alternative ABS pipe since "black" just naturally looks suspicious to may people, and I belive it may be a little heavier and more flexible(?).

Improvising is fine for a one-shot shipment, but if you're going to be making more than a few shipments of similar items, getting the advice of "experts" probably is worthwhile.

1. People who make packaging containers and materials may have something ready made or may be able to make a specialized container more economically than you might expect.

2. The shippers - if you can get to someone other than the clerk at the counter - may have recommendations that account for peculiarities in their handling methods.

3. Others who ship similar items may be willing and able to provide comments on their experience and methods.

4. Your friendly insurance agent may be able to advise you on how to determine a best level of protection/compensation for yourself and those with whom you deal against "acceptable loss" in shipping - and may(?) be willing to help even if you don't need insurance other than provided by shippers.

Of course, when one consults with advisors, there is the problem of separating the "leaders in their own time" from the "leaders in their own mind," so you'll still have to choose whom to believe and how much to believe of what each "expert" says, and incorporate all the advice into your own solution.

When you find the perfect solution, you may find shipping shipping containers more profitable than shipping anything in the shipping containers, as specialized containers for peculiar items is a relatively untapped market. Of course then you'll have to start all over with market analysis, advertising, pricing, manufacturing - - a whole new bunch of "experts" ready to offer advice.

(There is a well developed market for a few kinds of things, and a small "gun case" would be ideal, perhaps, but the only ones I've seen are a bit too large - and probably too expensive. A look at what's at a local shop might provide some good ideas.)

John