Sidearms & Scatterguns How Do You Carry Your Hunting Side arm
- Thread starter SporterII
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I typically always carry a Ruger 45 Colt in a cross draw holster I made awhile back. Cross draw seems to be easier to get the gun out with a pack on.
If I could carry a cut down 8 gauge double, I would. Bears are no joke and if I need to shoot one I want the best chance I can get. At least a cool story about blasting a hole in Pooh, for when people ask about the fucking bear tooth stuck in my skull.
Seriously though, big bore revolver, cross draw. One day it’ll be a 475 or 500 Linebaugh, but I have more immediately pressing priorities.
If I could carry a cut down 8 gauge double, I would. Bears are no joke and if I need to shoot one I want the best chance I can get. At least a cool story about blasting a hole in Pooh, for when people ask about the fucking bear tooth stuck in my skull.
Seriously though, big bore revolver, cross draw. One day it’ll be a 475 or 500 Linebaugh, but I have more immediately pressing priorities.
I carry my Super Blackhawk 45 LC with 360 gr hard cast in a Wyoming style cowboy holster. I'm faster on the draw than a chest rig & it can't get caught up on the binos that are always there.
As Burbonbent stated,cross draw is the way to go.
My 454 Casull rest happily on my chest.
My 454 Casull rest happily on my chest.
That looks like a great choice, I am not a fan of the straps just due to speed to deploy however I am also fond of not dropping my pistol so I guess it is a trade off.
For trail, woods, outdoors, I use a Dixie Gun Works 'Civil War' type shoulder holster. SAA holster slightly modified into an open end 'frog' style fits all of my big bore revolvers easily. Worn under jacket. Even in suburban / urban settings, if I am not anticipating taking off my outer jacket, it will be the shoulder rig. The belt is also compatible with holsters for my 1911 and Glock 21. Just swap 'em out.
Warm weather and shirtsleeve environments? Backpack carry it is.
Warm weather and shirtsleeve environments? Backpack carry it is.
If I’m using my FNX 45 T? A Gunfighter shoulder holster. If the 357 Blackhawk? A Cabela’s chest holster.
I did in years past carry OWB 3 o clock but it often gets in the way with the rifle over the right shoulder. I switched to a Glock 43 as my carry pistol that I will also take on hunting trips
I have a outside the waistband holster for my glock at the 3 o clock. Durable and accessible but not in my way
Colt woodsman in a 1930’s flap holster... for popping the heads off partridge and rabbits. Not fast but got more grouse with that than all my shotguns put together over the years!
Sirhr
Sirhr
When I have a rifle (99% of the time) I carry my beat-around M&P40.
If I have a handgun only, then it is a 629 in an El Paso Saddlery rig.
If I have a handgun only, then it is a 629 in an El Paso Saddlery rig.
Do I spy an OD / orange ESEE 4 in there?
Close...ESEE 3.
I liked the size of the 3 vs the 4 with it being mounted to the shoulder strap. I'm lucky enough to have BladeHQ in my backyard so I can handle everything in-person before buying.The gunfighters inc., chest holster is the best I have found. I wear it bow hunting in bear country.
A stock photo link from their website.
A stock photo link from their website.
actual link to their web page. Not in any way affiliated, just a very satisfied customer.
gunfightersinc.com
Kenai Chest Holster - Across the Chest, Fast & Efficient Draw | GunfightersINC
Carry your firearm confidently outdoors with the Kenai Chest Holster. Perfect for hiking, camping & hunting. Your ultimate outdoor companion.
gunfightersinc.com
I like the FHF if you're wearing a bino harness. I just got a new Kuiu harness so I'm gonna have to add some webbing to make it work.
I have a S&W 329PD that I carry in a chest holster. It's really comfortable. It's similar to the Diamond D one, but I got mine from CorBon when they had a pro shop they were closing down in Sturgis SD. It has their logo engraved (?) on the leather. I paid $60.00 for it and it was money well spent. I also have a Galco hip holster for it, but haven't used it since getting the chest holster.
Granted I'm not worried about bears in central nc but I carry my glock 19 aiwb or owb 3 o'clock depending on amount of layers, just like any other day of the year.
When I'm in the front country (trail running, hiking, etc.), I used a Hill People Gear Runner's Kit Bag for the Glock 20 SF (10mm). When I'm hunting further in, which means carrying a pack with a load bearing hip belt, I use a Safepacker holster from The Wilderness. I have tried multiple lower profile/quicker draw holsters for backcountry (Backcountry.com, please don't sue me to using that word!!) applications over the years, and none that I have tried protect the gun well. If the gun isn't covered in the backcountry, it's going to get rain, dirt, pine needles, etc. in it, and it's going to get wet. The Safepacker does a surprisingly good job keeping the firearm dry (even in sustained snow or rain storms), from getting banged up on rocks thanks to minimal padding, and and from getting gunk in it. I run the same Glock 20 SF w/ a Streamlight TLR-1 and an extra mag, and it fits in the Safepacker perfectly. It's not sexy, but man does it get the job done.
My sheep hunting guide used a mangearalaska holster for his .460 Rowland. It was slick for how he used it (around camp after we had meat in camp and walking in bear country at night).
Mark
My sheep hunting guide used a mangearalaska holster for his .460 Rowland. It was slick for how he used it (around camp after we had meat in camp and walking in bear country at night).
Mark
If I have a pack on, which I usually do, I also use a Safepacker. I don’t live in grizzly country so it’s a HK45 loaded with super for the little bears and big kitties. The Safepacker is also very nice for more populated trails where I don’t want to spook the granolas. I slide it on the belt of my Osprey kid carrier and hikers probably think it’s full of cheerios.
The folks at The Wilderness are awesome, too. Visited them once while I was in Phoenix.
The folks at The Wilderness are awesome, too. Visited them once while I was in Phoenix.
I carry my Glock 40 in a shoulder holster to the deer stand
Bandoleer style Shoulder Holster for GLOCK 40 MOS 6" Barrel w/ Optic + MAG Pouch | eBay
This particular Bandoleer style Shoulder Holster is our(size G-40)(RIGHT Hand Draw) which we have designed to fit the:GLOCK - 40 MOS with or without Optic. The holster is Bandoleer style. The construction is high quality outer wall of black nylon fabric, inner wall of water resistant nylon vapor...
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Full flap holster on a leather belt. The belt goes over your clothes and you can adjust the drop so it is out of the way of your pack. Full flap is quick to access and provides very good protection for the firearm.
When in very cold environments I use a wool lined flap holster.
Epstein didn’t kill his self.
When in very cold environments I use a wool lined flap holster.
Epstein didn’t kill his self.
Kifaru tombstone on my pack belt. If I hunted areas with griz I’d likely go to a chest holster to have the pistol more accessible.
The tombstone keeps it protected from snow, rain and mud when I’m in the woods and rips open when needed
Also use a small Kydex trigger cover tied into the pouch.
When I’m trail running or skiing back home I use a hill people gear snubby cheat rig. Don’t care for it all too much but haven’t found a better option for carrying on really active stuff like running or CC skiing
The tombstone keeps it protected from snow, rain and mud when I’m in the woods and rips open when needed
Also use a small Kydex trigger cover tied into the pouch.
When I’m trail running or skiing back home I use a hill people gear snubby cheat rig. Don’t care for it all too much but haven’t found a better option for carrying on really active stuff like running or CC skiing
I carry a 4" 629 on a Speed Beez holster in a cross draw fashion. This is out of the way of the pack, and I can carry my hunting rifle either in front across my body with the muzzle down, or over the shoulder with the muzzle up. There is no safety latch or lock, but I have the holster snugged down pretty good, it takes intent to pull it. I carry a speed loader in my front pocket in case it's needed. I hunt deer in central CA along the coast, we've seen black bears and mountain lions over the years.
My thinking is basically a couple little loops spaced out appropriately for the holster connection tabs and just using Chicago screws to hold them on the Kuiu.
If you watch the video FHF has on installing the holster it seems like it shouldn't take much ingenuity.
I'm still building the 10mm I'd be carrying while hunting so I haven't bothered to order the holster yet. The 80% large frame Glock is cool, but finding slides for a g20 is damn near impossible. Might as well buy the factory pistol for what the few slide available will cost you.
If you watch the video FHF has on installing the holster it seems like it shouldn't take much ingenuity.
I'm still building the 10mm I'd be carrying while hunting so I haven't bothered to order the holster yet. The 80% large frame Glock is cool, but finding slides for a g20 is damn near impossible. Might as well buy the factory pistol for what the few slide available will cost you.
Pistol's for when you are a short distance away from the camp in the weeds answering the call of nature and a bobcat or 'yote approaches...
When rifle hunting, I agree. Most of my hunting is with a ML these days though. Bow hunters have similar issues.
I'd also wear it when bird hunting in bear country. It would be funner than hell to shoot a couple grouse then whack a black bear on the way back to the truck.
Every once in a while I see someone packing a side arm while hunting with a long gun. I always wonder what kind of trouble they are expecting.
I'd also wear it when bird hunting in bear country. It would be funner than hell to shoot a couple grouse then whack a black bear on the way back to the truck.
Every once in a while I see someone packing a side arm while hunting with a long gun. I always wonder what kind of trouble they are expecting.
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I always wonder what kind of trouble they are expecting.
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The trails and the woods are not free of criminals, ne'er-do-wells and flat out psychos. Plenty of stories of hunters and backpackers encountering seedy type SOB's out there or stumbling upon a crime in progress, MS-13 and other gang members burying a chopped up corpse, caches of drugs and money that may or may not be guarded, etc... Novels like Deathwatch, by Robb White, may have slightly exaggerated the tale of a seemingly normal boy next door who is actually a cold blooded killer who rides out into the desert and uses a scoped rifle to randomly pink-mist stranded travelers for his own entertainment. After all, Deathwatch is a neo-Western, in the same category as No Country For Old Men and just as raw and brutal as the latter... But psychopaths, some as diabolical as you can imagine, do exist out there.
I have exclusively hunted with a bow plenty of times. My Ruger Vaquero .357 Mag or Auto-Ordnance 1911 is always riding with me in a shoulder rig or haversack, easily reached and drawn if needed. Of course, I can just use the broadhead tipped arrow as a spear and slam it into something if I need to, but the pistol provides me with even more assurance...
I hunt with a shotgun quite a bit. Have used my sidearm to put down boar when they are in range and take an intrest when calling turkey. I usually use an HK USP 45 with 45 Super ammo but am seriously thinking tossing a little Colt Commando over my back instead as I do pass on pigs that would be easy shots with a rifle. Actually working up a pig load for it this weekend to make the switch for the spring Rios.
I carry my G43 either in a side holster reverse draw on a Superday pack or in a IWB holster clipped to the top of my bibs(chest carry) with a coat over it. As I hunt public land, you'll never know what you'll run into.
D
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Carrying a sidearm while bow hunting is a PITA. Most holsters suck for one reason or another. Some attach to your pack belt but once you drop the pack, you are unarmed. Not great. Others just get in the way, a chest rig won't work with a bino bivy, drop holsters dirty your gun when hiking through tall stuff covered with morning dew. I dislike trying to draw quickly with a safety strap on the gun. For this reason I bought a cheap Kydex holster from https://wethepeopleholsters.com/col...31-wethepeopleholsters?variant=12955000668258.
I ordered an extra set of screws and glued em all in so the two piece holster stays together (otherwise the screws loosen over time which pissed me off) and now it's good to go. I can side it over the pack belt and once I drop my pack, side it onto my pants (with or without a belt) instantly. When I put it on my pack belt I slip it in behind a small pouch (Kifaru) which protects it when I'm busting brush. Problem finally solved...many holsters later.
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