I'd be interested in knowing whats the most popular type holster used by all you backcountry backpackers...I perfer and use a vertical shoulder holster placed under my pack shoulder straps and hung under my left arm as I shoot right handed..in a cross draw fashion which to my mind would be the quickest release of the weapon in an emergency situation..especially with my pack in place..I do most of my hiking and camping alone.... mostly following old logging roads with dense growth on each side...and some cross country bushwacking..I've seen a lot of guys wear high ride hip holsters and waist holsters...My shoulder holster seems to distribute the weight of my Ruger Blackhawk in line with my pack...and is less tiring on my body...does anyone have a better system???
Neil....Was surprised to not see any posts on your topic.I would've thought quite a few would have an opinion on it.Maybe the lack of response is actually quite a compliment.Why tamper with perfection.
The only thing diff. I do is I use a Horizonal one to carry my 6 in 357. I prefer the shoulder hosters over the belt one when I have a pack one. Also when you put your coat on ect it is protected from the weather. But I carry stainless any way not as much trouble.
Posts: 19721 | Location: wis | Registered: 21 April 2001
El Paso Saddlery www.epsaddlery.com makes a holster called the M1942 if you have ever seen a US Military Tanker Holster that is what this is. I just ordered one and it should be here in another month. I will let you know when I get it what it is like. If you have not seen one it is a shoulder holster but it rides out on the front of your chest. They do not show this holster on the web site but they do make them. Sean
Posts: 537 | Location: Vermont | Registered: 04 March 2001
I searched for the best holster for back country carry and ended up getting 2 Milt Sparks holsters. I bought the 200AW and the HSR. I wanted a strong side carry and a crossdraw. When I am packing meat and a pack, I really like the crossdraw and the quality is hard to beat. Good luck.
------------------ Mark Roe
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." --Benjamin Franklin, 1759
I use a belt mounted Bianchi #111 crossdraw, either on my pants belt or backpack hip belt, depending upon my load. I am right handed and like to keep my right side free.
Posts: 694 | Location: Des Moines, Iowa, USA | Registered: 09 January 2001
A shoulder holster is the only way to go for me because it doesn't interfere with my hip belt for taking the weight off my shoulders. Of course when packing the Encore I use the bandolier holster across my chest. Slim
Whenever I carried a pistol backpacking, I just put it in one of the side pouches. In reality other than being ambushed up close by a bear it isn't that many seconds slower, and keeps you less sweaty too.
Posts: 7776 | Location: Between 2 rivers, Middle USA | Registered: 19 August 2000
quote:Originally posted by MarkWhite: Whenever I carried a pistol backpacking, I just put it in one of the side pouches. In reality other than being ambushed up close by a bear it isn't that many seconds slower, and keeps you less sweaty too.
I'll let you in on my little secret...I'm really not that concerned with animal attacks especially bears..while in the back country I travel alone I'm always watching my back for predators of the "twolegged" type...5-10 people a year "disappear" while hiking in wilderness areas..and if someone is scopeing me from a distance..I like my Blackhawk to show up very clearly hanging under my arm and its a great feeling at night to snuggle up to its cold frame especially while I hear "foot" steps moving around the perimeter of my campsite..Is it a boyscout troop looking to camp or ???Maybe I've seen the movie "Deliverance" to many times..I do wear a "bear bell" when in grizzly country so everything and "everyone" knows I'm coming. Neil
After almost 20 years of handgun hunting, I've found the Uncle Mike's bandolier shoulder holster to be the most practical and comfortable, especially if the handgun is heavy or scoped. If I am going to be doing a lot of walking, I prefer a crossdraw belt holster like the El Paso Saddlery Tom Threepersons. If you won't need to get to it quickly, then the best easiest method is to put it the side pouch of you pack.
quote:Originally posted by Neil: I'd be interested in knowing whats the most popular type holster used by all you backcountry backpackers...I perfer and use a vertical shoulder holster placed under my pack shoulder straps and hung under my left arm as I shoot right handed..in a cross draw fashion which to my mind would be the quickest release of the weapon in an emergency situation..especially with my pack in place..I do most of my hiking and camping alone.... mostly following old logging roads with dense growth on each side...and some cross country bushwacking..I've seen a lot of guys wear high ride hip holsters and waist holsters...My shoulder holster seems to distribute the weight of my Ruger Blackhawk in line with my pack...and is less tiring on my body...does anyone have a better system???
I don't know what the most popular holster system is, but if you are a backpacking hunter, I think you would enjoy looking into kifaru International's products. You can look them up at www.kifaru.net.
Kifaru makes two lines of back packs specifically designed for hunters. They also produce a line of incredibly light Tipi tents, and ultra light wood burning stoves to be packed in with the tents, as well as a line of Rambling Rifles that weigh in at under five pounds with scopes. Of more interest to you would be their Handgun Bearer, which was developed by Bob Good in conjunction with Patrick Smith of Kifaru. The Hangun Bearer carries your hand gun horizontal a cross your chest, suspended from your back pack's shoulder straps, effectively offsetting some of the weight on your back. It also doubles as a hand warmer and carries a fairly sizable set of binoculars and other sundry items. With out too much trouble, the addition of the quick-release buckels to your suspension, I believe this accessary could be added to just about any pack. In addition, the Kifaru packs hip belts are set up to carry conventional holsters, should you prefer your own holster...RH.
Well, I got my El Paso Saddlery M1942 Holster yesterday and it is very nice, well made and extremely comfortable. If you are in the market for this sort of holster I recommend you look into one. Sean
Posts: 537 | Location: Vermont | Registered: 04 March 2001
LoneEagle, I've been crrying my S&W Mod#629 3" .44Mag "Classic Carry" in an El Paso tanker holster for years. It is without a doubt, the most comfortable, easy to access, easy on and off rig that I have seen yet!
