I was wondering how you guys carried your Contender/Encore handguns while hunting. It looks to me like a shoulder holster would really get in the way if you had a backpack on. What about a sling? It looks to me like that might be the way to go. It appears that you could just carry the weapon over your shoulder with a backpack on.

I would appreciate your actual experiences...

X

x-,

I only have first-hand experience with the T/C and the Uncle Mike's Bandolier holster:
http://www.eabco.com/images/tca02.gif

I much prefer Uncle Mike's Bandolier.... The T/C requires you to use a belt, while it is optional with the Bandolier, though it does keep the holster in place when you draw. Having to wear a belt onthe outside can be a factor when you're wearing a lot of clothes. The Bandolier is a lot easier to don.

When I carry a heavy pistol on my belt for extended periods, I can feel it in my hips. With the Bandolier, the weight is on your back.

Regards, Bill

For the 10" w/a scope I use this holster. It can be worn on a belt or as bandelier with the shoulder strap.



For the 14" barrels I just carry them & cradle them in my arms. When climbing in to tree stand I unload it & put it in back pack.

.

[ 12-05-2003, 00:47: Message edited by: Rich Jake ]

Not to be a wise guy... but I carry it in my hand. That's where it's most usefull.

Every once in a while I'll carry it in the crook of my left arm/elbow.

And if I need to be rid of it, say to drag a deer, I put it in my pack.

I tried the bandoleir type shoulder holster w/ my contender. It was OK, but lots of straps and rigging, especially if you are also carrying a back-pack or day-pack.

When I picked up an Encore, I decided to try something different. Got a barrel band that is made for a 20G. shotgun. Sling swivel in the handle. Then a neopreme sling.

SWEET! I carried this thing on through the Marble Mountains, w/ my backpack, w/o a pack, day pack. Far more comfortable than the holster and much faster to get into action. You can also bandolier style it on your back if you need both hands in rough country. I LIKE! I won't be going back to a holster on an of these big single shots.

How I make carring the Contender easier, is by dragging my 12lb turkey gun through the woods every spring and fall. Come winter I dont notice the Contender.

[ 12-05-2003, 06:00: Message edited by: cas ]

a nylon sling is a must have item. especially since it greatly steadies my offhand hold if i happen to be caught without a rest. even a 14"er can be held steady this way.

ankle holster

X, My vote also goes to the "Just Sling It" sling referenced by S. Utah. I've used other rifle-type slings, but MUCH prefer the "JSI" sling. It's much steadier and carries better. I prefer using it in combination w/ the Pachmayr forend/rear grip swivel studs FORMERLY made by SSK. Unfortunately, they've discontinued these find swivel studs. Nevertheless, you can use the swivel studs made by Uncle Mike's. When I first got my Contender, I used the barrel band that came on it. I could never seem to get it tight enough to keep it from slipping. You can use an Uncle Mike swivel stud in the forearm as well, instead of the barrel band. I've never had an inclination to carry my Contender in a holster. Gary T.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I think I might go with the sling. My Bullberry grip does not have a grip cap. Where might I find a grip cap so that the sling swivel/stud hardware will work with my grip? It's always something!!

X

X-Cal,

I have hunted big game with the Contender going on 24 years now and have tried about every carry method there is. The leather T/C holster was too noisy (sqeeks). The bandolier was OK, just seems to get in the way a lot. I got tired of carrying it in my hand or in the crook of my arm. I settled on a sling. To hook up a sling, just take a little piece of 1/8" thick aluminum and make a cover for the butt-piece and put a sling swivel in it, next screw a front sling swivel into the front end of the forepiece rather than to use a barrel band as the barrel band will change the harmonics of the barrel when it is fired and it will shoot in a different place than when you shot it at the range over a sandbag. If you use a sling made of some synthetic material, it will be slippery and will want to slide off your shoulder. The easy fix is to wrap several rubber bands around the sling for adhesion to your shoulder.

Don Shearer

I like to stalk with the gun in my hands but get tired of that so I use a sling I have a custom forend that has a stud mounted in it and also I can use a bipod for the longer shots.

E-Caliber,

Check the mounting kit @
http://www.jsi-guns-hunting-firearms.com/accessories.htm

made by Uncle Mikes and replaces grip bolt ,no cap needed. There are also different machine threaded studs that will replace one of the forearms screws. There is one for the Encore but uses the barrel band on front. http://www.foxridgeoutfitters.com/detail.cfm?section=7&subsection=37,72&product=3835 The Encore has smaller forearm screws (6x40 tread)than the contender (8x32) and the Encore has a rubber forearm you can't do anything with. With a wood or after market forearm you can use the machine scew with a nut on back or the wood screw type.
BTW, the JSI sling goes over your head so you would have to remove your head or stand on your hands for the sling to slip off. It is 2 position, one for carry and one for shooting.

[ 12-06-2003, 21:21: Message edited by: southern utah ]

Sling or in my backpack (mountains). Primarily a sling.

Ernie

I carry my 12" Contender in a modified Mil-Tech bandolier holster I got from Cabelas. I can wear the holster as a vertical sholder rig, or a bandolier style. It served me well while I was crawling through some thick brush during elk season, but was still as fast as any other holster I tried. The sling didn't work for me. It left the gun exposed to rain, snow, and leaves that got in the scope and cost me an elk.

I use a sling system that i designed myself for hunting, that works great for crawling. It's simply a std. 3/4 or 1" webbing thats got a snap close to the end. One end of the snap is something similar to a backpack belt or shoulder strap that has the webbing simply fished thru it such that you can put it over your neck and hand tighten just like you would adjust a shouder backpack strap. It keeps the gun tight to your back, and holds very well there. When i prepare for the shot i simply grab the gun with one hand, and unsnap the sling. This keeps from having to contort a lot to get the sling off my neck and the gun into postion. I let a couple of my antelope huntin' buddies use the system for their rifles this year, and they wanted to buy it. It is super simple to make requiring just a couple of Fastex buckles and snap, sling swivels, and webbing.

[ 12-08-2003, 11:53: Message edited by: sscoyote ]