"Hunting" Handguns

[Lost River]

From Christmas Eve day 2016, just a month or so ago now,




I was mostly rifle hunting the Jacks, but I took a few with wadcutters too.

[mrcarbine]

i carry a Colt Python stainless 6" for big game hunting. brown bear to be specific. the .357 are excellent hunting back up piece.

[Krazykarl]

Bringing this thread up as I need a leather holster suggestion from all of you handgun hunters. I have a sw m57 6" 41 magnum. What do you guys carry your n frames in?

[gaijin]

I use an El Paso "Tanker", or whatever they call it.
A shoulder rig that is reasonably easy to access under heavy winter (hunting) clothing.

[Krazykarl]

That helps a lot. I was certain that a shoulder rig rather than hip holster would be the answer.

[gaijin]

It's my preference.
Hunting in relatively dense cover (cedar thickets and brush) I find a hip holster a problem with getting hung up.

[Gingerkid]

Traded a plastic Glock for this beefy blaster. I say good trade. Hope to take a deer with it this fall.

[Lost River]

I use an El Paso "Tanker", or whatever they call it.
A shoulder rig that is reasonably easy to access under heavy winter (hunting) clothing.

I found your post pretty noteworthy.

It is obvious that you are an accomplished handgunner, based on some of the pics posted and conversations. The thing I noted was that your reasoning was the exact opposite of mine.

I have found that I prefer a belt holster for my N Frames for guns with barrel lengths up to and including 5"s:



One exception being when I am wearing layers of winter clothing. Then I will wear a Tanker rig over my insulation layer, under my goretex shell, since this method is easier to access.





When the barrel lengths get 6"s or longer, that is when I really prefer the Tanker rig.





With that said, my hunting environment appears quite a bit different. I tend to hunt very open terrain. It is rare I am in thick vegetation. I am going to make a mental note of your post, in case I ever go hunting down south or back east, in the thick stuff, and toss in my Tanker holster as well.

[gaijin]

^^Nice. You are obviously "muy pistolero" yourself.

Given hunting in your environment I would likely do as you do.

Bear in mind I am easily twice your age, with a lot of miles on the odometer; bad back, hips, rotators, etc, just make a tanker style rig easier to pack for long distances.
Also, the majority of my hunting handguns are 4" as they're easier to lug around all day.
I was a competitive handgunner for years and don't feel handicapped with shorter barrels.
Then again, most shots are <50 yds. (:

[Krazykarl]

Lost river,

That looks like familiar terrain. I spent 7 years in Burns, Oregon area.

Karl