Hammer,

In your case where hip holster due to nerve damage is not possible then an alternative is warranted. A chest holster is not a bad option, in fact for some, it may be a great option, much better than shoulder “Miami Vice” style in my opinion. I should have been more clear in my initial statement and not grouped chest and shoulder holsters in the same sentence.

On extra magazines, I guess we will have to agree to disagree on that topic. With your mag malfunction record its hard to argue the need for extra magazines, still I prefer extra magazines.



Kurt

I also prefer my chest holster (.45 ACP in that one) for hiking and most all outdoor activities. Same reasons as Hammer, except no nerve damage.

I have a couple of belt holsters (and a really neat leather set-up for my Peacemaker), but I get more flexibility and utility having my sides clear for pack hip belts and other things.

But that’s, like, my opinion man. YMMV.

I know some guys who used to run traplines,
a Colt Woodsman or similar in a shoulder holster worn under their coat / rain gear was the preferred option.

FWIW I remember an article in a gun magazine back about 30 years ago
described the author's getting stranded behind a couple road washouts,
& having to survive for a week or 10 days with his High Standard 22
and some loose cartridges that he found in the glove box.
Said he was glad he had his 22 rather than a magnum.
Mainly he ate bunnies, grouse, & fish that he managed to shoot (yes, fish).

I have a single shot Martini action BSA given to me by a British naval surgeon who used it to feed himself in the Arctic by shooting trout and seals. He cooked the fish on a seal fat stove. A real character from another era.

I liked Charles Bronsons solution in “Once upon a time in the west”.

MTV

daedaluscan wrote:I have a single shot Martini action BSA given to me by a British naval surgeon who used it to feed himself in the Arctic by shooting trout and seals. He cooked the fish on a seal fat stove. A real character from another era.

I'm curious what caliber it is?
Apparently those used to be kinda popular back 60 or so years ago,
re-chambered / re-barreled for small rimmed wildcat cartridges,
I assume because they were readily available and/or reasonably priced.
PO Ackley's "Handbook for Shooters & Reloaders" has a short writeup by a guy who had a .17 Ackley Bee built on a .310 Martini action.

22

I have a single shot Martini action BSA given to me by a British naval surgeon who used it to feed himself in the Arctic by shooting trout and seals. He cooked the fish on a seal fat stove. A real character from another era.

I have the identical action chambered in a 22 K Hornet, its a great little groundhog, squirrel etc. rifle

I’ve used a Dara Kydex thumb break for years, Kydex while not terribly classic or appealing doesn’t hold water and salt like leather does, and we work on the coast. Leather just doesn’t work in this environment at all.

It’s a simple right side hip holster, I found it plenty comfortable in the cockpit, it’s easy to keep the lap belt off it by shifting the holster over / above the lap belt. I don’t like chest holsters in the cockpit for two reasons, we wear 4 point harnesses, and it’s even uncomfortable with a normal diagonal across the chest car style belt. Second, the option isn’t legal here for carry in the field, we have to use hip holsters. The logic there was the powers that be here figure you’re apt to muzzle sweep your company when drawing from a chest holster, and it’s allegedly a slower presentation of the gun.

Fortunately I prefer a hip holster anyhow, I also find carrying gear totes / boxes / supplies uncomfortable with things strapped to my chest, and carrying crap from the plane to camps and back was half the job of being an outfitter.

Why would you wear it in the cockpit? But maybe that's just me being quirky? I also take my wallet and phone out of my pockets before strapping in.

rw2 wrote:Why would you wear it in the cockpit? But maybe that's just me being quirky? I also take my wallet and phone out of my pockets before strapping in.

Well, for one thing, on floats, ANYthing not FIRMLY strapped to your person is likely to wind up in the drink……Clunk-Splash. I’ve had to snorkel for a gun and dropped a cell phone in the Yukon.

MTV

In Vietnam you were issued the cheap S&W 38 revolver. The Vietnamese kids would sell you a cheap John Wayne quick draw holster with belt. After dawning chicken plate, you simply scooted the revolver around under the chicken plate and between your legs and over you privates. Sitting in an armored seat with chicken plate and revolver in front, you were good to go. When shot down, its use against the enemy was a dicey decision. It might just make them mad. I chose to run instead.

Yep, anything you would prefer to keep needs to be firmly fastened to your person.

A coworker may have survived a helicopter crash because his phone was in his pocket. Machine burned minutes after impact, along with everything that had been broadly redistributed in it. He was lucky enough to drag himself out first, and even luckier to be in cell service. We carry an inreach mini up here instead of a phone.

The gun’s on my hip, inreach zipped in my pocket along with a lighter, leatherman, and a slim wallet sized space blanket in my back pocket. I got stuck on a glacial lake once for several days, and was grateful to have a plane full of odds and ends, even a #10 can of freeze dried chicken and rice.

Had I scrambled out of it before it burned as the coworker did I’d still have lived and felt secure, just less comfortably.

I had a custom made under the shoulder cross draw holster with mag/leather man carrier under the other side made. I brought my pack to the shop and fitted it with the pack on. It works with day pack or Barney's pack. Does not get in the way of bino's or chest pockets. It has a thumb break strap so gun stays in place with chainsaw work, dressing out game, building fire, ect. Belt loops on both sides help hold up your pants also. Holster is made to come of shoulder harness and convert to belt if needed. With a revolver it is a bit wide when adjusting trim in a cub, with 9mm auto much better. Only downside is it is not a off the shelf item. DENNY

DENNY wrote:I had a custom made under the shoulder cross draw holster with mag/leather man carrier under the other side made. I brought my pack to the shop and fitted it with the pack on. It works with day pack or Barney's pack. Does not get in the way of bino's or chest pockets. It has a thumb break strap so gun stays in place with chainsaw work, dressing out game, building fire, ect. Belt loops on both sides help hold up your pants also. Holster is made to come of shoulder harness and convert to belt if needed. With a revolver it is a bit wide when adjusting trim in a cub, with 9mm auto much better. Only downside is it is not a off the shelf item. DENNY

Got a pic of it?

John

Zzz wrote:
I went with the S&W 329PD, which has some space-age alloy frame. Weighs 1.5 lbs. Has a 4" barrel, which I also wanted vs the 2.5".

Holy smokes. What a light weight! I used to carry the Ruger Redhawk in .44M into the MT backcountry for bear protection and I dreaded it. I used a chest holster that (mostly) stayed out of the way of my pack but I could never shake how damn heavy it was. HOWEVER, it was so damn heavy that it made follow-up shots pretty quick; the beast-of-a-gun just seemed to roll right back down after I'd shoot. Then again, the primary reason I carried it was a last-resort, "belly" gun so it's not like I was shooting way downrange.

I sold it a few years ago (but still have the dies for .44M) and might need to go fondle the S&W for a bit.

In Vietnam we bought John Wayne gunfighter holsters from kids outside the wire. We twisted the belt around so that the pistol was under our chicken plate and between out legs. That with armored seat pretty much covered it. Actually shoot a 45 at the enemy? Not me when I was E&E. Those NVA guys looked professional and had long guns.

For flying
Chest rig or cross draw

Chest rig is better for bigger frame stuff or working your way through the bush

Cross draw works for smaller frame pistols, or if you want to be able to throw a jacket on and be somewhat concealed, or just in general less in your face if you’re flying pax

I have a few of Lucas’, be my go to for a belt mounted non thumb break, form fit for retention cross draw

https://adamsholsters.com/store/index.p ... ommon/home


Lots of other options for chest rigs with everyone and their uncle making kydex


Backcountry I’d go 10mm auto with a red dot sight, light, and underwood rounds, though the 44 revolvers are sexy

Based of platform
1911


Pretty turn key, though I’m iffy on Kimber

https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore ... /ID/225907

I’d like a RDS, probably send it out to be milled, but great value



https://www.armscor.com/firearms-list/t ... -10mm-16rd

Both need a weapons light


For people who like the Lego stuff



https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gea ... /p/1260463

Also needs a light obviously