Trail Gun and Holster

[Mike Bravo]

What revolver caliber would be best on the trail/mountains against black bear and cougar?
What kind of holster would work while wearing a backpack?

[Bulldozer]

I would go with a 44 Mag or 45LC with a cross draw holster.

[carpsniperg2]

i alreay put my on your other post about cal but i would sugest a cross draw or strong side hip with a good thumb strap to make sure if you tuselin around with somthing it does not fall out and it will be easy to reach.

[Mike Bravo]

Any particular brands? 
Would you be able to conceal?

[carpsniperg2]

yes under a longer jacket yes both can be concealed unless you get a gun with a 6"+ barrrel i am a big fan of uncle mikes holsters and acc check them out cheap and hold up good.

[Mike Bravo]

Any suggestions to conceal in the spring summer with a backpack on?

[JackOfAllTrades]

If I want to conceal... (for those popular forest service trails that tree huggers like to frequent) I'll only carry an SP101 in 357mag with some pretty hot loads as vermin medicine in a Bianchi horizontal shoulder holster on the weak side. This provides very nice cross draw access from the strong arm and hides nicely with an open front button shirt. A hip holster with backpack waist belt is just an uncomfortable situation in all my experience. And there is no way to conceal since the padded belt of a back pack must ride above the hip belt for the weapon. IWB front is still uncomfortable and not concealable.

Most of the time I could give a rip about concealing when I'm in the woods. Bunny hugger trail or not. I carry my Ruger 44mag in a weak side vertical shoulder holster.

A shoulder rig is the only way to carry a piece if you're also adorned with a day/back pack.

-Steve

[Wazukie]

I carry my .357 in a crossdraw style.  I have now problems with it being uncomfortable with a pack on or in the truck or when on horse back. but there is really no way to conceal it eaither.  Something like a S&W 60 or the Rugar SP101 is easier to conceal for sure.

[Straight Shooter]

Nothing fancy for me... a 4" stainless Ruger GP100 (.357 Mag) in strong-side hip holster.

[satchel3006]

i carry my 4" gp100 in a kinda chest holster thing or in a hip holster depending on what im doing and what i feel like
http://www.opticsale.com/gunmate-the-guide-holster-21432-824-prd1.html
heres a pic of the chest holster

[Galpster]

I carry a 45 FNP in a tactical leg holster. It takes some practice but I had lots of it n the military. It is not a conceal carry but that is not your original posting. I carry the same pistol in an uncle mikes center of the back holster.

[high country]

I pack a smith 329pd in a strong side mitch rosen.....light, lots of power and accurate to 100 plus yds

[mattaylor81]

I carry a 4 5/8" Blackhawk in 45Colt.  Either in a crossdraw or one of the these chest holsters.http://www.davidjohnstonleather.com/Pages/Holsters.html I load 300gr Cast Performance WLNGC bullets moving about 1100fps.

[Rgrady35]

I carry a Ruger Blackhawk Bisley 7 1/2" barrel strong side. 250 gr Nosler JHP loaded a bit warm about 1k fps. .45 LC.

[yorketransport]

I have a Taurus Tracker Ti 41 Mag that has been all pretty good to me. I carry it in a Bianchi Black Widow holster if I just have a day pack on. If I have a heavier pack with a hip belt, I slide an Uncl Mike's pancake holster on to the hip belt and carry the gun on the pack.

I like the gun, but if the S&W 329 had been around at the time, that's what I'd be packing. And I don't worry about concealing if I'm in the out in the national forest. I've had some funny looks, but nothing that wasn't fixed with a friendly greeting.

Andrew

[MikeWalking]

.41-.44

What I did years ago; went through the local Value Village till I found a small, small backpack (?) it was a neoprene thing about 7x7in with shoulder straps a zipper across the top. Anyway I cut off the straps, cut some slots added some stitching to keep them from tearing. cut a slot for the spring clip on a cheap nylon belt holster and slipped that in and put it all on the hip belt of my backpack. Zip it up when the Tie-dye crowd passes on the trail or it rains, otherwise keep it open.
I carried a Taurus 608, large frame 8 shot .357 very comfortably that way

Later I went to a .44 629classic.  Put the holster on my hip belt. When I saw people coming up the trail that might freak I just hung my hat or sweatrag on it, turning gun side away to let them pass. In cold weather hikes I'd put my stocking hat over it when it seemed a good idea too.

[44 Flattop]

For 30 years I've carried a Ruger Flattop .44 in an El Paso Saddlery 1880 crossdraw holster, something the gun sits very deep in, on a 3" El Paso Saddlery belt.  The wider belt is much more comfortable than a 1 1/2" pants belt.  Don't even notice it being there.  My belt also has loops for 15 .44 cartridges and 9 45-70 cartridges, should I wish or need to carry extra's. 

A word of warning, a crossdraw usually isn't very comfortable for anyone with a big belly.  A strong side or shoulder holster would be much more comfortable in that case. 

44

[Mike Bravo]

.41-.44

What I did years ago; went through the local Value Village till I found a small, small backpack (?) it was a neoprene thing about 7x7in with shoulder straps a zipper across the top. Anyway I cut off the straps, cut some slots added some stitching to keep them from tearing. cut a slot for the spring clip on a cheap nylon belt holster and slipped that in and put it all on the hip belt of my backpack. Zip it up when the Tie-dye crowd passes on the trail or it rains, otherwise keep it open.
I carried a Taurus 608, large frame 8 shot .357 very comfortably that way

Later I went to a .44 629classic.  Put the holster on my hip belt. When I saw people coming up the trail that might freak I just hung my hat or sweatrag on it, turning gun side away to let them pass. In cold weather hikes I'd put my stocking hat over it when it seemed a good idea too.

could you post a picture of the rig you constructed out of holster and backpack?  Thanks

[MikeWalking]

Oh that puppy rotted away years ago. I think the bag/pack I found was some kind of makeup bag, one  of those buy this and get a free that things.  There was a gap where the shoulder straps were sewn on that let me slip it over the padded portion of my backpacks hipbelt.

I'll look around on line and see what I find. If you do put something on your packs hipbelt it's gotta go over the fat padded portion or it will flop around and drive you nuts.  

I also have some add on pouches from Sportsman guide I think that work. They're meant to either clip or slide on to a packs straps.  I sometimes put one on the sternum strap. Good for small binos or medium size handgun.

My camera is not a Digital and the scanner is a payday away at least...I look forward to getting some Alaska pictures posted

[thinkingman]

45ACP Taurus Ti 4" in a basic Uncle Mikes hip holster on a duty belt.I have clearance on all of my packs for a quick, clear draw.
Don't care who sees it.
I tried to adapt a Buddy-Lok to a holster=massive fail....those things are weak and brush tends to drag and rotate the holster.

[Huntbear]

I carry a Ruger Redhawk .44 mag. in an Uncle Mikes holster, crossdraw on my hip.  Works great, and does not bother me.  I also did some practice (empty gun) drawing the gun  to make sure it worked before using it in the woods.  I wear it the same way during hunting season.  Keeps the butt of the revolver from rubbing on my rifle that way.

[C-Money]

.357 mag and up Cross draw. My Father in-law makes very nice holsters.

[Rob]

I bought a 44 Mag, the Taurus Ultra-Lite Titanium.  It is a full sized frame with a 4 inch barrel and weighs 2 pounds 4 oz including the holster and six 320 grain shells!

I usually carry it with 4 of the 320 grain bear/meth head shells and 2 snake shot shells for grouse (I have taken several grouse with it-works well if you are 10 yards or so away).

Hardly notice it on my hip. 

[rasbo]

44mag 629 classic,hip holster.

[mossback91]

Ruger Blackhawk 357 crossdraw uncle mikes holster..........simple but works.

If I had the money Id prolly change it up every trip

[AWS]

A Taurus Tracke 41mag in an old (30+ years) Bianchi 4" K-frame shoulder holster.  It hangs the revolver below the shoulder straps on the pack and above the padded waist belt on my pack, plus it's handy and out of the way.

AWS

[timberghost72]

45ACP Taurus Ti 4" in a basic Uncle Mikes hip holster on a duty belt.I have clearance on all of my packs for a quick, clear draw.
Don't care who sees it.
I tried to adapt a Buddy-Lok to a holster=massive fail....those things are weak and brush tends to drag and rotate the holster.

Thats funny.  I thought I was the only one who tried the Buddy-Lok.  I used it with my Kimber 1911 .45 ACP. I had the rotating problem too but I used a zip tie to keep it from rotating.  Worked great and could not see it.
I have since changed and now carry a Ruger Blackhawk .357 in a Triple K Cheyenne strong side holster and love it.