Sidearm holster on hip belt of pack

[timberghost72]

I finally got around to doing this idea I had and thought I'd post it up for anyone else who may want to do this. I had a thread last year about sewing on a hip belt but decided to do this myself because it was too expensive to have someone else sew. And it ended up really easy.

So the first thing I did was grab an old cheap Fieldline pack I had that had the buddy lok attachments on the belt. I cut those off and used them to practice with. Also I have been looking for these online to buy individually and finally found some. These are designed to be sewn on with a standard machine but I just hand sewed them on with some outdoor specific thread (polyester). I first sewed the female end of the buddy lok onto a 2" piece of webbing. This is where a sewing machine would come in handy as I had to do this by hand and after doing a few, your fingers get pretty sore  After sewing the plastic female end on the webbing I then sewed the webbing onto the hip belt after careful positioning. Hand sewing this was much easier as the needle moved easily through the belt and webbing. I had a pocket on that side which I cut off but I don't use those hipbelt pockets much anyways. I also sewed on these to the other side so I can put pouches on the hip belt with buddy loks.
Anyways now that the hip belt end was done on this I moved to the holster. I tried a few different older holsters I had using rivets and it worked ok but I decided to buy a Blackhawk holster and see how that worked. It worked awesome. I removed the 3 screws on the belt attachment and using the male end of the buddy lok, I drilled 3 holes and put it in place of the original belt attachment. (Remember to mount the male and female ends 90 degrees off of each other). To make sure the holster does not twist out/off while hiking or getting snagged on brush when going through the thicker stuff, use one or two zip ties through the buddy lok when attached (you wont see these when trimmed off). So far I have tested this and it is strong and seems like it will hold up in the long term. I have put a female end on each side of the hip belts on all my packs so it makes it very easy and modular. Aside from the holster, this has cost less than $20.00 to do a day pack, hunting pack, and backpacking pack (six attachment points for holsters or pouches) and I have enough to do 5-6 more.
Anyways, here are some pictures of one of them.

[jasnt]

That's a great idea. I modified my holster for my sbh so it hangs low on my thigh gun slinger style. It has a 10 1/2" barrel so low is a must for quick draws with out hang ups. I been wanting to mount my black hawk holster for my sr9 on my pack in cross draw fashion. I want it on my left shoulder strap right over my heart. I think your idea here is perfect for this application. Thanks for posting.

[TheSkyBuster]

Great post, thanks for sharing.   

[wildmanoutdoors]

The only problem some may see if there a rifle hunter and you carry your gun in hand sometimes your stock will get dinged up on the pistol. I found this out while carrying the same way.

I went cross draw after that and no more dinged stock. It dosent however effect my bow as I am mostely a bow hunter.

[timberghost72]

The only problem some may see if there a rifle hunter and you carry your gun in hand sometimes your stock will get dinged up on the pistol. I found this out while carrying the same way.

I went cross draw after that and no more dinged stock. It dosent however effect my bow as I am mostely a bow hunter.

Yeah that is an issue I've had whether with this or just a holster and belt. I've learned to carry my rifle in other ways usually not hanging off my shoulder. My issue was more of the sling catching the pistol grip while taking the rifle off the shoulder.

[TheSkyBuster]

This design could easily be adapted to cross draw, or better yet with a buddy lock attachment on each hip strap of the pack the holster could be changed back and forth at will

[jasnt]

The only problem some may see if there a rifle hunter and you carry your gun in hand sometimes your stock will get dinged up on the pistol. I found this out while carrying the same way.

I went cross draw after that and no more dinged stock. It dosent however effect my bow as I am mostely a bow hunter.

Yeah that is an issue I've had whether with this or just a holster and belt. I've learned to carry my rifle in other ways usually not hanging off my shoulder. My issue was more of the sling catching the pistol grip while taking the rifle off the shoulder.

+1 this is why I want the cross draw. I can sling my rifle on my left shoulder if im carrying the huge sbh and it kinda balances it out but when im hunting elk I either pack both pistols or just the 9mm. Sbh is also my deer pistol

[Alchase]

I also carry in a Blackhawk Serpa II mounted cross draw on the waist belt of my Eberlestock X2.

[jackelope]

I also carry in a Blackhawk Serpa II mounted cross draw on the waist belt of my Eberlestock X2.

That has the molle web right?

This is what I had on my Eberlestock pack with the molle web. Sure makes it easier. I ran it cross draw too. I think Alchase tipped me off to this setup a few years back.

[Alchase]

I also carry in a Blackhawk Serpa II mounted cross draw on the waist belt of my Eberlestock X2.

That has the molle web right?

This is what I had on my Eberlestock pack with the molle web. Sure makes it easier. I ran it cross draw too. I think Alchase tipped me off to this setup a few years back.

The padded part of my pack belt does not extend out as far as yours does. I am using the belt slide from the Serpa. I wish I could get a "larger" replacement belt for my X2.
I prefer your setup.