Heavy on the Hip

[Odin]

A two-part question of sorts...

What's the heaviest gun you'd wear on your hip? I'm talking all-day field wear here, not just a short range visit or out to grab the mail or whatnot.

Also...

What sort of rig (holster AND belt) do you find most effective for what you consider a heavy gun riding at your side?

As always, pics are much appreciated.

[bulasteve]

Since '80, I've been happy with a 7 1/2" SBH in a Bianchi crossdraw holster. When I've decided less will cover the threats perceived, a Bulldog .44spec in a pocket or wherever will do. A firearm packed for self preservation needs to be comforting, not comfortable. But for me, 3 lbs or so of hardware is nice. The Rh I had, put me over the edge.   steve 

[bulasteve]

To clarify, I'm talking camping, backpacking, snowshoeing, survival. Not hanging around the truck, with a tent nearby.

[Frank V]

I've found for a heavy six-gun a good gunbelt is almost a must for the uses you talk about.
Mostly a regular belt will have you pulling at the gun all day to keep it in position & be uncomfortable to boot.
A good high riding holster that fits close to the belt helps too.
When out all day carrying a six-gun on a regular jeans belt will become uncomfortable quickly!

I have a 3" soft leather moneybelt/gunbelt by Rick Bachman here in Montana that makes a heavy six-gun easy to carry all day.

www.oldwestreproductions.com

[CraigC]

Hard to beat a good Threepersons rig:


Even a big 4.2lb Dragoon carries well in a proper holster on a heavy gunbelt.

[TERRY MURBACH]

A 5 1/2" SBH 44MAG/BH/a 4 5/8"45/ ETC/ in a TOM3P shuck on a 2/12" or 3" belt worn over---OVER !!--- a 1 3/4" gunbelt in my jeans beltloops. I'll forget it is there after about 90 seconds.
ALL of the COLTS are worn in a tio Sam Myres jockstrap holster on a full flower carved 3" gunbelt that has a left/right shuck and with both used it too feels like it is floating on me. NO belt under 2 1/4" is worth carrying home for such heavy duty usage IMNHO. My Don Hume 2 1/4" River belt is an exception to that BIGGER is better belief.

PS: I forgot to note the easiest riding 2 1/4" gunbelt is the El Paso Saddlery chap leather moneybelt that is as soft as a maiden's kiss.

[sheriff]

I find the "jockstrap' holster made by mi amigo, David Keith, and his 1.5" double thickness 'Ranger' belt works just dandy for my 4" N-frames.

[jayhawker]

It's all about surface area. The wider the belt, the more comfortable. Wear 2 Colts all day at SASS matches in a double drop loop Buscadero ( copy of Andy Anderson Victory rig).

[Snyd]

I wear this 4" 454 Redhawk on my pants belt in a Simply Rugged Pancake. It's my backup gun while hunting. Bear protection fishin, hiking, berrypickin gun. I choose to NOT have it on a separate belt. I want it on my person every minute until it goes in my sleeping bag with me at night. This belt is a 1.75 1/4inch thick. Works pretty good but is getting a little soft. I don’t know that I’d want to carry much more weight all day. It weighs 2lb 13ozs empty. My loads weigh 1.2 ozs each. 355gr wfns.





When packin strong side I undo the retention strap since the pancake design does it's job and holds it great. All I have to do is grab and pull.





When hiking with my daypack I stick the gun in a nylon holster crossdraw on the pack belt. The Simply Rugged Pancake is still on my belt and squishes flat under the pack belt no problem. When I drop the pack the Redhawk goes back on my hip.

[Odin]

Thanks for all the replies, gents. Your words and pics are most instructive. I can see now that my choice of belt will be at least as important, if not more so, than my choice of holster design.

[COR]

"My holstermaker is as important to me as my doctor"
-Skeeter Skelton


Dr. Barranti at www.barrantileather.com ... I'm not sure if he still does house calls though...

His Tank rig is my favorite and I have to agree with the belt assessment although the aforementioned rig is a cross body style...

[Cholla]

Here's some shots of the rig that I wear quite a lot....OK, a whole lot! The revolver weighs about 37 oz. empty...about as heavy as I care to carry while working or tromping about the creek bottom, but about as light and short (4 5/8") I can use and still have any serious expectations of hitting game out to 50 yds or so.

 



The belt is an old Bucheimer and the holster was made by Lonnie Lindsey, they're both lined. I bought the belt, like new, about 1 1/2 years ago and the holster about the same time, brand new. It's hard to believe that much wear could be put on a rig in that short amount of time, but that's what happens when your wear one while working. Contrary to how they look, both remain soft and supple despite my not oiling them as often as I should.

  The belt is a single drop and I rigged the holster like this:



I rigged it this way because one, it keeps the holster high on the hip, but mainly because the holster won't slide around on the belt:

 

[ezekiel38]

Back in the day, I wore a Sam Browne 2.25" lined police belt. It was comfortable considering the weight it carried. A 4" 29, 2 HKS Speedloaders with 12 rounds of 44, 2 sets of steel handcuffs in pouches, a collapsible baton, and a 2 way radio.Wore this apparati 8-12hrs a day 5 days a week for several years, before making Detective.

I recently purchased a Ruger 44Spl. Bisley, 45/8s.I also have an old 12 cartridge belt slide in 44/45. Now to get someone to build me a Tom Threepersons in Black Basketweave for that Bisley to nestle in!

Wider belt is better, higher holster cuts WAAAAAAAAAAAY down on leg and back fatigue.

[boxhead]

My heaviest, a 5 1/2" 475 Linebaugh BFR, rides comfortably in a Von Ringler Linebaugh holster, belt and slide.

[Odin]

Cholla, you're killing me with that 44! Such a fine working gun.

Boxhead, thanks for your input with the BFR. Is that a regular "pants belt", or is it wider than that? I've been eyeing Von's work as of late. Simple, stout and purposeful. Seems almost perfect to me.