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Post by mike454 on Apr 9, 2014 4:55:00 GMT -5
Under 40 oz gun for all day wear on the hip. I think there was a reason that so many guns came in at this 36-38 oz weight. 1911, browning hp, 4"s&w k & n frames, colt saa, all weigh within a few oz of one another. For larger guns I have a chest holster.
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Post by bluecow on Apr 9, 2014 7:45:41 GMT -5
5.5 ruger sbh 44 mag. carry in a uncle mikes nylon holster and a duty belt with heavy duty suspenders. this also has a knife, small binos, ammo, canteen, mini mag light, and small pouch of assorted stuff. (matches, tinder, candy, ect.) like putting on a jacket, add water and gun and go. all the weight is on the shoulders. not the nicest looking rig but it sure dose work.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Apr 9, 2014 8:33:17 GMT -5
I find barrel length to be a challenge to comfortable carry, & mobility, more so than gun weight, once the issue of a good holster & belt have been addressed...
since we are not talking about "hunting" I prefer a 4" or a snubbie ( like a Ruger Alaskan, or my pre Alaskan custom 44 Magnum Dan Wesson )for general use
I bought a nice "gun belt" from a custom maker on another forum... 2" multi layer cow & horse hide... really like it, though I added a roller buckle, since the belt was so stiff, when it was new... you can also get a belt with a stiffener layer, for an extra heavy or bulky rig...
one thing to look at too... is how many belt loops, & placement of them, if you're not going with a strap on "western" type rig... lots of Jeans & other pants seem like they have gone to one less belt loop, as a way of cheapening the cost...
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Post by boxhead on Apr 11, 2014 2:03:49 GMT -5
It is wider and of two slabs stitched together so very stout. The buckle is an upgrade he does that needs to be requested. It is much nicer than his standard one. Yes, his stuff is no-nonsense and built well. What size do you need? I have a 34 (IIRC) exactly like to one shown that I would be happy to send you when I get back to the place in Texas in October.
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Post by AxeHandle on Apr 11, 2014 6:03:24 GMT -5
For all day leather Simply Rugged Sour Dough Pancake and variations of the same in a 1 3/4 or 2 inch Simple Rugged belt. Rob makes some fine stuff. The last year has been an education for me. Working 9.5 hour days as a RSO on a concrete slab. Quickly found that a commander length slide alloy GF 1911 is my best bet on good days. When the days stack up I drop back to an alloy J frame S&W. Even with the J frame my back is stiff at the end of the day. Doesn't hurt to stand or walk but bending to get in and out of the car is a chore. I'm sure that part of it is just getting old but on days that I'm not on my feet 100% of the time my back is fine. Just about ready to try one of Robs chest rigs with an all steel full size 1911..
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Post by serialsolver on Apr 11, 2014 8:38:19 GMT -5
For me the sweet spot for pistol weight is at 34 oz give or take and oz. any lighter and the recoil beats my hands to much any heavier and my back knees and feet can't take the beating. I use a wilderness instructor 5 stitch belt and carry the pistol iwb. carry concealed works best for me. I may plan on being out in the county all day and may still end up going to town. It also adds a little extra protection to the pistol from dust and stuff. I fell down once in the feed lot pulling a calve. The stuff covering the ground of the feed lot is just grass and water but it still can be hard on a pistol finish.
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Post by cottonstalk on Apr 15, 2014 6:32:38 GMT -5
Can't add a whole lot, just repeat. IMO the belt makes the most difference,the holster second. A proper belt can make up some for a unbalanced holster, but a great holster on a sorry belt will wear you out.
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Post by Frank V on Apr 15, 2014 20:04:58 GMT -5
Can't add a whole lot, just repeat. IMO the belt makes the most difference,the holster second. A proper belt can make up some for a unbalanced holster, but a great holster on a sorry belt will wear you out. Boy howdy & in a hurry!  |
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Odin
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,068
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Post by Odin on Apr 15, 2014 23:52:42 GMT -5
Dang, I don't check in for a day or two and this thing bout turns into a dog pile! Thank you all for the added responses (and Boxhead, you've got a PM incoming) I find it interesting that a gun one guy finds rides heavy seems plenty comfortable to someone else. I think along with belt and holster, body type plays a big part in how you carry gun weight as well. I was looking over Kenji's pics of his 2013 Moose hunt. The gun he's wearing is a 500 S&W X-Frame which weighs in around 57oz. dry. It should weigh him down like a boat anchor, but it looks to carry like a dream. I think part of it is the belt and holster, but the other part is how the weight is carried. Kenji is lean and athletic and the gun rides very well on his frame.  On someone else that setup would end up pulling his pants down, or at the very least have him calling for a chest harness. Many who've posted here have basically said, "Anything under 40 oz. or so for all-day wear on the hip." To someone else, a 7.5-inch Blackhawk is no big deal. One of my favorite family walkabout guns, a 6-inch Smith 617 (good for rabbits and rabid pop cans), weighs in at a surprising 44+ oz. and it's carried in nothing more than a crappy Bianchi holster strapped to a standard Ariat pants belt. Who knew it weighed that much! (I had to look it up) The weight rides perfectly well for me. Yet I've read a million times across the interwebs that it's "far too heavy for anything but range use". Honestly, I should probably just quit reading the interwebs... |
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Post by whitworth on Apr 16, 2014 5:28:20 GMT -5
Can't add a whole lot, just repeat. IMO the belt makes the most difference,the holster second. A proper belt can make up some for a unbalanced holster, but a great holster on a sorry belt will wear you out. I agree completely. |
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Post by CraigC on Apr 16, 2014 11:29:47 GMT -5
I find it interesting that a gun one guy finds rides heavy seems plenty comfortable to someone else. I think some folks just accept that it's part of the game and they take the time to become accustomed to a full sized sixgun on their hip. For those, it's just not a big deal. For others, it seems they try it once, it's uncomfortable and so never try again. Can't add a whole lot, just repeat. IMO the belt makes the most difference,the holster second. A proper belt can make up some for a unbalanced holster, but a great holster on a sorry belt will wear you out. I agree completely. Yup! |
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Post by bulasteve on Apr 16, 2014 11:56:07 GMT -5
I only have one thing to add. Braces/suspenders. If you don't like for any reason, the fore and aft buttoned or clipped on type, look at Duluth Tradings side clip ons. There is a solution, you have to find it.
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Odin
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,068
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Post by Odin on Apr 16, 2014 23:05:30 GMT -5
At this point I'm thinking a two-belt setup would be pretty good for my needs. A pantloop-width belt that can handle the lighter guns in my (meager) collection and a wide gunbelt that can be worn on days when I want to carry the big gun, which BTW is a BFR 475L. The barrel is completely too long for me right now, but in due time will be cut to a handier 5.5 inches. Even so, the weight will still come close to that of Kenji's X-Frame Smith.
Somewhere down the road I'll probably pick up something like the Barranti Universal Chest Rig, but I'd really like a hip-carry solution first. Summertime out on the prairie is no time to be strapping leather to your chest.
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Post by coldcase1984 on Apr 17, 2014 6:32:37 GMT -5
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. Where were you the police, brother? That patrol load out sounds very comforting. |
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Post by crazycarl on Apr 17, 2014 21:15:46 GMT -5
My lower back is shot from 10 years on jump status; sadly, a steel 1911 is a no-go for me, for all-day hip carry. However, my 5.5" .41 Bisley BH is no sweat in my Simply Rugged Chesty Puller rig.
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