Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Thigh Holster Recommendations???

I have a S&W 329PD 4" barrel 44 mag I always pack while hunting. I am thinking I want to try using a thigh holster this year. Does anyone here know where I can find a decent quality one that won't break the bank? Please give your suggestions (PROS & CONS)on this style carry in a hunting situation. I am thinking this would be a good way to go to eliminate the problem between my holster and daypack waist belt. I currently carry it in a leather galco cross draw.

I am wearing a Blackhawk SERPA thigh holster for the military.

good - holds the pistol firmly and is pretty secure

cons - you will bump EVERYTHING with a thigh holster on, it's hard to access, and a pain in the butt to draw from the thigh.

I wear a chest holster when I have my battle-rattle on, and I can draw a full second faster from the chest. Chest holsters rock (think WWII tanker holster).

I ONLY wear a thigh holster when they make me wear one.

I wear an El Paso Saddlery 1942 "Tanker" chest holster when backpacking and it is excellent; the only reason for a thigh holster is if you're wearing body armor that prevents you from using a standard holster.

One plus to the chest holster is that it keeps your gun out of the water when you are wading, and keeps it from getting scuffed up in the brush the rest of the time.

you're gettin good advice for carrying a hogleg when bping.


another holster I like is the safepacker, way it's made it easily slips on a bp belt.

believe it was someone here that turned me onto them. Need to buy a fourth one.

Safe packer is the way to go. I have mine attached to the waist belt of my pack. Instant access, and it does not scare the sheep.

A thigh holster would be my last choice for carrying with a pack. Way too in the way of everything with the weight of it just where you don't want it during a long day on the trail.
Some packs, like Kifarus and Bianchis are bult to accomodate a holster with the pack's waist belt. If not, then I carry my handgun in the pack's top pocket. E

Dave W. and Oeregon are giving you the dope. The tanker holster is perect. Keeps gun out of the way of crap, doesn't bang off of anything and it is ALWAYS accessible. Has my vote.

Another vote for the tanker holster or one of it's nylon kin.

How well does a tanker holster position an auto loader (a 1911) for a good initial firing grip? From all the photos I've seen, it looks like the gun sits at the wrong angle to provide a very fast draw.

Fast draw???? I didn't know this was for a gunfight. You can unlimber an auto or revolver from a tanker holster plenty quick enuff for most anything required. Thigh holsters BITE. Last damn rig I would consider. Accessibility, protection of the gun and keeping the gun from banging into anything and everything gives a tanker the go ahead.

I'm on board with all of the good things a tanker holster can do. I want a "fast draw"-------at least a solid initial firing grip------because the mountains I hike contain cougar, bear, and undocumented farmers. A gun needed in an emergency just might be needed quickly. If not, I can always draw slowly.......

I can't vouch for the speed with a tanker holster, but I will echo what everyone else has said about thigh holsters.

I wear one at work sometimes, but only for the sake of familiarity (it's the same holster as my duty rig, just mounted on a thigh platform)and for the fact that my vest is full already.

Even with a Glock in it, my thigh holster always seems to be pulling my belt down and they do hang up on EVERYTHING.

I have no problem getting a firm grip and drawing smartly from my El Paso Tanker holster; it does have a safety strap which must be unsnapped before drawing but so long as you are using a belt of proper thickness and have the holster properly adjusted you can draw quickly.

With cougars, I would be more worried about losing my gun after the cat pounces on me than in drawing fast. If you go down with a cat on your back and your gun pops out of your quickdraw rig, unless you have the gun on a lanyard you're in for a heck of a fight.

Works well and you can play with the angle by adjusting the straps. If you get one of the Eagle/Blackhawk version you can adjust the angle alot. Not as fast as a belt mounted holster, but not much slower and a lot less hassle than a thigh mounted rig.

See above post from military member about speed/accessibility of thigh rig. The tanker rig is better in this area and keeps gun up out of the way too.

Thanks for the feedback. I completely agree that a chest or tanker holster is better than a thigh holster for several reasons.

I'm specifically looking at a tanker from El Paso Saddlery. I've got one of their Tankers for 7.5" Bisley/Blackhawk, and I couldn't honestly tell how much the fit and draw would change with a shorter version. The draw angle is fine for my revolvers, but seems like it'd be a little off for a 1911.

I missed David Walter's post the first time, but won't worry about draw speed anymore.

Based on this input I went to their web site and took a look at their holsters. So ... it doesn't fight with the straps on your backpack? I'm asking 'cause it looks like it'd be right in the way. What sort of pack are you using and how far apart are the straps?

No pressure here. I've been looking for a solution for carrying a handgun, since I do a lot of handgun hunting (besides rifle-less scouting trips, fishing, and so on), with 3 different packs with different strap widths and waist belt heights. I've got a Badlands 2200 I thought I'd sorted out at least 3 times so far and all failed, plus a Cabela's alaska guide pack frame, plus my old Kelty. I've bought so much highly recommended gear that turned out not to work for me that I'm starting to get a little skeptical. You can probably relate ...

Tom

Tom, it does not interfere or entangle with you bp straps. Keep in mind that these holsters were used extensively by soldiers who wore their rifle belts with the suspenders and oft times a rucksack too. BTDT in RVN and they are comfortable and the gun is always with you as required.

I called EPS today. I'll have a 1942 Tanker in about six weeks.

I use an M7 and a Blackhawk nylon version that have an extra strap running around the chest that the M3 type made by El Paso doesn't have and it still isn't a problem when wearing a pack.