Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Badlands Pack / handgun carry - revisited

I've posted a few times about the problems I encountered trying to carry a holstered handgun with the Badlands 2200 pack I bought because the wide waistband completely covers my belt area making belt-carry impossible, there isn't quite enough vertical area for a shoulder holster, and the bandolier holsters' thick shoulder pad conflicts with pack's shoulder pad.

Couple people suggested El Paso Saddlery's 1942 tankerman's holster. A while back I broke down and ordered one to fit my short super blackhawk. FedEx dropped it off last night. I put on my gear to check it out. This _definitely_ works.

So ... thanks!!

Tom

For others looking, think about this.....


http://store.thewilderness.com/index.php?cPath=51

The safepacker seems like a great idea for many uses, but how to you attach it to a large hipbelt?

Great choice Tom! Those Tanker holsters are great, I really like mine.

Glad you like it Tom. I really like mine too.

If you've got a nice EP tanker you might be loathe to do this, but...

Tanker holsters are way more comfortable if you cut out the section of the strap where it crosses your shoulder and replace it with a nice neoprene strap purloined from a binocular strap. It's a pretty easy DIY project, requiring only cutting leather and placing a couple of rivets if you select the right donor binocular strap.

Or you can do what I did and carefully cut away the stitching on the wide nylon web so that you can get a holster on there. Then take it to a seamstress with a big ass sewing machine and have her tack down the far side (away from the buckle) and add a loop for the buckle side to slide through. It works sweet.

Here is what I use and it works with any pack. And if I need to take the pack off I still have my handgun. Nothing like being caught with your pants down by a bear. LOL Dave is a stand up guy. He will do custom orders. Its a bit pricey but well worth the money. It is very well made.



http://www.davidjohnstonleather.com/Pages/GuidesChoice.html

Anyone have pics of the tanker on? Looking at El Paso's website doesn't show much. It's across the chest?

here you go

Thank you. That holster looks great. It's off to the side enough that I think binoculars might not hit it, or might not bang around on it too much. I want one now.

TOM

SageCreek Outfitters forum used to have many pics of BL packs. Many of them showed the ease of attaching a holster to the pack. Perhaps visiting them and asking the admin there to re-post the pics may get you somewhere.

Good Luck

This is what I use:
Blackhawk.com Mine came compliments of the U.S. Air Force. I love it. It carries my 5" 1911 and extra mag like it's not even there. If it gets sweaty I just wash it.

I know this is a bit old, but Kifaru has a new product coming out initially designed by evanhill that looks pretty promising in this department. I'm intrigued. Looking forward to seeing one up close.

http://www.kifaruforums.net/showthread.php?t=20128

Thanks for the suggestion about Sage Creek Outfitters. Someone said the same thing last fall when I first bought my 2200. I didn't find anything there that worked for me, most of the handguns people are carrying are itty bitty down town self defense guns, I was looking for something that'd handle a Ruger single action .44 magnum, short barreled Freedom Arms 83, etc.

I'm pretty happy with the El Paso Saddlery tankerman setup. It works. Before I got it, I'd tried all manner of home mods trying to mock up something that'd work 'cause Badlands had offered to modify the pack for me if I could figure out what sort of mod was needed. I'd gotten frustrated and was on the edge of selling the pack because I couldn't find a viable solution for the sort of gun I wanted to carry. Anyways, so far as I'm concerned, problem solved.

I had 2-1/2 weeks off work hunting blacktails in SW Oregon with my muzzleloader and packing my short "super" in the E.P.S. holster. Liked it more and more every day. Definitely solved the problem I had. Too bad I can't shoot straight, huh?

Heh heh, now I'm thinking about picking up a S&W 329PD and an E.P.S. holster for that, too.

Tom

I have a Badlands 2800, it has a holster built into both sides of the waist band. I never saw them pointed out in the manual or on the website, but they are there. The 2200 might have them also, check and see.
It's hidden in behind the small waist pockets. It holds a 1911 perfectly. One on each side if you want to be a cowboy.

If anybody cares; I carried my pistola in this holster. I secured it to the belt and covered it with my polar hood. Did about twelve miles and felt no discomfort.

I'll try it again a few times but right now I'm pretty sure this is how I'll carry this summer.

I will say my pack wasn't loaded heavy. Maybe 30lbs. If that.

Ace, I'm interested in that rig too. I found if you navigate to the tanker holster and click on "veiw larger picture", you get this:

El Paso Tanker

I think I can see why people recommend more padding across the shoulder, but they custom make every order. I wonder it they could do that at the factory? I'll find out.

I am have one of these on order:

http://www.simplyrugged.com/store/index.html

The Chesty Puller rig. Let's you switch out holsters if you want. I figured it would be hard to go wrong witha rig named after a MOH Marine.

Looked at the Galco Kodiak but passed.