Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns What field leather for a 6" 629?

(Yeah, I know there's another new field holster thread, but that's specifically for a 4" Mountain Gun.)

What I have is a new-to-me 6" 629.

You guys that have the 6-ers, and have carried them in the field, what do you like in the way of leather goods, hanging from a belt?

Walking, but with some consideration for riding in a vehicle.

- Tom

I carry my old 6 in model 29 in an El Paso Saddlery Tom Threepersons. Has worked well for me for twenty years or so.

I prefer a shoulder holster for hikes, riding, etc. when packing a larg frame revolver

The El Paso Saddlery "Tanker" holster is really nice for 6" barrels, particularly if you're going to be doing any sitting.

I have an El Paso Saddlery Tom Threepersons holster for a model 629 with a 4" barrel and I like it a lot.

But I have a model 29 classic on order with a 6.5" barrel, and I'm thinking about one of these:

Diamond D Custom Leather

Someone posted a link to this site the other day, and it looks like they make a good product as well.

I'm a leather guy, honest, and eventually I'll get leather for mine. But I've had an Uncle Mike's cordura that I've used since I got the gun 14 years ago I think. I can carry it strongside, or once it was broken in, crossdraw. I've also used an uncle mikes vertical shoulder holster a lot. Put on a light jacket and it disappears, and is out of the way. I'd like to duplicate both of them in leather, but they just won't wear out.

Steve:

Forward cant, or neutral?

I kind of like this setup:

http://www.simplyrugged.com/chesty-puller-conversion-system/

I don't carry 6" Smith in the field much any more but when I did this old Roy Baker Pancake is what I used. If I had to use it for outside the clothes carry in the future I would probably get a set of Chesty Puller straps from Simply rugged or just use the nylon one I just bought...

Bob

Bianchi.

EPS Tom Threepersons. Here's one of mine with a 6-inch S&W 617-1:



Their Tanker ain't bad either.

I've never seen a belt holster that worked if sitting or getting in and out of a vehicle with a 6 inch gun. I vote for a good shoulder holster. E

I�d recommend you consider the Bianchi 111 Cyclone. It�s compact, lightweight, well built, flexible (strong side or cross draw) readily available and reasonably priced. I�ve only used it with a 4� M29, but it works great and would expect the same with a 6� barrel. Just make sure to get a quality belt, the same width as the belt loops on the chosen holster.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/bianchi-111-cyclone-holster-plain-tan-right-hand-12686.html

With Simply Rugged�s chesty puller conversion system, you could even use it as a shoulder/chest holster.

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

I always go see Sandy at pistolpackaging .com
in Maple Plain, Minnesota.
whelennut

BGG, I have the same problem with my uncle mike's. I'm a cross draw guy. good for all situations.

El Paso Saddlery 1942 Tanker Holster. I use one with my 5.5" Super Blackhawk. If you're in and out of a truck you don't have to worry about it pushing on your belt, if you need to take it off to go into the store or the bank, it's easy.

Just my opinion of course.

For 6" and longer N frames I quite often use an old El
Paso Saddlery Tanker rig:



The bonus is that when you are wearing bulky winter clothes you can wear it over layers, underneath a jacket and that you are not limited to just longer guns. I hae often carried various lengths of N frames in my EPS Tanker rig.



I ride a KLR650 enduro bike and it works pretty well for that as well.

EPS #2 Thumbreak w/ a 5" M29. I like thrumbreak holsters or the SR pancakes.



Same holster w/ a 5" former M29.

Mackay:

I definitely see the advantages of using a Tanker rig. Probably have to have one in addition to whatever belt rig I use.

One thing I don't see so often here on the 'Fire is the use of a strong-side holster with a separate pistol belt. Not a cowboy rig, not a police rig, just a good-sized leather belt.

Bricktop has a pic of one from EPS in his current holster thread that he uses with one of his full-flap holsters. But it seems like most guys I know, if they're carrying a .44 on their hip, have a holster hanging from their pants belt.

Looking at the contributions so far - and thanks all, who have replied - what is starting to appeal is an EPS (or similar) holster on a pistol belt.

(And, of course, a Tanker rig.)

- Tom

You guys talking about your Uncle Mike's, is this what you have?

Uncle Mike's

The photo and the description are a bit confusing. The photo of the guy's back shows straps going across both shoulders but the photo in the front doesn't seen to show the weak-side strap attaching. How does it work? Does it keep the holster tight against your side when your moving around?