bandolier holsters vs shoulder holsters?

R

revolverrandy

New member
Whats the big difference from a bandolier holster to a shoulder holster and is one better than the other for any reason?
I will be concealed carrying switching off betweeen my 38 revolver and my semi auto hi power.
 
A shoulder holster suspends the gun under the weakside armpit. A bandolier holster is really a cross chest holster and suspends the gun in front of the chest/torso.
 
Thanks Moxie

Thanks.
I sort of get it now.Bondelier goes over shoulder and across chest.SHoulder holster goes around both shoulders like a vest or shirt.Almost looks like the bondelier would be more comfortable and less to adjust and less straps
 
I use the bandolier cross carry holster for my Ruger Super Redhawk with 7.5 inch barrel. I can actually conceal carry that monster, but it is really my woods gun. In addition, since it is bandolier, it comes across the midsection high up in the chest, so it is not really a concealed carry holster.

For woods carry, it is very comfortable and allows excellent access to the gun if needed.
 
From the looks of it ,all concealed handungs are pretty much concealed by being covered up by piece of clothing
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This is true, however trying to conceal a pistol strapped across your chest is going to require considerably more effort than concealing a pistol tucked under the arm.
 
The only person I've seen use that type of bandolier holster used it over his hunting coat unconceled to carry a 44 Mag with a 10” barrel.
 
I use a bandoleer type holster to carry my "chore gun" usually on the outside of my coat/jacket. They work especially well for those times when you might need to remove the holster while working or working on machinery to prevent a hangup or possibly while working around PTO driven equipment. Don't want a holster flopping out and hanging you to a steel shaft rotating @ 1000rpm driven by 200 horsepower.
Don't who made mine but Sportsmansguide sold/sells them and I have two bandoleers and 4-5 holsters to fit several of my handguns. I like the spare mag holder for my Ruger 22/45 which is attached to the chest strap. Don't have to worry about stuffing a mag in my sweaty jeans pocket or losing one crawling around fixing something.
 
I also use the bandolier cross carry holster for my Ruger Super Redhawk with 9.5 inch barrel, its really the only way to comfortably carry that monster in the woods.
 
As others have noted, the bandoleer/chest holster is not really suited for concealed carry, but is very useful for open carry in circumstances where a belt or shoulder holster might not work so well.

Two other examples where a bandoleer holster might prove useful: backpacking, and fishing when using waders.
 
Looks to me like the difference is cross chest v. under the off side arm, and the bando verision has a means to carry some extra ammo.

The Hunter holster in the add is typically used for heavy handguns like the model shown. I would not consider it a concealment rig, though I suppose it could be concealed.
 
I have a bandoleer holster that I use for my .44 mag when hunting. I hunt out of a climbing stand when I hunt in the creek bottom at our club. Really makes it easy as far as climbing goes. Also have a verticle shoulder holster for it but not to comfortable for such a big gun with a scope.
 
revolverrandy said:
I sort of get it now.Bondelier goes over shoulder and across chest.SHoulder holster goes around both shoulders like a vest or shirt.Almost looks like the bondelier would be more comfortable and less to adjust and less straps
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It would. But the bandolier holster is NOT intended for concealed carry. It's intended for carrying a handgun across the chest when walking or working outdoors, perhaps as a backup when hunting. You stated in your opening post you plan to be concealed carrying. This holster is simply not intended for and not appropriate for concealed carry.
 
I used to see guys out fishing in Alaska using these in bear country. Concealment wasn't a concern. Having a large gun immediately available was. What I saw mostly carried in them was Super Blackhawks. I never saw one used for concealed carry, but maybe thats because it was concealed. I can't really see concealed carrying anything that big anyway.
 
Actually the bandolier holster is very concealable if one wants to do that.

The holster and handgun go on over a tee shirt or other under shirt, . . . then a cover garment of another shirt or a jacket goes on.

The only thing you usually have to do is button the top button on the shirt or the top button / snap of the jacket.

Many people have the WW2 / Korea / Viet Nam version that was carried by pilots with a .38 or a .45 in them. Mine is a custom, suede lined one for my 1911, . . . and is extremely comfortable, . . . and with a standard flannel shirt, . . . is very concealable.

May God bless,
Dwight
 

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The bandoleer holster is really an open carry style holster, much the same as the military "tanker holster" great to use when hunting and carrying a rifle or some such. As others have posted the shoulder holster was/is designed to hid a weapon. Two different styles designed for two different jobs, pick the one which will work best for your needs.
 
Bandoleer holster, tanker holster, "chest rig" are all ways of saying the same thing. Simply Rugged calls their variant the "Chesty Puller" and is really a set of adapter straps for their normal rigs.

I built something that's a bizarre cross between a shoulder rig, belt holster and God-knows-what...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57jf8yfPwoI

It's either a low shoulder rig or a very high belt rig that has to be suspended to work :).
 
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