Headed back to Alaska, What holster have you used with a 500 Smith?

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WildBill45

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I Have the original S&W 500 full length barrel. My 500 was barely on the market when I traded cash for guns!

What holster have you used in the bush? The Galco, or what and, how did it work overall in the real world???

Attached is a photo of my 500 when I was using it to shoot cards back in Colorado!
 

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I lived and hunted the back country of Alaska for over six years (lived there twice) and if I were to carry a S&W .500 as a back-up gun (I used to carry a 4" .44 mag) it would be the 4" model. The longer barrels are just too heavy to carry around all day. I have a nice holster for my 4" from Galco. I added a stud (from S&W) to the bottom of the grip so I could attach a wrist lanyard and thus have it in the sleeping bag at night as insurance against marauding bears.
 
You could always get an IWB for it.

Sorry couldn't resist.:D

When I packed my Encore I had a chestbelted holster in leather that worked very well.
 
Wild West Guns in AK can fix you up. I bought a cross chest carry rig from them for my RH and it works very well at distributing the weight and I am very happy with it. I don't remember the model name of the holster.

El-Paso Saddlery has a good selection of holsters for big guns also.

Don't waste any money on the Bianchi HuSh unless you only want to use it one time. Nylon is no good for big guns.
 
The longer barrels are just too heavy to carry around all day. I have a nice holster for my 4" from Galco. I added a stud (from S&W) to the bottom of the grip so I could attach a wrist lanyard and thus have it in the sleeping bag at night as insurance against marauding bears.
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We think alike on this issue, but I am stuck with the original barrel at the moment. I may try to get a mount on the grip, and have thought of that before after reading about others who have done so. It would be nice not only for being dragged out of your tent, but if you just fall and tumble while walking about!

We are going to do a little camping at Denali, and bear walk about this campground I have been told. We are not talking about man eating lions, and I have been closer to lions (unknown if they ever eat anyone) than I care to remember, but I am one who feels better to be prepared. I could have shot many bears back home tearing off my shed door, and other things to get into food and trash, but I like bears and never shot one except when hunting them. During my last trip to Alaska on the Russian River I never saw one. There was one raiding fisherman for their catch as told to me by a ranger at the entry gate, but not me! I was lucky!
 
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That baby is crying out for an ankle holster.:D
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Hmm I thought of that, but it would hit the ground. Try a thigh holster. :cool:


Really though, from what I seen on the web a lot of people use shoulder holsters,/custom holsters for carry.
 
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My holster for my RH is very similar to this except the gun rides a little higher. I've found these type holsters to be superior to shoulder holsters in that its more balanced and less lopsided so is more comfortable. They are pricey but they let you carry big revolvers with ease.
 

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I would suggest a crossdraw with a shoulder strap and pull-up snap like the RH holster prevously shown. If you don't like that option a strong side one with a full flap could work. Based on the length of the barrel in the picture it will be the most comfortable AND more importantly easy to draw if you need it. Carry your knife on your strong side because you'll probably use it more than the gun.
 
The best holster for the 500 S&W [7xleather.com] that I have found is the chest holster.
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This is some nice looking work as well. I am also looking for those backpacks with a scabbard built in like I saw some men had out fishing on the Russian River ... most were carrying a Marlin lever gun in the scabbard!
 
(Nice picture!)

There's no tie down I see on that holster. How tight is the holster? Does it need a tie down? My very similar holster from WWG needs a tie down added to it. The gun and weight carry very well but the holster wants to walk on the draw.

Its usually not a big deal to use two hands to draw, but one really needs to be able to draw with one hand. I have a 7.5" barrel which sure don't help. Its an easy add-on but perhaps should come with it already. (Lol!)

All it needs is a small hole drilled thru the leather and some rawhide snaked through it. I've been looking around in hopes of finding some deep grommets to cover the hole thru the leather, which is 1/2" deep or so, but no luck yet. Then an old belt keeper to snug it up to my belt.

Are you guys needing tie downs with your holsters for a smooth draw? If not pray tell what brand. ;)
 
There's no tie down I see on that holster. How tight is the holster? Does it need a tie down?
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It doesn't look like it needs one, but if it is tight the shoulder strap should hold it in place for a one hand draw I imagine!
 
The torso strap combined with the angle of the holster seems to do a good job of holding everything down as I draw.

It does have a heavy retention strap to hold the gun in the holster...this is not as fast as a thumb break, but it makes me feel good knowing my gun will always be attached to me..

I have even slept with this rig on. It was on this trip and the Grizzly's were digging in the rock slides...so I didn't even set up the tent. I just layed down on my mat right out on the rock slides...lol The full moon allowed me a good veiw of what I considered "My Personal Space"...a coyote came in at about 3:30AM... He walked right up to about 20 feet..he got the point when the SBH 44mag singed his fur, but I still missed him:rolleyes:. The big dose of H110 sure blinded me..:D Another time I managed to doze off on this trip, I somehow rolled off my mat and I woke up laying on my chest out in the rock side. The 7 1/2" SBH in my rig had my chest hurting so bad.:eek: This picture was taken on the peak just to the left of my elbow in the background of the first pic.
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I build my holsters with a trigger guard shelf. The revolver rests on an actual shelf of leather, This keeps your gun from working down into the holster and becoming wedged. This really seems to work well too allow for a smooth draw, but it also reduces the wear points on the gun and helps the holster keep its shape and last longer..especially if you go for a swim or get it wet in the rain:D.
 
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especially if you go for a swim or get it wet in the rain
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It is my policy not to swim while wearing my 500 S&W!:D

I do not know if I would like sleeping on a rock uncovered in Alaska. I have done it in Colorado, not a rock, but the ground, and that was bad enough. I did love falling asleep under all those stars not seen in the eastern USA!

I have considered buying a shorter barreled 500 or having the factory changing mine ... the cost of the factory job is quite steep though! My old Freedom Arms 475 would be easier to carry, but I sold that and my .454 after buying the 500. Besides I like a double-action for such protection duties for fast second shots, and/or first shot under duress!

The holster has to be comfortable some what ... I understand that you can't carry a monster gun and be comfortable. Comfort is at home in my view, being outdoors is rarely completely comfortable, and I like it that way!
 
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