Shoulder holsters, any recommendations?

K

Kimio

New member
I'm going to be doing a lot of hiking soon, and I really like the style of a shoulder holster. Thing is, I don't know much about the different brands out there and which ones to look at and which ones to stay away from.

Ill either be carrying a 96fs or perhaps a full size .45 of some sort. My Beretta would most likely. Be my preference. I'm not looking to conceal, but I don't want the holster to get snagged on anything, and the inside the band holsters are a bit uncomfortable for me.

I'm a scrawny 5'3" weighing in at 128lb. I'm not sure of that may effect what is available to me.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.
 
I've owned 2 of them and hated both. One was an Uncle Mikes nylon one and one was a good quality Bianchi leather holster (X15 IIRC). Neither one was comfortable and I always felt like everyone knew I was carrying due to the bulge. I very seriously doubt I'd try another one, not unless it came with a stellar review from someone I know and trust. I find a better option for hiking is a Paddle holster, easy on, easy off and very comfortable. I'm sure plenty of other people find shoulder holster comfortable, but I'm not one of them.

Stu
 
How much sweating do you plan to do? The shoulder rig will hold your shirt to you, and could get pretty ripe if used often. It will also complicate the wearing of backpacks.

I occasionally carry a J-frame in a Galco Miami Classic rig -- very comfortable over a shirt and under a jacket that I know I won't have to remove. For the carry of a full-size handgun, the horizontal holster orientation doesn't work for my 6' 6'', 200-lb frame. I have a vertical Alessi shoulder holster on order for my 4" S&W model 19, and a vertical Bianchi rig for my 6" barreled model 686.

When backpacking, I put the J-frame in a camera case on one of the backpack straps, then in an IWB once in camp. When hunting, I use a paddle holster worn crossdraw for a full-size 1911 CCW.

Hope this helps.
 
If your "hiking" includes the use of a hefty pack, you need to coordinate the holster straps with the backpack straps/backpad. The packframes I've used were not compatable with any shoulder holster I tried. The best choice I found when using a packframe was a crossdraw holster on the pack's hipbelt. The problem with this is what to do with your handgun when not wearing the packframe. I was packing meat during fall and didn't want to be seperated from my .44 so I stuck it in the back of my pants while loading the meat bags on the frame. This would be my choice.
When using a light hydration/daypack during scouting trips, I used a sturdy gunbelt and flap type strongside holster. This setup set comfortably below the nonloadbearing belt on the pack. I don't think a shoulder holster would be useable even with this light(8-10#) pack simply because the holster straps would gouge when the pack straps hung over them.
An across the chest holster might work if you can position the pack's straps so they don't pinch and/or otherwise conflict with the holster straps.
 
Miami classic by Galco, horizontal carry, two mags on off side. Wear it 7-10 hours at a time, as comfortable as any shoulder holster can be as far as I'm concerned.
 
Miami classic by Galco, horizontal carry, two mags on off side. Wear it 7-10 hours at a time, as comfortable as any shoulder holster can be as far as I'm concerned.
Click to expand...

This is my setup as well (although I don't wear it for that long at a stretch unless I'm taking a long drive). I have the strap that connects the double-magazine holder to my belt, and that really helps keep everything in place. Without it, I found that the gun side of the rig would tend to pull down, throwing everything out of alignment.

Also, there is a wide range of adjustment with the straps - take the time to try out different settings to find out which is the most secure and comfortable. I ended up adjusting them so that the plastic "cloverleaf" swivel in the back was centered over my spine and as high as I could get it.
 
Shoulder Holsters for concealment

Galco Miami Classic
http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPT3.asp?ProductID=3154&CatalogID=2

Traditional Jackass Rig from Galco
http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPT3.asp?ProductID=651&CatalogID=2

Ted Blocker Lifeline Rig
http://www.tedblockerholsters.com/product.cfm?pi=5D33EE21-B65D-3BC4-05822228CA89164F

Bianchi Tuxedo System
http://www.bianchi-intl.com/product/Prod.php?TxtModelID=4620

Greg Kramer Shoulder Holster
http://www.kramerleather.com/productDetail.cfm?productID=24&categoryID=27

I have examples of all of those listed above (multiple examples of the original Jackass Shoulder Rig) and they all work pretty well.

Horseshoe Leather in the U.K. (Andy Arratoonian)
http://www.holsters.org/shoulder-holster.htm

A.E. Nelson Leather Company
http://nelsonleather.com/index.php?cPath=27_40_58

Monarch Shoulder Holster from Andrews Custom Leather
http://www.andrewsleather.com/traditional.htm

Ken Null Custom Holsters
http://klnullholsters.com

Stylemaster shoulder holster from Mitch Rosen
http://www.mitchrosen.com/product_line/product_line.html
 
shoulder holsters for backpacking?

For your specific needs, the above listed shoulder rigs are probably NOT your best choice. Those are rigs best used for concealment.

As one poster already noticed, it may be difficult to find a shoulder rig that works with the shoulder straps on a backpack, particularly if you're carrying any kind of a serious load.

There are a variety of shoulder holsters around made for handgun hunting and it's possible one of them might work in the application you have described
 
1911, or a 92F? easy... a military style shoulder holster. I got mine from Pacific canvas and leather. For under $40.00 a strong practical holster that can carry a pistol in several different positions. While a lot of the holsters shown are really nice... hiking in the rough may have different requirements. Protection from damage to the gun, and protection from loss. I grade my holsters by the duty I require from them. I have open carry, concieled carry, and field carry. So for hiking, and camping I use a field holster like those worn by some military officers, tankers, pilots and such. With a concieled carry shoulder holster the firearm is usually held in some inverted position for a faster draw, relying on a snap for retention. The center of gravity of the gun working against the snap. With the military holster gravity holds the gun in the holster, with a positive snap strap for insurance.

One thing to consider is how you would retrieve the pistol if it leaves the holster accidentally. I'd hate to be climbing when the holster snap comes open and I watch my $900. 1911 go bouncing down the rock face. Or watch it sink to the bottom of a river.
 
I am only about 5'7" and have comfortably carried my Ruger Redhawk with 7 1/2" barrel in a shoulder holster. However it did not happen without trial and modification. It is an Uncle Mike's. I like the product but they had a habit of sizing their reccomendations much larger than needed for the gun in question. After I bought one and found it wouldn't work, I bought another next size down. Because I am not tall it just wouldn't fit me. I had to get some nylon strapping (car seat belt) and modify the back strap for comfort. A bit of trial and error but worth it. The gun could be carried all day comfortably and with ready access. I could wear under a coat without detection. Your idea is a good one but be aware, finding the right fit will come only after some expense. Holster riggings ain't cheap.
 
For hikin, I have used both the Bianchi 2000 for semi's &

the X15 medium for 4" revolver, But not with a backpack.

Other times I have used the front "belly pack" for both situation.

It all personal preferences, what work for one may not for another.

Good luck.
 
UM92/M12 Bianchi holster line, STU...

Of the styles & choices, I'd lean towards the nylon/milspec M12 or UM92 holster from www.Bianchi-intl.com .
It's lightweight, easy to clean & can be converted to shoulder/belt/tanker-chest/SAS.
The metal hooks are a pain sometimes but you can remove them for shoulder/small belt carry.
The M12 is the US Military issue for the M9(Beretta 92F/FS).
Other good shoulder rigs include the LawmanLeatherGoods STU & the Aker leather comfort-flex.
Being 5'03" may be hard to pack a 1911a1 or M9 size but a UM92 could work.

CF
www.uscav.com www.policehq.com www.deltaforce.com
 
Not a big fan of shoulder holsters the only use I have for one is hunting,
On thr outside of a jacket.For concealed carry I personlly find them uncomfortable, awkward and not very cocealable on my body type and dress.
 
If you're not looking to conceal, there are some other options out there for you. I carry mine in a chest holster much like the alaskan guide holsters or something of that name. My carry gun is a Blackhawk, but there are alternatives out there for autos as well. If you're looking at a full-sized .45, like the 1911, consider the tanker holsters. Other than that, it's really kind of iffy for me to recommend a shoulder holster. I liked my Miami Classic from Galco, but that was for a Glock 26...not a full-sized gun like you're talking about. Frankly, a good belt holster and a good belt are hard to beat.
 
I use a Jackass rig from Galco also, I find it comfy for a full size 1911...


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