Hiking & Backpacking with a Snubbie?

steve-in-kville

steve-in-kville

Joined
Dec 25, 2001
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I am looking for ideas and suggestions on carrying my 2" revolver while hiking. I prefer belt carry and I am taking a serious look at a cross-draw holster. Since the waist strap of my pack rides higher than my belt, I do not see this as a problem. I want to avoid pocket carry if I can.

Ideas?

(reason for cross-draw is because I carry my radio on the right side.)
 
When back packing/hiking a cross draw is the way to go, for sure. Bianchi makes the excellent Cyclone and I believe they still make it for a small 2" revolver.
 
I'd be interested to see how this works out for you, my waist strap tends to "settle" after a couple miles and gets in the way. I carry at the 4 o'clock position with a conventional draw. Others have used chest carry with success, it's always interesting to see how different people approach this.
 
I'm another strong side 4 o'clock position carry person, it's the way I've been carrying for many years and more of a habit that I don't want to change.

Can you reposition your radio to chest carry (they make a radio harness for chest carry) or else attach it to a shoulder strap close to your face?
 
I'm move the radio before the revolver. Mostly because I'm more familiar with strong side carry and it's what I practiced with.
 
get a front pants pocket holster, and for daily, normal ccw, get a pocket 9mm. i recommend either the Micro 9 SA by Kimber, or the Kahr CM9 if you prefer the DAO trigger pull. More power than the .38 (using corbon's 100 gr jhp, 1350 fps from 3" barrel, 400 ft lbs, 40% more ammo capacity and it lays a LOT "flatter" in your pocket. I prefer to severely grind off and polish all the corners, making it look like a walllet in my pocket. The pocket rig is out of sight, out of the way of rifle and backpack, out of the elements, but readily accessible. There's enough stuff on your belt when hiking, so why add to it when you dont have to do so?
 
I hike with my hk vp9 in a aliengear 3.0 iwb. Never had a problem. I also carry a cheap red rocks rambler sling pack. The pack has a pocket for cc. Check out aliengear made in usa everything forever warranty.

Sent from my LGLS620 using Tapatalk
 
Thanks for the replies. I could rethink my radio arrangement by using a speaker mic on my pack's shoulder pack. I've carried both strong side and crossdraw, so I can do both.

Reason for using a revolver is my first two rounds are bird shot.
 
How "fast" do you need to access it?

I've always liked the idea of cross draw, but I never liked the way it worked for me when I tried it. Then again, the revolvers I carried were different.

I would consider a gen2 TekLok or other method of holster attachment so that I could put it on my belt as soon as I removed my pack.

I would also choose a holster with a significant retention device. I like Safariland ALS, but you might like a snap or buckle strap holster.

The HPG Kit Bag has merit, but I like to keep the weight minimal on my chest pack. My alternative to the HPG Kit Bag is below.

If speed is not that important, you might consider putting it in its own separate pouch like a Tactical Tailor Lunar or similar, which would be like the Kit Bag except on the belt.

Those shotshells are wonderful for snakes. :thumbup:

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I prefer my revolver in a crossdraw in most situations. Its out of my way and easy to access with either hand. I carry that way hiking, hunting, driving and when weather/clothing allow for CCW as well.
 
Not a revolver guy, but I carry a compact semi-auto in the HPG kit bag. The pouch in front of it contains some essential items - SAK, lighter, water filtration straw, small flashlight - and it's still plenty light.
 
How hot do you get with that kit bag? It always looked uncomfortably warm to have something on my chest, but that's just me.
 
I have an ankle rig for hiking when I'm using a large pack with a hip belt. It works pretty well. We can open carry in Oregon, so I've also just had a belt just for the gun that straps it just above my waistbelt. On trails with more people, sometimes I'll carry the gun in my pack so it doesn't freak anyone out and then strap it on my waist when I'm in camp/exploring without my pack on.
 
sodak said:
How hot do you get with that kit bag? It always looked uncomfortably warm to have something on my chest, but that's just me.
Click to expand...

I guess I've been using it for long enough that I don't remember how hot I got without! Very little discomfort to speak of. I don't even notice the chest pack. Wish I could say the same about my backpack.
 
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