Haven't really thought about using the waist belt on my pack. Wouldn't that dig into your side? I'm looking for a solution that's comfortable for me to walk for hours... But I can certainly try it, the price is right!
How do you carry your gun with a pack on?
- Thread starter Suther
- Start date
Haven't really thought about using the waist belt on my pack. Wouldn't that dig into your side? I'm looking for a solution that's comfortable for me to walk for hours... But I can certainly try it, the price is right!
I use the stone glacier. It works pretty good, but is a bit of a pain to get the gun back in after being out. Also, if you care about the finish on your stock, this is maybe not the best choice. It is secure, however, and pretty quick to deploy.
My rifle rests on AGC bino pouch when Im out and about. It works pretty good as I barely have to hang on to it and it takes the weight of it if its a heavier rifle. I was thinking of rigging something up so that it is fastened to the bino pouch so I could be 100% hands free if I wanted, but havent yet.
Also have a Eberlestock as a backup.
Also have a Eberlestock as a backup.
That's an interesting idea. Kinda wish I heard it yesterday before I started thinking about building my own gun bearer rip off... Still going to give this idea a look though, might have just saved me a bunch of sewing lol
I've used Kifaru gun bearer, it's excellent, but weird at first. Also putting the sling under the chest strap, which is most often.
When the sling slips off my shoulder, the chest stop still holds it. If I need both hands free and it hangs in front of my chest for a few minutes, it's no big deal. I hunt in very steep timber often, so needing your hands isn't uncommon.
When the sling slips off my shoulder, the chest stop still holds it. If I need both hands free and it hangs in front of my chest for a few minutes, it's no big deal. I hunt in very steep timber often, so needing your hands isn't uncommon.
my camelbak stryker day pack has 1" chest and hip straps that i use to keep my rifle right where i need it, hiking or quading in to areas. Chest strap over the sling, waist strap over the wrist of the stock and the sling. I also hike and hunt in some very steep terrain and the hands are necessary. I also learned to get a 8mm neoprene scope guard because if you tumble.... and we all do sooner or later, the neoprene save the scope from getting banged up. Been using that pack for 14 years now and it's well worn but serving me well. The new day packs have all these wierd gizmos for hanging your rifle I guess a sheep or goat hunter might find usefull but those simple 1" waist and chest straps on my pack have been trouble free and best of all, they work and hold the rifle firmly to the body and shoulder without restricting movement save for when ducking under branches or fallen logs.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
I don't usually use the waist strap, so I don't crank it down tight. It doesn't dig into my side at all, I don't strap it unless I need both hands or have to climb over something. It works well and is free.
Ahhhh that makes sense then. I'm the exact opposite, I use my waist strap all the time basically, except when puttering around the car (and even then it's 50/50)
same here
I never use the waist belt strap unless it's for attaching the pack to my quad or for strappin on my rifle when i gotta free up my hands. Works "really" well for when dragging animals as well. no more walking ahead 25 yards and leaning the rifles on a tree LOL. Packs with padded straps might not work so well..... and don't forget to put your safety on so you bolt handle stays locked closed.
I have gotten in the habit of using a single point attachment to the stock (two of my hunting firearms have this option), and letting the gun hang from my chest when my hands are needed elsewhere. That said, I'm 6'4" and the guns tend to hang fairly low, this may not work for someone of a shorter stature. Alternately, the gun is in one hand or both while walking, and strapped to the side of my pack in a sock before and after legal shooting time.
I'm currently looking at getting one of the new Harkila packs that has a long gun scabbard that can be attached in different places and used separately.
I'm currently looking at getting one of the new Harkila packs that has a long gun scabbard that can be attached in different places and used separately.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
That's my issue with my .22 bolt action, when shouldered with the safety on the bolt doesn't lock closed. Even being a lefty it will snag on my pack or jacket if it's just over my shoulder and not strapped in at the waist. Pisses me off when I loose ammo lol, my enfield locks the bolt. I love the safely on the enfields, truely a great design. My pump 12g is good also.
I started using the waist strap when I was grouse hunting on an overgrown trail I bagged out and had a couple in a bag in my day pack and one in each hand as I walked back to my truck. Strapped in my shotgun and away I went, works so well.
If you'd ever been bear sprayed you wouldn't agree with that statement. Hands down one of the worst things I've ever had done to me, still would pick a gun over spray.
I don't hunt in grizzly country, and I'm not too concerned about black bears. Plus with a gun bearer style holder you can have your gun at the ready very quickly.
This is what I whipped up, made from the straps of a backpack I was throwing out. Its not a finished product, more of a proof of concept.
Looks even fancier than what I was thinking of. Should do the trick.
Never been bear sprayed but I have been OC'd and tear gassed. Not much fun.
Study after study has shown bear spray to be significantly more effective at preventing injury during a bear encounter. If you want the best tool for the job, that's what the evidence says it is.
http://www.themeateater.com/2016/the-cold-hard-facts-of-bear-deterrents-bear-spray-vs-firearms/amp/
http://www.themeateater.com/2016/scratched-the-great-bear-spray-debate/
http://relay.nationalgeographic.com/proxy/distribution/public/amp/2015/09/150925-grizzly-bears-attacks-science-animals-bear-spray
http://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.707738
Never been bear sprayed but I have been OC'd and tear gassed. Not much fun.
Study after study has shown bear spray to be significantly more effective at preventing injury during a bear encounter. If you want the best tool for the job, that's what the evidence says it is.
http://www.themeateater.com/2016/the-cold-hard-facts-of-bear-deterrents-bear-spray-vs-firearms/amp/
http://www.themeateater.com/2016/scratched-the-great-bear-spray-debate/
http://relay.nationalgeographic.com/proxy/distribution/public/amp/2015/09/150925-grizzly-bears-attacks-science-animals-bear-spray
http://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.707738
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Your waist strap should be carrying the bulk of your pack’s weight and is critical, sounds like you get this just stating for the thread. Not using it’s a lot like wearing your pants backwards. For gun carrying I just use the factory gun carrier sling on my Kuiu pack. Works well.
Bear spray is good unless you’re hunting Grizzlies. If you have to follow in a Grizz to see if it’s dead you need a lethal option. Frankly if trying to kill any bear / dealing with a wounded one, I’d be armed and shoot way before I tried my spray. I do carry spray often too, and it’s likely the better option for hikers. Hunters and guides are in a different ballgame, especially considering Grizzlies.
Not only that, but I'm a hunter, who usually has a bear tag and the black bear season is pretty much in line with deer. If I see a bear, I'd rather have my gun because I'm not going to fill my freezer with pepper spray. Lol
Yeah, I've seen the reports about bear spray being more useful, but at the same time we've all seen the video of that girl screaming while a bear eats her kayak.... And i do carry it when a gun isn't an option... But this is all getting very off topic...
