Wilderness carry with a pack? Ideas?

[G.Mitchell]

Hi all, I have a 14" fabarm, and I just added the S&J Sling plate. I have a single point sling that works perfectly without a pack but as soon as I put my pack on I cannot move the sling under the pack.

So how do you guys carry a wilderness defense shotgun AND wear a pack?

Different sling configurations? Ideas? Pictures?

Thanks all.

 

[Dmitri]

This is what i do.. i try not to use backpack, instead i got my self a very nice and spacious vest.. with an option of strapping a backup shotgun to the back. With a good quality vest you wont even feel that its there.....

 

[Lfsabch]

thats pretty slick, nice

 

[Stevo]

How do you get the shotgun out of the straps? It doesn't look like you can reach them with it on.

 

[Kevin M.]

Forget the straps... what are you going to do when an angry bear comes charging out at you? Reach for the keys to the trigger lock I guess?

 

[manbearpig]

buy a MOLLE shotgun scabbard from ebay, and attach it to your pack.

 

[troutseeker]

Switch pack to an Eberlestok with the built in gu scabbard. I use the X1 and it works well. Or get a Kifaru gun bearer fro your current pack, I have one on my sheep hunting pack and it's the cat's derriere.

 

[ghostwalkah]

I have a single point sling that works perfectly without a pack but as soon as I put my pack on I cannot move the sling under the pack.

Sling the gun over the pack, not under it...
Even a single point will retain most, if not all, of it's mobility when positioned this way. It won't be as comfortable as having it slung close to the body, but it's a trade off: Comfort for ease of use/access...

Another option would be to run a single point directly for your pack's shoulder strap onto the gun itself (much like many Mil/LEO pers carry their firearms when wearing LBVs/PC/whatever else).
This configuration would allow you have the gun in hand, ready to bring to bear (no pun intended) when needed, yet also allow you to "flip" the gun over the pack when both hands are necessary (I would suggest coupling this carry method with some sort of retention system to secure the barrel when the gun is over the shoulder to avoid having it slide off &/or "wander" around).
A system employing a Fastex (or other quick disconnect apparatus) would mean that once "on site", you can remove the gun from the pack with minimal work (and possibly re-attach the gun to another single point sling for "camp carry", also configured with a Fastex attachment).

MBP's suggested scabbard is possibly the most secure method of transport (for the price of the unit), protecting the firearm from cosmetic damage, as well as providing the bearer with a small degree of concealability.
The downside to this system would the time required to retrieve & employ the gun should the need arise.

The Eberlestock pack systems are basically an upgraded & integrated version of the aforementioned scabbard. Should funding not be an issue, the Eberlestock would become a viable option. The same cons will apply: speed of deployment...

My personal preference is a two-point arrangement (featuring a quick adjust feature) worn over my pack.

Gh0sT OuT~

 

[slicknick]

While I have a sling on my shotgun I generally carry it in my hands. The sling is long enough that I can sling it over the pack if I need both hands for something.