Author Topic: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?  (Read 4469 times)

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Offline 4gabe

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How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« on: October 13, 2010, 09:14:29 AM »
Do you use a holster or a sling? My encore is on the way a 243 with a 15" barrel I will be mounting a scope what is the best hunter friendly way to carry it while I'm walking through the woods? I'm not looking for some sort of quick draw but I don't want it to be a 10 min deal to get it up to shoot either.

Offline shot1

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2010, 10:34:14 AM »
I carry my Contender in a holster that has a strap that goes over your head with the strap going over your chest across your right shoulder and down your back and the holster is on the left side low under my left arm. It has a strap with a snap that will fit through your belt to hold it do your side. I can't remember who made mine and I can't get to it because it is packed in my camper ready to leave in the morning on a hunting trip.

T/C makes one about the same. www.grafs.com has them. product number TC9546.

Uncle Mikes makes one also.

I really don't walk around hunting with my Contender. I just carry it in the holster until I get to my stand then I take it out and set it up on my shooting rail or if sitting in a ground blind I just lay it in my lap.
If I was going to be doing a lot of still hunting walking I probably would want a sling of some sort.
I really need some sort of rest to use for shooting my Contender unless it was very close. That is the reason that I stand hunt and ambush deer as they travel by.

Offline mbopp

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2010, 11:13:37 AM »
I've got an old Uncle Mike's sling on my 14". I've found if you wrap it around your left arm handy-sling style it really steadies the gun especially if you use a sitting or kneeling position.
I've had a 2X scope, a red dot, and a Bushnell Holosight on it. Of the 3 I much prefer the Holosight. YMMV.
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Offline kynardsj

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2010, 11:55:06 AM »
I too use a sling. I carry the Contender or Encore and then sling it if I need both hands for something or am climbing into an elevated stand.
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Offline 4gabe

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2010, 02:12:17 PM »
Most of my hunting is also on stand but this year I'm trying to get two teenage boys involved in hunting and expect to do more walking and driving to help them. So the holster seems to fit the bill. I have seen a sling that is also used to help support you or I should say steady you for your shot. I think I'm looking for a secure way to carry while going to and from my stand and while huffing it through the woods.

Offline ftw

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2010, 07:37:29 AM »
Over the years I have switched back and forth between two options and can never decide which I like best.

The first is a across the chest bandolier holster. It carries the Contender well while walking and climbing with a stand or up a ladder. If I am walking in or out in daylight I have the Contender in my hand.
Downsides are the Contender ends up being held in my lap while on stand and if you carry in the holster and don't snap the flap, it will dump out if you bend over.

The method I have used the most, and I believe I stole this idea from GB, is to carry a Contender with a sling in the Contender case. It protects it during transportation and climbing into or with a stand. Once in the stand the sling goes around my neck for convenience and also to steady the shot.
Walking in during daylight, the Contender is slung around my neck/shoulder, ready to go. The case is stuck in my pack.
Climbing with just a sling will beat your Contender on everything, no matter how hard you try to be careful.
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Offline Junior1942

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2010, 03:17:13 AM »
The photo below shows my 14" Contender hanging from one of my saddle ring slings.  This method is for stalking.  For plain ol' carrying, I hook a plain ol' sling from the Uncle Mike's barrel band to the Uncle Mike's machine screw swivel stud on the aluminum butt plate.  Attaching a machine screw swivel stud to the butt plate is easy.  Just drill a hole in the aluminum butt plate and mount the swivel stud with a nut.  I prefer to carry the pistol with the barrel down.


Offline southernutah

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2010, 01:59:21 PM »
Gabe,   JSI sling, see E.A. Brown  or Stratton Custom

Offline Capt Rick Hiott

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2010, 02:16:00 PM »
I have something like this (Bandolier Holster) for my Taurus 454.  Do a search for "Bandolier Holster" on google.

Capt Rick Hiott
Charleston,SC

Offline ss shooter

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #9 on: October 21, 2010, 12:29:48 PM »
I use a sling from TC or this holster its kinda like a gun bucket it works very well for scoped Contenders or Encores.


Offline 4gabe

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2010, 03:59:12 AM »
It does almost seem that you need both a sling and a holster. The sling just looks like the gun would swing around to much like when ducking under thick brush and a holster would be of little use while on the stand, it would force you to hold the TC the entire time.

Offline Capt Rick Hiott

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #11 on: October 22, 2010, 03:22:27 PM »
  I put the pistol in the holster (Thats around my shoulder) when I get out of the truck.
   Then remove it from the holster when I get up in the stand, and lay the pistol in my lap. It works good for me.
Capt Rick Hiott
Charleston,SC

Offline Fire Fox

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2012, 04:07:06 PM »
I have found that the Bandelero holster is great because it is easy and quick to put on weither you are wearing a coat or not and easy out of the truck. It is also easy to adjust. I like to have the flap type it covers the pistol to keep things out of the holster and helps keep things dry in rain and snow.Hope this helps.

Offline OLDHandgunner

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #13 on: January 26, 2012, 02:44:06 AM »
I've used both sling & bandolier type holsters over the years. Now I go to the bandolier type holster more and more. Just seems more comfortable.

Offline bulletstuffer

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2012, 06:30:21 AM »

I use a set up like this for the 14 and 15 inch models with a wool sock stretched over it to make it quiet.  IMO these guns were not made for a fast draw snap shot anyway.  If I am walking through an area where I might get a shot it is in my hand along with a set of shooting sticks.


Good luck,


Bulletstuffer

I have something like this (Bandolier Holster) for my Taurus 454.  Do a search for "Bandolier Holster" on google.


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Offline Ladobe

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #15 on: January 26, 2012, 09:31:43 AM »
Tried all the possibilities over the years, settled on slings for all the long barreled specialty handguns a long time ago and never looked back.   Not just TC's, but Remy XP-100's, Wichita's, Sako custom, Anschutz Exemplars, etc.   The shorties mostly in cross draw holsters.
Evolution at work. Over two million years ago the genus Homo had small cranial capacity and thick skin to protect them from their environment. One species has evolved into obese cranial fatheads with thin skin in comparison that whines about anything and everything as their shield against their environment. Meus

Offline giddens1972

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #16 on: January 26, 2012, 04:39:48 PM »
I put mine in my backpack, and get it out when I get to the stand.  I take so much with me that the backpack serves me well!
John

Offline damienph

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #17 on: January 27, 2012, 06:01:02 AM »
I carry my scoped 10" Contender in a chest style flap holster, similar to the camo "bandolier holster" in previous posts except mine is black and has (six?) bullet loops on the front.  I'll have to dig it out but I am pretty sure that it is an Uncle Mike's.  I've had it for years.  I use the same holster to carry my scoped 7 1/2" Super Blackhawk.
Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either never used one - or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship - Phil Shoemaker

Offline johnnyb

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #18 on: January 30, 2012, 01:10:01 PM »
Didn't like any thing I found so I made a custom shoulder holster, rides undr my left shoulder and is canted a little forward. I left the end of it open so I could carry my 17 inch muzzy barrel in it, as well as my 15 in and 12 in barrels.

Offline dstegjas

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #19 on: January 30, 2012, 03:36:27 PM »
I picked up the holster in the picture several years ago. It fit well and the Contender was easy to access. I had it made to fit a 15" barrel with an open end on it. That gave me some flexibility on barrel length. It seemed to work so well for me I never looked for any other style of holster.


Ohhh, so many guns and so little time to buy them.  :)

Offline swift-justice

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #20 on: February 02, 2012, 09:25:24 PM »

Offline Lawful Larry

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #21 on: March 01, 2012, 05:05:05 PM »
Don't have one with my contender in it, but do  have one with my S&W 629:





I use this holster with my short barreled Contender rig.  I also have a larger Uncle Mike's holster just like the one pictured.  They are comfortable while in the woods.

Just another voice in the crowd!!!

 

Offline stubshaft

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #22 on: March 01, 2012, 06:16:51 PM »
I just slip it into my backpack.  If I am putting a sneak on it is in my hand and ready to go.
If I agreed with you then we would both be wrong.

Offline smokehouserex

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #23 on: March 01, 2012, 07:29:00 PM »
 
 
  I carry my 44mag, 10" BBl, TC in a hy-hunter that was made for a 7.5" Redhawk and I cut the bottom off so the 10", non-scoped BBl. will fit through it. I carry the holster in cross draw fashion, carrys pretty good.
  I use a Uncle Mikes shoulder holster with straps that fit over the shoulder and across the back, shoot R.hand, carry on left side of chest with the super14 in 35Rem. with a 2x leupold scope.
  When in the stand, keep it out of holster laid on my leg, and holding on to it, always.
  I have not found a good use for my other 10" octagon BBl because of recoil, do any of you use one of these with 44sp. loads for hunting? Even the 180 44Mag. loads are uncomfortable to shoot. 
 thanks
  HM
 

Offline ShootnStr8

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #24 on: March 02, 2012, 01:50:30 PM »
Mine lives in an Uncle Mikes holster.  I like to carry it in my hand when in the woods except when using a climbing tree stand.  Then it goes into the holster and in the pack until I get set.  I am just not comfortable not having the piece ready to go whether hunting with a handgun or a rifle.  I have seen too many animals on the way in and out of the woods. 

Blessings,
 
Shootnstr8
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Offline DANNY-L

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #25 on: March 03, 2012, 04:48:55 AM »
I have something like this (Bandolier Holster) for my Taurus 454.  Do a search for "Bandolier Holster" on google.


Thas exactly what I use for my 14"

Offline Da-Law-Dawg

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #26 on: March 07, 2012, 10:24:16 AM »
My 14"ers ride to the stand in my pack. A 1911 or Glock 21 with 230gr +P's on my hip. I rarely ever leave the stand from daylight to dark and my Tender is out and ready on stand.

Offline charles p

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #27 on: March 07, 2012, 11:58:13 AM »
I carry mine in my hand from my truck to the elevated stand I plan to hunt.  Twice I have encountered deer upon reaching a stand and once in route to my truck.  It is never my intention to hunt on foot, but you never know.  Always find something to rest the pistol on.  A pine tree or the stand ladder has worked for me.  The shot off the pine tree was pure luck.  A neck shot at over 150 yards.  Was not aiming for the neck.  I shoot a 7-30W.
Mine is a stainless Contender with a 14" barrel and a scope.  Never had a holster for it.
 

Offline Josey Walls

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Re: How do you carry your T/C while hunting?
« Reply #28 on: March 21, 2012, 05:01:02 PM »

 
I use this