Sidearms & Scatterguns Semi drop holster

[sled_mack]

I’m looking for a retention holster with just enough drop to clear the belt on a backpack. This is for hunting. I don’t really want to go full drop leg with a strap. Pistol is a Glock 17, it will have a red dot.

So far the only thing I’ve found is the G-code XSR holster with the GCA30 RTI Mount. Does anyone have experience with this combination?

I’m also open to other suggestions.

Thanks.

 

[flogxal]

Check out the more basic setups for USPSA/IPSC holsters, like the Comp-Tac International. That one has several options for belt mount, including a basic semi-drop backer that seems made of nylon or similar synthetic.

Otherwise you can do the same but more spendy with a metal holster mount such as the Ben Stoeger Pro Shop BOSS mount, or the True North mount. But those will require a stiffer belt.

 

[TheJammar]

I went the route of the Safariland

It’s the drop flex adapter with leg shroud and the QLS mount.

Holster is a 4 bros - couldn’t find shit for the 5.6” performance center.

It’s out of the way of my pack belt and not sitting below my harness which is all I cared about.

 

[akmike47]

Love my True North Concepts holster mount. it’s rigid but that would help your draw if you don’t want a leg strap. In my experience the flexible hangers will let the holster flip up weird if you don’t draw straight up every time without a leg strap

Modular Holster Adaptor – True North Concepts

truenorth-usa.com

 

[calling4life]

Low enough to clear a backpack waistbelt will likely necessitate a leg strap of some sort.

Don't let the internet fool you, drop leg rigs are useful for shit like this. I also wear one while musky fishing because setting the hook on a fish like that just to have my hand smash against my pistol in my chest holster, is wildly painful. Gets the gun out of the way but very much in a great draw position.

So anything low enough to get below that waistbelt and have clearance for you to draw properly... you'll likely need a leg strap of some sort, whether boot lace or an actual drop leg rig. Though you could sacrifice draw speed to avoid it if really really desired.

I run the safariland flexible drop legs as well, I actually have two of them setup.

Though for backpacking I run a chest rig myself. But I have an insane amount of money in holsters... so I have all kinds of choices for each specific situation, wouldn't have a problem running drop leg with a pack if needed though.

 

[TheJammar]

Low enough to clear a backpack waistbelt will likely necessitate a leg strap of some sort.

Don't let the internet fool you, drop leg rigs are useful for shit like this. I also wear one while musky fishing because setting the hook on a fish like that just to have my hand smash against my pistol in my chest holster, is wildly painful. Gets the gun out of the way but very much in a great draw position.

So anything low enough to get below that waistbelt and have clearance for you to draw properly... you'll likely need a leg strap of some sort, whether boot lace or an actual drop leg rig. Though you could sacrifice draw speed to avoid it if really really desired.

I run the safariland flexible drop legs as well, I actually have two of them setup.

Though for backpacking I run a chest rig myself. But I have an insane amount of money in holsters... so I have all kinds of choices for each specific situation, wouldn't have a problem running drop leg with a pack if needed though.

Which chest rig do you run? Based on the amount of targeted ads I’ve got the last 6 months, the internet really wants me to buy one.

 

[Modoc]

You guys just keep me spending money. . My only problem is finding something for a 5” N-Frame. Belt holsters are hit or miss working with a day pack. More of a miss, but better with a pack with just shoulder straps. I’d like to get it either up on my chest or lower on the leg. A big issue for me is being tied to a vehicle when hunting with my father due to his disability.

 

[calling4life]

Which chest rig do you run? Based on the amount of targeted ads I’ve got the last 6 months, the internet really wants me to buy one.

I run the Gunfighters Inc Kenai and the Stealthgear, the gunfighter for my 500 S&W and the stealthgear for my Semi-auto.

Can't really say either is worse than the other, but I also make my holsters work for me, that gunfighters Inc has a bunch of padding stuck to the back so it sits how I want it (I have the grip forced more into my body). The stealthgear has strap pads on all the straps as some of the buckles would irk a guy when training in light clothes.

I've built my own claws for my appendix carry rigs so I can conceal a ridiculously large rig... and so on..

So it's tough to give recommendations really, outside of general advice, because if you are the type of person that won't modify something to be perfect for you, you may hate how something comes "stock."

Stealthgear has more adjustability in angle of gun, gunfighters inc tends to just be a good, straightforward, works... type holster, not mind blowing technology, no gimmicks, just does what it's supposed to do.

And now that I go look, stealthgear has changed their chest rig dramatically... so I'd go with the Gunfighters Inc again if I were looking.

 

[sled_mack]

Thanks for all the help. I don’t know if I’m closer to a decision, but I have more insight now.

After more reading, I think a regular drop with a leg strap would be better. A bit lower and follows leg movement for sitting down.

But my interest in a chest holster has been renewed. With a more traditional holster, I think I would get the Gunfighter’s Inc. But I keep thinking the pouch type, where the pistol is enclosed, would snag less.

At some point I’m sure I’ll end up with a drop leg and a chest rig. Just have to pick something.

 

[XP1K]

Look at the safariland mid ride also. I wore a drop leg for a while and it seemed like I was always hanging it on something. Lots of in and out of sidexsides and trucks, and climbing on and off tractors. I switched to the mid ride and it works for me. Puts the butt of the pistol about even with my belt line or just a tad lower.

If not carrying in the safariland, its usually one of my two chest holsters. Kenai for the 460s&w Xframe, or my homemade blackhawk/diamond D leather works contraption. The blackhawk was a drop leg in its past life. I chopped it up and bought diamond D's chest rig straps from them and made my own.

The blackhawk drop leg I sacrificed was one of the adjustable soft holsters. I carry a 19x with a tlr-1 and an rmr in it mostly. On occasion, a full size 1911 with an x300.

Diamond D are good people out of Alaska, not sure if they accommodate optics or not. If you're handy though, you could probably make something work.

 

[akmike47]

Thanks for all the help. I don’t know if I’m closer to a decision, but I have more insight now.

After more reading, I think a regular drop with a leg strap would be better. A bit lower and follows leg movement for sitting down.

But my interest in a chest holster has been renewed. With a more traditional holster, I think I would get the Gunfighter’s Inc. But I keep thinking the pouch type, where the pistol is enclosed, would snag less.

At some point I’m sure I’ll end up with a drop leg and a chest rig. Just have to pick something.

Only go as low as you must, these morons wearing them right above their knee need flogged. If you have to run it’s terrible and unless you’re built like an orangutan drawing from them suck. On the other side the guys practically carrying in their armpit also are dumb

 

[carbonbased]

If you go to the chest, you might consider a Hill People Gear kit bag (what they call a chest rig)

I have the SARS version:

https://hillpeoplegear.com/Products/CategoryID/1/ProductID/94

And they suggested this optional back harness to help with the weight:

Hill People Gear | Real use gear for backcountry travelers

Real use gear for backcountry travelers

hillpeoplegear.com

Carries a 10x42 Fury 5000 binos too along with my P229 + Aurora II suppressor. You can hook it to your backpack harness on the fly to ride the weight better when wearing the backpack.

They make thicker kit bags too.

The draw technique:


The system can be a bit hot, however. I avoid it when possible in peak summer.

 

[TheJeanyus]

I use a Hill People Gear kit bag if I'm carrying a pistol and wearing a backpack. Also allows me to keep other stuff (flashlight, multi tool, snacks, map, etc.) easily accessible with the pack on.

 

[powdahound76]

HPG bags are slick


For gun only, I settled on the Kenai for my G20 with light and am quite happy

Rides behind my bino harness with ease and drills with both on, Im not winning a speed draw competition and it is relatively quick.

It was new to me last year and saw a lot of days hiking/hunting and I was never uncomfortable and always happy how easy it carried.
It does make you sweat more than nothing on the chest, about the same as my AGC bino harness, about 1 entire layer less of clothes needed!

 

[Modoc]

HPG bags are slick


For gun only, I settled on the Kenai for my G20 with light and am quite happy

Rides behind my bino harness with ease and drills with both on, Im not winning a speed draw competition and it is relatively quick.

It was new to me last year and saw a lot of days hiking/hunting and I was never uncomfortable and always happy how easy it carried.
It does make you sweat more than nothing on the chest, about the same as my AGC bino harness, about 1 entire layer less of clothes needed!

I am looking at both of those options to allow for a variety of handguns to be carried. The holster I have will only carry my SBH and 629.

 

[sled_mack]

Question for anyone using a chest bag type holster- do you have any type of “holster” in the bag? Or is the pistol just loose in there?

 

[carbonbased]

Question for anyone using a chest bag type holster- do you have any type of “holster” in the bag? Or is the pistol just loose in there?

With a DA/SA gun with a relatively heavy SA pull, just loose in there. I’ve seen little trigger guards for Glock-type pistols that are tied to a provided tie-down spot in the bag. You drawn your Glock and the tie-down yanks the guard off the trigger area.

People do this with short fixed blade knives that they keep in a front pocket.

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

Safariland ALS with a mid drop adapter works well. I run them on gun belts. Clears armor and other shit while not being true drop legg needing a leg strap.

In the woods, beach, hunting ect...I wear a HPG heavy recon bag. It's got either a g20 or a vp9 depending on expected critters. I wouldn't want to deal with holster while carrying a pack or the like.

 

[TheJeanyus]

Question for anyone using a chest bag type holster- do you have any type of “holster” in the bag? Or is the pistol just loose in there?

Loose in the bag, and I don’t keep anything else in the compartment with the handgun.

 

[carbonbased]

I don’t keep anything else in the compartment with the handgun

Yeah, good catch. I thought it was obvious but it bears to explicitly mention it.

There’s been many o’ time that I wished a contractor had told me things that were left unsaid because he thought it was “obvious”. To him, of course, it was, but not obvious to a n00b like me.

 

[TheJeanyus]

Yeah it seems kind of obvious to me that you wouldn't put anything else in there, but I've seen some people do pretty questionable stuff with firearms lol. One of my favorites is pulling out a loaded carry gun to make some glamor shots and sticking something through the trigger guard to prop it up...

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

Bags like HPG have a gun pocket and a pocket for other shit. You would have to be a moron to put anything but the gun in there with it..

 

[carbonbased]

Bags like HPG have a gun pocket and a pocket for other shit. You would have to be a moron to put anything but the gun in there with it..

To add onto what DBD said, the back zip is for the pistol, and the front zip is for everything else. I should’ve mentioned that.

Another of my assumptions that I figure people know, but don’t (and for good reason).