Hey all,
New to the site. I've only small game hunted with my Contender .17 HMR. I'm now planning to big game hunt this year. Bought a 45/70 barrel.
I previously bought an older leather holster made for the Contender but I'm not real happy with it. Although it holds the gun very securely, I find it very stiff. Don't really like it.
I'm wondering what some of you folks are using to carry in the woods. Holsters, slings, ect,

Jeff

Welcome Aboard Archr610!!

Take a look at Quite Hide Holsters.

http://qh-holsters.com/

Duane

I use the Pistol Packaging Bandito Belt with their slit top holster. But it doesn't appear that they make that holster anymore.

http://shamrockholsters.com/?page_id=97

i use a sling n like it. i also use it to aid my deer hunt hold.

if i were to use a holster it would be a quiethide. dave can custom make one about any way you need it or to fit various setups. i've seen pics of some real nice ones!

I use an Uncle Mike holster for my hunting. I use a 10-14' t/c barrels and have a holster for each size.

I prefer the sling carry for my 45-70's. I bought a nice leather holster (do not remember name)and find it cumbersome in a tree stand. It hits the side rail in my climber and the chair in the shooting house. It looks impressive with the 45-70 rounds on the front bandolier style and the big gun on the side when riding the 4-wheeler to the stand though. It is ok when still hunting or on a mid season scouting trip. I also had the TC shoulder holster but it took somebody else to help me put it on with all straps twisting up. I recommend the sling.
One word of caution: If you take sling off at the range and shoot from a bench do not put your hand under the grip. It will drive the sling stud (if you use the type of sling attachment that replaces the grip bolt.)into your hand and it will be sore for a week. First hand experience. No pun intended.

I used holsters for years. Then I tried a sling on my XP, and whoa boy! There's no going back after that. It's like you're not even carrying a gun.

Brian.

I carry my bolt guns on a single point sling, works great. Also helps holdling steady. I'm gonna give it a try on one of my T/C grips and see if the balance is there.

I have carried Contenders and Encores for many years in a modified canvas pistol case. It completely protects the pistol from the weather as well as while stalking, yet the pistol is readily available. This "Carryin' Contenders" method is addressed in my handgun hunting video; also I wrote an article with the same name and it was published in THE SIXGUNNER, December 1990, on page 10. Here my friend models it as I know I am not much of a model.

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Brian,
I have considered a sling but my concern there is about the firearm flopping around since it is large, also being exposed to bumps and bruises while moving through the woods.

Jeff

I've tried holsters (for the T/C's) didn't like them, to bulky for me, went back to a sling and as stated above it also aids in steadying your handgun for off hand shots if you so choose.

Shortgun

HHI # 8338

I use a sling on my savage and t.c. Get an uncle mikes barrel band for a shotgun ,[they come in different i.d.'s]Mike your barrel to see which size you need, and place on barrel under front sight.I make my own grip screw by tig welding a sling stud to an extra grip screw I buy at the hardware store.This works better for me than the stud on the foreend as it makes them farther apart.

I went with a sling on my Encore but havent figured it out on my Tender yet. Is there anywhere you can buy a sling kit for the Tender? I like Junebugs idea but never learned to weld,lol

Uncle mikes makes the rear, grip bolt with sling stud attached.
Sort of pricey so I make mine. Uncle mikes makes the barrel bands too,[need to mike your barrel for size]. The part# 1303-2
115 TC is a complete set .I don't like the front swivel attached to the forend thou,to short coupled, so I get the barrel band. # 1593-2 fits barrels from .800 to .850. #1595-2 fits barrels from .750 to.800 and take 1 inch slings.

Depends on how and where you hunt. I found that hunting out west in the wide open spaces of wyo for antelope where belly crawling is a must, that Greggs method of using the soft case for the contender worked well. It was easy to push it out ahead of you when crawling and your gun was right there in front of you. But back here in the woods of NC I use a sling going to and from my deer stand or slow stalking thru the woods. The sling aids in giving you a good stable hold, especially if using a tree to brace your gun against. Try the sling approach first, Its the least expensive and if you don't like it then go with a holster.

Do they make them for the Contender with Packy grips?

Yes they do. These are the parts # for a contender 1303-2
115 T C This is the set with sling swivel on forend . The barrel band is a seperate piece .

junebug,
Thanks for the info, however I can find neither of the part numbers you gave on the UM website. I did find a set under model #115 but not with the TC suffix.
also, I had found a set of what appeared to be bolts and extensions to fashion the grip stud but I lost the web page. Anyone have a heads up on that ?

Just to keep things clear, I have a G2 contender with synthetic stocks.

Jeff

The part # for the barrel bands are still current, they are for shotguns which is why you have to mike the barrel for size. The two sizes I gave fit my contender barrels 1593-2 qd 115 sg -2 for .800 to.850 barrels and 1595-2 qd 115 sg-3 for .750 to.800 barrels. The swivel set for TC. contenders 1303-2 QD 115 TC ,I could not find either.I would suggest a call to uncle mikes to check on availability.

Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=177496

Note it says "status: discontinued by manufacturer."

If your looking for the stud kit for your Tender pistol Midsouth is the only place I found it . Its bassically discontinued, Uncle Mike , Pachmeyer, Brownell dont carry them anymore. To order it through Midsouth its a little over $26 shipped.The kit they carry is for the stud replacement , I didnt ask about the barrel band.

Ok, I've found the barrel band kit in several places, just need to mic my barrel when it gets back from the shop with the new sights. As for the grip stud. Can I safely get away with the short stud that I've seen for sale ( I need the one with the machine threads ) that just goes through the grip cap with a nut on the backside ?
Also, I'll be using open sights for now so where does the barrel band go, directly under the front sight or slightly behind ?

Jeff

i've never used the barrel bands, but i've never wanted too at all. i don't want anything touching the barrel to affect accuracy. anyone try with/without for comparison?

i use a grip/stud replacement bolt(got em long ago)and a machine thread sling stud in the front forearm screw(performs double function), or already factory placed in a factory rifle forearm, or a custom forend.

No, I would not trust that at all. I have been in too many situations where Murphy's Law prevails; I would not chance it! You have enough money invested in the gun and optics, not to mention (the) hunting trip, to rely on a kluge like that.

If you cannot find the sling stud in the longer size needed, I would buy the correct components and pay a local welding shop to weld them together. I can't imagine it costing more than 20 to thirty $ max; and it will be worth it in the long run.

JMHO

Gregg

Ya it would really suck to have it pull thru the grip and scope and gun take a hard hit on a rock or worse down a cliff. Especially on a payed hunt!