Advice please on how my daily carry experience might be a less onerous.

My daily hike averages around 10 miles, much of it is in Pacific Northwest woods where critters like bears and coyotes live. Here reside also what once were called bums or hobos. Many look like Charlie Manson. Problems with people are my top concern, less with animals. I am deep into the 60s and alone. Imprinting is not as big of a deal on my walk. No concealed carry is planned inside of stores. Washington is an open carry state. I have a concealed pistol license.

My primary carry is OWB using a Bianchi #5BHL holster with a S&W 629-1 4" 44 mag. Where-ever it rests on my hip, this gets sore after a bit. So I am sliding the holster around a lot. The entire hip-area is tender. The weight puts an odd strain on my old-fart back. A backpack works well for carry, the big negative is speed of access. My 642 Airweight is returned to Springfield for a warranty repair to a jammed cylinder.

Asking for the impossible? Perhaps. Thanks!

A shoulder holster with a tie down on the side opposite your gun distributes the weight more evenly than belt carry, that's for sure. I know if I am going to carry an N-frame for quite a while, that is the way I do it.

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FBINA, 204th Session

This is on my shopping list for just what you described. And congrats on being in the shape to do 10 mile wood hikes..says a lot about the condition you've kept yourself in.
Alien Gear Cloak Chest Holster - Over 500 Guns Available

The only way I’ve ever found to be marginally comfortable carrying a M29 is in a cross draw holster.

I believe it was the Bianchi Cyclone model, but I got out of the 44mag business some time ago, so no longer have the holster to confirm the model designation.

I tried several shoulder holsters, but found they were miserable devices that were exquisitely uncomfortable and that impaired my motion so much that they were unusable for anything.

I have that same holster in 4 and 6 inch N frame versions. They are a nice holster, but I don't use them often. In my experience, they need a stiff and tight belt to prevent flopping around, and like you experienced, tend to put a lot of pressure in a narrow spot against your hip.

These days when I woods walk with my N frames, or about any heavy handgun, I like a pancake style holster, one that rides with the cylinder about belt height. It spreads the weight out, less flop, and less of a narrow pressure point on your hip. Avoid the super high ride, concealment versions, as they seem a little unbalanced with a heavy gun, and draw can be awkward for some.

A chest rig is also a good choice, but some people like them, and some have a hard time getting used to them. Simply Rugged makes good versions of both types.

That .44 is perfect medicine for any trouble you might find in the woods, 2 or 4 legged. I like a 240 SWC at about 950 fps. Hits harder than a .45 acp ball load, and is controllable. You probably have more chance of running into trouble with a meth lab, or a pot grow than a lion or bear, but the gun will handle either.

Larry

Checkout "Diamond D Leather" in Wasilla, Alaska. They make a "Guides Choice" holster that rides just below your chest and doesn't interfere with a backpack. I have one and have carried it on a couple of 30 mile hikes in Montana carrying a 5" Model 629. Relatively expensive but excellent quality. See photo.

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Ten miles while humping a cannon spare ammo and water. A model 69 gives you the same firepower less one round and a lot less weight and size. And it shoots very accurate.
Islander

I have that EXACT N Frame four inch,,
The gun is way more comfortable simply carrying it in my pocket than any belt holster
(I am similar age, except recently, I passed 70! )

I use a little $6 pistol pocket holster from Amazon, to cover and pad the muzzle.
No, the holster does not fit the gun, it simply covers the muzzle, to keep pocket fuzz out,,

I have carried the 629 extensively over the last 2 months, we have had dozens of daytime black bear sightings.

I have carried the 629 dozens of hours per week like this .

Maybe one of those holsters with two loops spread apart by a foot or more would mimic my pocket carry.
I will not look for a holster until I wear out a pair of pants,,
that has not been an issue,, so far.

Alien Gear does not show an N-frame holster as an available option.

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FBINA, 204th Session

Did not see an N-Frame holster, am I missing it?

You nailed it... seems like the whole weight of the weapon and holster rides on a dime-sized space.

I like Bianchi 5B holsters, but they do tend to flop around a bit. I just bought this holster made by The Masters company. I believe they come out of Turkey, but I am very happy with ones I have bought so far. This one is in the askins avenger style and it rides very comfortably. I haven't tried any hikes with it yet. It was less than $60 on Amazon.

I have a few 4" N frames. If I was to carry one for serious again, not in uniform, I would use my Kramer Leather MSP paddle. If I had to have open carry with people around, I still have a Safariland 070 for that platform. A good stout belt helps.

I have looked at and considered the DD chest holster and it seems like a good design, plus several folks on this forum have spoken well of it. For my life at this time, it does not fill a niche I need to address.

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NHI, 10-8.

A E Nelson "untouchable" vertical shoulder holster. Tie down on holster and off side. I have one for a 4 in. "N" frame. I believe the number is 58U. For comfort when carrying a grown up gun it's the best holster I've ever owned. Larry

A couple on people have mentioned a good, stiff belt. That is essential. I am also partial to holsters that spread things out a bit. A pancake style holster works for OWB. I have a Simply Rugged for N frame carry.

Something lighter might be applicable at some point. 329, Night Guard, or 10mm Glock for example. Definitely more expensive than a new belt.

A proper holster to belt fit is a necessity on all large hand guns hung at the waist!

As silly as it sounds a good belt to holster and a padded Uncle Mikes Nylon holster might be what you're after. (If you can stand the lack of fashion statement!)

I carried 4" model 25's and 5" 1917 and a 5" 625 this way, but I don't care what others think of my appearance!

Ivan

If you go to the shoulder holster route be sure to go with a quality brand like Galco or Bianchi and Skip anything nylon. Also be prepared to do many many many adjustments until you get the perfect fit. Once you figure it out how it fits comfortably shoulder holsters are my preferred way for carrying large frame pistols.

Not only a stiff belt but pants with multiple belt loops too. Levi pants have gone cheap while loops at 3, 6 and 9 only (excluding the front). Wranglers have 5 loops where Levi's have only 3. This does make a difference.

My 642 Airweight is back in Springfield for warranty work... the cylinder is jammed. I do have good stiff belts.

A pancake holster with a "gun belt" has always worked for me. I've carried four and six inch Model 29's and 629's all day with no issues.

I have always liked the original Roy Baker pancake holsters. I can carry a Model 29-5 with a six inch full under lug and silhouette front sight all day and sometimes I forget I'm carrying it.

That said, while the pancake holster distributes the weight, it is of no use without a proper supporting belt.

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Bill

Like others have mentioned, a good, stiff belt (which you said you have) and a holster that helps spread out the weight (like the pancake holsters mentioned) will help.

I don't think anyone has mentioned Perry Suspenders. I think they would be particularly beneficial for you. I have a set. I don't use them much, but when I do I notice it takes some of the weight off my hips. What's good about them is that they attach to the belt, so the weight of the gun is taken off the hips some and spread on your shoulders. I would highly recommend you try them out. They have a 30-day money back guarantee, so if it doesn't work out, you can always return them. And as a side note, I've read that they're popular with Secret Service Special Agents on protection details because of all the gear they carry.

Hope that helps.

I've spent many hours carrying a 4" M29 in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake with a gun belt. The pancake design spreads the weight across your belt and the good belt supports it well.

If people were my main concern I'd probably not be lugging around an N frame, and given the scarcity of griz in most of WA I don't think I'd be doing that for a woods gun, and instead would be just grabbing a Glock 20, or some K/L frame .357 smith.

That said, there is something fun about a .44, and when hiking/fishing in Alaska/Wyoming/Montana grizzly country I carry a 4" redhawk in one of the following:

Guides Choice™ Leather Chest Holster, the ULTIMATE outdoor gun holster | Diamond D Custom Leather | Handmade Leather Holsters

If you want an open carry holster, this is the comfiest option I've used and comes along often. It's got issues, namely being leather in the outdoors and potentially foul weather, but it has held up well so far.

Hill People Gear | Real use gear for backcountry travelers

This would be my main recommendation. I got it in a non-tacticool color, and it's awesome. I fit my redhawk (or any of the smaller guns for that matter), my fly box, some tippet, leatherman, assorted fishing nonsense, and a cliff bar.

Both these options hold steady while moving, distribute weight well, and can be used with your pack on and belted/chest strapped up.

I carry an N frame a lot. But mine is a 325 and doesn't weigh anything.
But, during hunting season I carry a 4" in 45 colt. Pancake holster and I mostly forget it is there. A good HEAVY leather belt also makes a difference

A second for both the Simply Rugged and the Hill People Gear Runners Pack...

With the Simply Rugged you also have the option of converting the belt holster to a chest holster with the Chesty Puller Straps.

Before my knees bummed out I used to walk 5-10 miles a day every day. If going on one of the longer hikes I would combine the Hill People Gear Runners Pack with a Mountainsmith Day pack with the Strapletts and was comfortable all day long...

Bob

This video came up in my YouTube feed today.

I have the same 629 3" with IWB and OWB both from Tucker Gun Leather. The IWB is really nice for short jaunts and around town, I tend to sweat around it in the central Washington summer hikes in the woods. The OWB is also really nice, comfortable and an untucked shirt covers it.

I am an old almost 70 fart. My biggest concern is the humanoids, if they see the gun it could deter some but attract others who want the gun.

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U.S. Coast Guard, retired CPO

Our Washington State is screwed up, an exception being our gun-rights laws. Greetings.

Great advice, thank you. People are the #1 concern hence a 642 for the primary carry. It broke and is back at Springfield for warranty work. S&W says 4 to 6 weeks, what I read here and elsewhere is probably 6 to 12 weeks. In this interim, my revolver carry options are a Ruger 22mag or the 629. I do have 9MM semi-autos but wish only to conceal carry a revolver.

New revolver options at this time are sparse.

Another vote for the Guide’s Choice chest rig. I have two of them, one for a 5.5” Redhawk and another for a 5.5” Freedom Arms. Both are heavy revolvers and carry quite comfortably in the Diamond D. They are my absolute only choice when using my back pack.

Leather when properly cared for is not an issue when exposed to the elements. Other than being a bit darker in color, mine are still in “as new” condition and have been exposed to every kind of weather.

Dan

Different Opinion:

If lived where you do and hiked where there are bears, coyotes, questionable people, and other things that can harm you I would pack a Glock Model 20 10mm with two extra magazines.

Jimmy (aka scared guy and jerk/wimp)

Jimmy LOL, allow me to provide my scared old-dude/wimp response to your sage advice. I don't trust myself enough to correctly handle a semi-auto in a tense armed encounter. My self-trust is higher with a revolver. I have been involved in two real-world civilian armed encounters, once where my weapon was a revolver. No shots were fired by me but did learn first hand the mind-changing deterrent power of a cocked revolver.

They don't get much, if any better than the holsters from
Diamond D Leather. The Guides Choice would fit your needs perfectly.

Extra magazines?? There's no time for reading when on a hike.

By the time the threat got though the pile of nasty smelly stuff that I provided. magazine change would be completed

Another vote for a good pancake. I carried 4" N frames extensively in them and still would if the situation warranted. They disperse the weight more than the Bianchi. I like to go through the rear slot, under a belt loop and out the front slot. Doesn't move around much that way. A used Roy Baker original or Strong copy. I haven't used the modern versions like Simply Rugged and Diamond D but have heard good things about them.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

My AE Nelson shoulder holster makes carrying an X frame (460V) practical. N frame should be a no-brainer.

I got this one:
#58-H Shoulder Holster, A. E. Nelson Leather Co.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

An El Paso Saddlery tanker rig is the way to go IMO. It is comfortable to wear all day long.

What holster did "Dirty Harry" use??

He acted like it wasn't even there,,,,

Bianchi or Safariland Xp-5 ?

Dirty Harry Holster

For ccw of 3-5 inch N frames, I like a shoulder rig, and to a lesser degree, OWB. Most of my leather is from Galco. When backpacking, hunting, fishing, etc., I usually carry a 629/625 MG in a Galco Alaskan chest rig. Works great for me.

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213th FBINA

Not to hijack tis thread but what would be the best that would not mark ,mar or scratch up a 4" nickel 29 .

The only way to do that is to never carry the gun. All carry methods will put wear on the finish.

But if you want to minimize the wear, look for a holster with smooth leather on the inside and molded specifically for your gun, and clean out the holster periodically. Some people suggest suede lining because it's soft, but suede can trap dust and dirt, which will then abrade your gun's finish. And the reason for a tightly molded holster is that it will minimize movement of the gun in the holster, which would result in wear-causing friction.

Some people have had good results applying wax to their guns' finish, but I've never tried that. I expect finish wear on any gun I carry in a holster.

Found these pants to be excellent for carry, genuine German army issued Flecktarn surplus pants. Inexpensive too.

BW Cargo Pants, Flecktarn, surplus - Varusteleka.com

Have you considered a little red wagon?

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Eccentric old coot

Remember too though....Dirty Harry wasn't nearly 70.

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Stay protected my friends.

I carry my 5" Classic (full underlug) 629 .44mag every day, from pajamas-off until pajamas-on, in a homemade under-the-shirt cloth vertical shoulder holster rig. Very comfortable and well concealed.

Carry a 629 Mountain Gun in a chest rig similar to the Guides Choice in the woods. Keeps hands and hips free and grip accessible for use. I live near and in the forests of Idaho. In our neck of the woods it's wolves, bear and cougar in that order. I wear this while tending fence and cutting wood plus the occasional hike. Not 10miles though, I applaud your stamina.

I would recommend a holster that has the belt loops spread as far apart as possible, to mitigate weight. A strong, thick belt pays dividends, too. Nothing wrong with OWB strong side carry, but a hawg like that needs the right rig. I have an Azusa holster for my 629 and love it. You can find them on eBay pretty regularly.

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Matthew 5:9