Chest Holster needed

[WHO CARES]

I need a holster that will carry my revolver on the outside of my hunting jacket - not concealed by clothing or such. In Wisconsin it is illeagal to carry concealed - period. If I put it on my belt as normal then the jacket covers it up and I don't want to run into an over jealous warden and end up with problems.

I've been thinking about one of those that carry the revolver on your chest with straps around and over your shoulders and such. From pictures, they appear comfortable and convienent. I would like it to be usable with several different guns with similar barrel lengths from 5" to 6.5" or so.

Can anyone recommend a good option?

Thanks
Ward

 

[rondo]

Haugen's Rancher Magnum Carry

I have no first-hand experience with this holster, but I do have a few of his holsters and the quality is very high.

 

[Iggy]

Simply Rugged has the "Chesty Puller" model and I think they have a rig wherein you can convert any reuglar belt model holster to a chest carry holster.

 

[1scooter]

Chest Holster

Might I suggest a holter by davidjohnstonleather.com I have several of his hand made holsters, and they are the best quality that i've ever seen. He is in Alaska, and usually ships here to Virginia with in two weeks. Hope this helps.

 

[venomballistics]

A few months ago the state AG announced his refusal to prosecute concealed weapons cases. So for the time being your safe on the state level if the chain of events jam you up .... this means you will likely be screwed on the local level whereby an appeal might set your problem straight. .. dicey of course but its an improvement.
Having lived there Ive attacked this issue in as may ways as I could imagine.
the two best options with a heavy six gun Ive found are the old school wild west style low slung gun belt and the sorta new school tactical thigh rig.
Utility is adequate in either form with a little bit of an advantage going to the thigh rigs as gun position is a bit more predictable. Old school low slung gun slinger rigs on the other hand are a close second that may take a visual glance from time to time if your fingers dont know what they are looking at. they do however smoke the tacticool thigh rig in the class category of carry gear.

 

[Jst1mr]

A few months ago the state AG announced his refusal to prosecute concealed weapons cases. So for the time being your safe on the state level if the chain of events jam you up .... this means you will likely be screwed on the local level whereby an appeal might set your problem straight. .. dicey of course but its an improvement.

I'm not sure this is correct- I could be wrong, certainly - my understanding is that the AG announced his refusal to prosecute OPEN CARRY weapons cases. Although Wisconsin has been an "Open Carry" State, local sheriff and municipal police units were inventing reasons to arrest those who were open carrying...disturbance of the peace, etc. That is what the AG was reacting to, after our beloved Gov.'s speech whereby he said that if you want to carry a gun in Wisconsin, carry it right here (on your hip) for all to see. Oh, well - November is coming. At any rate, I have carried my hunting handguns in a standard shoulder rig for years - my wife has been kind enough to add "anchor points" to the outside of my hunting coat that act like your belt would in most rigs.

 

[venomballistics]

and thank GOD Nov is a coming ... its way past time to dump Doyle for reasons extending far beyond 2A issues.
The state was Gods Country for most of my years there before the PTB assumed the position of omnipotent deity.
I doubt there is a state in this fine union that couldn't use a little political repair ... but where I came from, it desperately needs an OVERHAUL. And I aint going back till the pistons are back in the cylinders.

 

[GatorFarmer]

The quickest to obtain, and least expensive option, would be a GI tanker holster. They run about 30 bucks, give or take, from your local Army surplus store. There was model that worked well for both revolvers and autos, one that only worked well with autos, and one that only worked well with revolvers.... or maybe it was just varying lots.

Otherwise, what I'd do, is just get some sort of Molle rig or Blackhawk vest cheap. The BH utility style vests (not the straight out LBE ones) can be found on clearance all over. There's a rather generic holster that keeps your handgun out in the open on your chest. The other pockets can hold beef jerky or whatever. Bare bones Molle/PALs righs are also cheap, and you can just attach a holster or else fit most handguns into a pouch meant for M16 mags.

 

[jkc]

You didn't mention whether or not your guns wear optics of some sort...

Uncle Mikes and others offer inexpensive, large, amorphous, padded nylon pouches with flaps and shoulder straps in "generic" size ranges, that work fairly well --- I use one to carry my scoped Contender Super 14s, which are pretty awkward owing to their length.

El Paso Saddlery offers their always exquisite work in the form of their "Tanker" rig, apparently unavailable for optically-equipped wheelguns.

And, Galco has its Kodiak and Kodiak Hunter (the latter for scoped guns). A hunting buddy uses the Kodiak Hunter to carry his Aimpoint topped Super Blackhawk --- it's a high-end rig, at a high-end price, probably worth the cost to most users --- I'm envious of it, despite having no gun to fit it...

 

[WHO CARES]

Lots of good suggestions, thanks to all.

Ward