I would appreciate a holster recommendation.

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Inspectorlee

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Aug 4, 2003
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Location
Milwaukee, WI
Just wanted to say hi. I used to be a member at The Firing Line and have only realized that this site is now up and running. Anyways, I have a request for the members here.

Thanks to the numerous advice and help from TFL, I finally bought my first gun, a 5" GP100, stainless steel. The only problem is that I would like a holster for it now. I plan to go squirrel hunting this fall and have no idea of what kind of holster to carry the gun in. I've thought of using a shoulder holster under my left arm (I'm right handed if it matters) or maybe a belt holster. The following are the considerations that may affect my selections.

1. I will most likely be wearing a light jacket or sweater and blue jeans and will also be wearing a backpack during the hunts.

2. I will probably make most of my shots from a sitting position.

3. The hunts will probably last for around six hours or so.

I hope this is enough info for you guys to make a few recommendations. If there are any more questions you need answered in order to make a good recommendation, feel free to ask and I'll answer them as best as I can. Thanks in advance...I'm glad to be back.

Inspectorlee
 
This is the ticket, IMO.

BIANCHI MODEL 111 CYCLONE

111%20Cyclone.jpg
 
Nahhh, I use a 500 S&W for squirrels all the time. I just shoot the base of the tree, it falls over, then I collect the squirrels :)
 
Shoulder holster. Not as quick as a belt rig, but when you have to drop your drawers to drop that waste, your gun is still in the same place.
 
I primarily sit squirrel hunting too. I use a cross draw holster. It stays out of your way while siting and allows a slow draw with less movement than a belt or shoulder holster. I sit with my hands in my lap so it's never more than just sliding my hand a few inches to the gun.

Umm isn't the .357 a bit much for squirrels?
Click to expand...

All you got to do is bark em.
 
Michael asks, "Umm isn't the .357 a bit much for squirrels?"

No, not at all. I normally use my Colt Model .357 loaded with .38 Special brass. My favorite squirrel load is a 148 grain hollow base wadcutter loaded ahead of 2.7 grains of Bullseye. This gives about 770 fps, and is a mild-shooting load, a real powder puff. But to squirrels, it's the hammer of Thor!

Note that 19th century squirrel rifles virtually duplicated this load -- a .36 caliber McGirr squirrel rifle with a picket bullet is almost a twin. The .32-20 and .32 H&R Magnum are touted as ideal small game rounds, and they aren't all that far from my .38 Special squirrel load -- just a bit less lead and a bit more velocity.

I make my own hunting and field holsters (easy to do) and carry them on a Popular Mechanics leather tool belt.
 
Thanks for the picture Frenchy! Only one question now: what is a cross draw holster? I'm really clueless. I assume that the holster is worn on my left side since I'm right handed right? But is it worn on the waist or under my shoulder? Sorry if the answer is obvious, but I'm still new to the whole gun ownership thing.

Also, I'll probably use .38 specials in the gun. After all, I do plan to eat the squirrels and would like something to remain on the bones, not just the tail.:)

Thanks for the help guys.


Inspectorlee
 
A right handed cross draw holster is a belt holster worn on your left side in front of the hip (as opposed to behind the right hip like concealment holsters). The holster rides on the belt angled toward your right side. As a visual reference, sit down, take your revolver in your right hand, place the revolver against your belt with the trigger guard resting on your left leg. You will notice that the revolver is sitting on an angle with the grip frame pointing to your right hand. To draw you just reach across your belly. Basically that is what a cross draw holster would look like, a standard belt holster worn on the opposite side of your dominant hand angled in that direction.
 
That's the advantage of the Cyclone...It can be worn strong side or crossdraw, and it offers good protection for the gun in the woods.
 
Does the Cyclone come in a size specifically for a 5" barrel like Inspectorlee has? Holsters for 4" and 6" barrels are common, but are holsters for revolvers with 5" barrels also fairly common?
 
eotp,

I was wondering about that to. I don't know much about Rugers, but I didn't realize GP100 came in a 5" barrel length. Someone might want to enlighten me on this.
 
To answer Frenchy's and eotp's question, Ruger does not commerically make a 5" GP100. The gun store I bought it from receives guns from a gunsmith who does custom work at times. I didn't believe that it was a 5" until the owner pulled out a 4" and a 6" GP100 to compare to the 5". The barrel is not a simple hack job. It looks exactly like the the factory offerings. The name of the gunsmith that commissioned the batch of 5" GP100's escapes me at the time. I'll go home and look it up (it came with a special warranty card). 5" GP100's do exist, you just have to look hard.

I'm also wondering if I can simply use the cyclone in 6" or do I have to get a custom job for my revolver.


Inspectorlee
 
Actually, Ruger does have a Special Edition GP100 which has a 5" barrel. The Ruger gun case that it comes in has the words "Special Edition" on the case (which is black rather than the usual gray). It is my understanding that Ruger made 1500 of these (and I just got one this past weekend :D). It balances in my hand better than the 4" and doesn't look too long as the 6" does IMHO.

Now, I'm interested in finding just the right holster for it.
 
Another vote for squirrels with a .357

Great fun. For me, it's my Colt's Python or SAA with 2.6 grains of Bullseye behind a 148 grain HBWC.
 
Okay, the warranty card is from a distributor called Davidson's if that rings any bells. Like Eotp mentioned, the case is black and is made of plastic. The words "Special Edition" are written in gold script on the bottom of the case top. The model number listed on the side sticker is KGP-151. And I paid $439.99 for it new. They do exist. Thanks for all the help with the holster ideas.


Inspectorlee
 
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