Open trigger holster for hunting

[JohnKSa]

I whole-heartedly agree with the idea that a holster should be model-specific. That's one of my basic rules for putting together a carry rig.

 

[Ks5shooter]

No open trigger for hunting for me.Too many ways to get an accidental discharge.

 

[crestoncowboy]

A true duty holster should have a strong snap, probably a one-way type and maybe some other retention methods.

It does. I was only speaking about the strength of Bianchi and safariland snaps. They are pretty strong. The safariland also grabs the gun at the chamber and has adjustable sideways tension.

If the cylinder will turn with the gun holstered, the fitment is wrong or the holster is worn out. Shouldn't have to rely on the strap or thumbreak for retention. IMHO, this is what happens with generic fit holsters. A S&W N-frame should never be carried in a holster that fits a Redhawk and a Redhawk shouldn't fit a holster made for an N-frame.

It was an n frame in an n frame holster. Bianchi cyclone. Fits tight. Don't fall out if upside down without the snap either (it's a 329 so it's light though, my other 29s are longer barrel steel models, they might) . Id never tried to spin it holstered until someone in this thread asked. Ive carried that and one other cyclone (7 inch redhawk) for years. The redhawk will also spin in its holster if you thumb the hammer. Like the 29 it takes a bit more effort but not a ton. The retention is provided by the guns cylinder popping down into the wider spot. Feels like only the back of the cylinder is actually dragging

Either way I'm perfectly happy with the holsters. Not worried about that.

The new Anaconda fits in the redhawk holster. It's tighter than the redhawk in it. The trigger guard is a bit wider on the Anaconda and hits a bit sooner at the front of the guard,, but the cylinder and frame are held like they should be. That's what I posted a picture of. The new anaconda didn't fit in the old anaconda holsters like I had read they would. It's slightly bigger. If the holster is fitted like these. The Anaconda is listed with the N frames on the Bianchi site and boxes as the same holster. I also posted the 4 inch N frame in its own holster.

Id read otherwise on the holster fitment, and id saw where a few said it would not fit, but know for sure now.

Redhawk/ n frame speed loaders still work with the new anaconda though.

 

[JohnKSa]

The redhawk will also spin in its holster if you thumb the hammer. Like the 29 it takes a bit more effort but not a ton.

I wouldn't worry about it, it's not as if holster makers specifically design holsters to prevent cylinder spin throughout their useful lifetime.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I wouldn't worry about it, it's not as if holster makers specifically design holsters to prevent cylinder spin throughout their useful lifetime.

Nope. I checked because someone above asked. Lol. Ive used these holsters for years and never gave it a thought. The safety of the holster was never my issue. Just curious if anyone used one with an open trigger and why.

I guess I'll keep it since it was my screw up. Even though it didn't fit the gun that their holster wizard said. or at least it didn't say old or new Anaconda. I have several N frames that it would fit but doubt it ever leaves the box again.

 

[gwpercle]

Being employed in the constructin / design and building industry it has always amused me how people use the word " Fitment" ...
A fixed item of furniture or piece of equipment , especialy in a house .

In my work fitment was the built-in cabinets , bookshelves , entertainment centers , desk and work stations that are built-in and not removable ... the term also applies to ship construction where a lot of things are built-in place .
To indicate how well something fits ... the word fit is correct ...fitment isn't the correct termology .

Sorry about the rant ...it's a slow day and my Mom was an English teacher and always insisted we Talk Right !
Gary

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I've deer hunted with both revolvers and semi autos for years. Usually my revolvers ride in a leather, thumb snap over the hammer holster with an enclosed trigger. Think Bianchi cyclone

I recently ordered a new holster for a new 44 mag I ordered to hunt with. DA revolver. Unfortunatly I ordered the Bianchi 5bhl holster. Open trigger. It does have the thumb snap. As well as a closed muzzle.

The company i ordered from will gladly take it back and exchange for the cyclone I have zero doubt there. But are there any on here who actually use and prefer the open trigger? Any benefit at all?

I've passed up the "box of unloved holster" stage many years ago. I'm up to "uhaul load of unloved holsters" just don't need another one I'll hate. But considering giving it a try

Sorry I'm late to the game. I'm with others here who feel the holster should protect the gun. I generally prefer a flap holster. Additionally, covering the trigger guard is an absolute, non-negotiable must. The odds of a branch actually pulling a DA revolver through to discharge is remote, but other things can happen.

That said, I've put away my really nice leather Diamond D Hunter hip holster w/ flap in favor of a kydex holster without a flap. I carry a 44 hunting as well, bit it's for bears. I decided to forego the protection afforded by the flap in exchange for a faster draw/presentation time. An added benefit of kydex is that it is impervious to the elements.

 

[RKRCPA]

I carried in a 5BHL for many years and never gave it a second thought, to my mind it was one of the best belt holsters for a 4 inch revolver.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I'm with others here who feel the holster should protect the gun. I generally prefer a flap holster.

I carry my 10mm in a flap holster some. Would probably be a good idea for hunting in the the snow and mud and such, but I just prefer a regular holster. My surplus Bianchi is a stiff thing and you have to pull down the flap a mile to get it to come undone. It's quiet though

I carried in a 5BHL for many years and never gave it a second thought, to my mind it was one of the best belt holsters for a 4 inch revolver.

safety wasn't my concern really. Especially with a thumb snap. Others had that concern

What do you like about the open trigger vs a cyclone or similar which is the same holster but closed trigger?

I carried and used semi autos for many years. Still shoot Glock in competition and as my ccw So my draw will always have my trigger finger out straight. So I don't see the point. Even Miculek uses a holster with a covered trigger for his revolver (and very little else covered). He seems sufficiently quick.

Either way the holster didn't fit the 6 inch Anaconda. I suppose I could use it for my N frames. Mine are either 8 or 4 inch though. So the 8s wouldn't fit and the 4 be a bit wasteful to have that long of a holster. Not a problem though. I may carry it hunting with a model 29 once or twice to see if I like it and what if any are the perks.

 

[Armored farmer]

I had one.
It was a great holster, fitting my kframe 357 perfectly.
I hunted deer with it for years.
The Bianchi 5L is a quality holster.
I respect the opinions of the others, but with the thumbsnap coverage over the uncocked hammer. It is safe.
It is a slim, good-looking, easy carrying holster.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I had one.
It was a great holster, fitting my kframe 357 perfectly.
I hunted deer with it for years.
The Bianchi 5L is a quality holster.
I respect the opinions of the others, but with the thumbsnap coverage over the uncocked hammer. It is safe.
It is a slim, good-looking, easy carrying holster.
View attachment 1120091 View attachment 1120092 View attachment 1120093

I'm the OP. I feel like it's plenty safe. That wasn't an issue to me.

Why did you like it over an otherwise identical holster like a cyclone that covers the trigger. Protects from Scratches and catching on limbs and such. And might keep mud/seeds/burrs and such out of the trigger.

That's my question. I see plenty of negatives (safety not being one) , and I'm sure there are positives. I'm waiting on them though. Lol. Its not going to be any faster I don't think. With the same snap.

I'm sure it's a trade off. But what are we trading for.

 

[Armored farmer]

I have a cyclone also.
It's more generic fit than the leather 5BL. I carried my 7½" Blackhawk in it.
My cyclone is ... cordura.
I attached it my safety harness shoulder strap for use in the deer stand over my hunting bibs.
The 5BL is classy IMHO. Slide it onto your belt and go.
If I hadn't traded out of my 6" 669 taurus I would still be using it. It went with the gun in trade.
My 669 was a kframe sized gun. I am a bit surprised that a 44mag nframe would even fit in a 5BHL

 

[CraigC]

I wouldn't worry about it, it's not as if holster makers specifically design holsters to prevent cylinder spin throughout their useful lifetime.

It's not the intent, just a byproduct of a properly fitting holster. Everything about the inherent retention of a revolver holster "revolves" around the cylinder. If it doesn't fit snugly around the cylinder, it's going to be too loose to have any sort of retention and it won't be tight enough to prevent wear. The safety aspect is a byproduct of that.

Sorry about the rant ...it's a slow day and my Mom was an English teacher and always insisted we Talk Right !

Thanks for the lesson, professor.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I have a cyclone also.
It's more generic fit than the leather 5BL. I carried my 7½" Blackhawk in it.
My cyclone is ... cordura.
I attached it my safety harness shoulder strap for use in the deer stand over my hunting bibs.
The 5BL is classy IMHO. Slide it onto your belt and go.
If I hadn't traded out of my 6" 669 taurus I would still be using it. It went with the gun in trade.
My 669 was a kframe sized gun. I am a bit surprised that a 44mag nframe would even fit in a 5BHL

My cyclone is the exact same fitted leather holster as the 5bhl. One is upen muzzle and one closed. The belt loop stands off and is a bit thicker on the 5bhl. Let's the holster flop out a bit farther from the body. Not in a bad way. Might let you get a good grip easier. Idk. The cyclone belt loop is pretty flush with the body of the holster. Its harder to get on a gunbelt. I have several cyclone that are leather. I like them. None of those differences in the open/ closed muzzle nor the belt loop hurt my feelings any. So the only real difference to me is the open trigger.

Here is the cyclone and the 5bhl.


Obviously on that gun i don't care about scratches...may be the ugliest gun smith ever made. At least a close second to the 422. Lol. But I don't think id want my nice old blued guns exposed like that.


Edit to add....the 5bhl also has a tab to protect the rear sight. The cyclone doesn't

 

[JohnKSa]

If it doesn't fit snugly around the cylinder, it's going to be too loose to have any sort of retention and it won't be tight enough to prevent wear.

The post you quoted from me was a response to a post that contained information about two revolver holster that fit tightly and provide retention and yet allow the cylinders to spin.

The safety aspect is a byproduct of that.

Wouldn't worry about that if I were you. I have it on good authority that the issue is "HUGELY exaggerated".

 

[RKRCPA]

What do you like about the open trigger vs a cyclone or similar which is the same holster but closed trigger?

I'm not sure the Cyclone was available when I purchased my 5BHL's. I used it as a field holster for my Security Six, just never really thought about covered trigger guards back in the day (1980).

 

[doubleh]

Back in my hunting days I never used a holster that covered the trigger and never had an incident. Around here there is nothing to fall off of and you DO NOT get close enough to the bushes to hang or even scratch anything. Mesquites are equipped with long sharp thorns and that's all we have to avoid. We have a jillion oaks but they are only about 2 feet tall.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Back in my hunting days I never used a holster that covered the trigger and never had an incident. Around here there is nothing to fall off of and you DO NOT get close enough to the bushes to hang or even scratch anything. Mesquites are equipped with long sharp thorns and that's all we have to avoid. We have a jillion oaks but they are only about 2 feet tall.

I've crawled around through laurels and brambles many times. Still with a thumb strap i wouldn't worry about that part .

Gun might look rough after a few trips through that though.

 

[shafter]

An open trigger wouldn't bother me for a single action revolver but I would prefer a closed trigger on a double action. You never know what might get in there while moving through brush or tripping and falling.

 

[Rodfac]

IMHO, the issue about exposed triggers on revolver holsters is HUGELY exaggerated. Seems to me it's all borne out of the issues with Glocks having AD's when reholstering. It spawned a whole slew of myths, misconceptions and unfounded fears. We deal with it nearly daily with leathermakers who think everything is a Glock. Striker fired guns and DA autos, absolutely cover that trigger. Revolvers, it is a total non-issue. Revolver triggers have been exposed on holster designs going back 170yrs. The Threepersons is probably one of the most popular holster designs ever devised. The Bianchi 5BHL and Lawman have been in production for decades. They're classics. If the exposed trigger was a problem, they would not make them at all during these litigious times.

If the holster fits, there's no way the cylinder is going to turn when the gun is holstered.

I'm with CraigC on this point...if the fit is right and the rig is made of good quality leather, thick enough for the gun, the cylinder should not turn. Most of what I build is a variation on the old Tom Threepersons design, but with an open toe to allow debris/water etc to fall through.

I'm an amateur, but with any holster I make, the fit is such that the rig can be turned upside down and shaken and the gun will not fall out, and that's without a thong or keeper strap. I don't participate in any of the various gun games/sports so the micro-second a tight fitting holster adds to a shooter's presentation time is of no interest to me. Too, I don' t build 'duty' holsters for LEO's. I'd guess that half of the rigs I've built over the years are used for CC purposes by civilians, OWB every one of them...some covered the trigger and some do not...but either way, they're fitted tight.

Best regards,,,Rod

 

[JohnKSa]

I'm an amateur, but with any holster I make, the fit is such that the rig can be turned upside down and shaken and the gun will not fall out, and that's without a thong or keeper strap.

From earlier in the thread.

Fits tight. Don't fall out if upside down without the snap either (it's a 329 so it's light though, my other 29s are longer barrel steel models, they might) . Id never tried to spin it holstered until someone in this thread asked. Ive carried that and one other cyclone (7 inch redhawk) for years. The redhawk will also spin in its holster if you thumb the hammer. Like the 29 it takes a bit more effort but not a ton. The retention is provided by the guns cylinder popping down into the wider spot. Feels like only the back of the cylinder is actually dragging.

Two holsters that will retain even upside down without the strap but that don't prevent the cylinder from spinning.

 

[Rodfac]

Geez, John, I can't imagine how that would work, nor why it was designed that way as I see no benefit from a loose fitting holster in the cylinder area. I'm aware of commercial holsters that offer a 'tension' screw, both leather and kydex types, but a look at them leaves me with the impression it would affect the cylinder fit as well.

I'd not build a holster fitted so that it allowed cylinder rotation and can't see how you'd get sufficient tension in the barrel/fwd part of the frame to give adequate gun retention, without a strap or thong.

Either way, I don't see an open trigger on a SA or DA revolver, fitted as I've described, as a safety negative. I do see it as an issue for auto's however. Best regards, Rod

 

[jmorris]

I own holsters with exposed triggers. I think SASS might be the only gun game that allows such holsters to be used in their game.

The cylinder isn’t going to turn if the hammer can’t be forced to the rear and that’s not going to happen with this one. Empty the gun put it in there and pull the trigger as hard as you can. What happens?



If I am hunting, I generally just carry my daily rig because I don’t need extra stuff snagging on things or banging into my rifle.

I think cowboy action, SASS might be the only gun game where exposed triggers in holsters are allowed.

 

[CraigC]

I don't see how it's even possible to build a leather holster for a revolver that prevents the gun from falling out if inverted but is loose enough around the cylinder to allow it to rotate. Revolver holster retention "revolves" around the cylinder and frame. I make my Slim Jims so that the triggerguard "knuckles in" but that hinges on a tight fit around the cylinder and frame.

I think cowboy action, SASS might be the only gun game where exposed triggers in holsters are allowed.

Not sure how relevant that is. Most revolver gun games have a totally different set of design parameters than a concealed or field carry holster. Most of them look like this.

 

[Seedy Character]

I have holsters with open trigger and covered.
Some have a snap down keeper strap, some have a thong, some have nothing.

CC, walking woods, horseback, ATV, working; never had a problem with any of them.

Greatest thing is: we have the choice to use what we like.