Shotgun scabbard (28" barrel) suggestions

[ahtoxa]

Need some pointers, gents. Any help is greatly appreciated.

So, I am thinking that on some backpacking trips I want to carry a shotgun for bear protection. All my handguns are 9mm so they won't do for bear.

In order to accomplish this, I believe that a scabbard would be a good choice. It gives me options to mount to the backpack, which is how I would like to carry. I don't want to get a sling because it would interfere with the backpack.

The issue is, I have a 28" barrel (Rem 870) and after looking around, I didn't see any scabbards that would fit a barrel this long, as most are 'tactical' scabbards.

Do you have any suggestions for me? Any known scabbards made for longer barrels? I would rather not buy another - shorter- barrel simply for cost reasons. I have no real use for it otherwise.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rcmodel]

No.
A scabbard for a 28" barrel shotgun would drag your tracks out behind you like an old time cattle rustler.

If you want to use it hiking with a backpack?
Buy an 18" barrel for it.

But I'm still not convinced an over the shoulder scabbard would work so hot.
You would have to be double-jointed to reach back there and get it out hand over hand.

And while you were trying to do that, any bear old enough to be a threat would have ate you and went to the bathroom to relieve himself afterward.

A sling & an 18" barrel is still your best option.

I, and a gazillion other GI's through the last several century's carried a big rifle on a sling with a backpack 250 gazillion miles without any problems.

And had it instantly available for use if needed.

IMO: If you are serious about bear protection, you better have the gun already in your hands when the big dance starts.
Otherwise, you are too late to even start thinking about changing the outcome with a gun on your back.

If you have that much time to react?
Beat Feet the other direction as fast as you can!
And that will be about 25MPH too slow to outrun one!

Because you simply cannot outdraw or outrun a bear attack with a shotgun strapped behind your back!

rc

 

[ahtoxa]

My concern is that a sling will interfere with a backpack. I'm talking about a large backpacking backpack. Its quite heftly and I'd like to carry the shotgun on my back as hands will need to be free.

I'm 6'7" tall so perhaps having a long barrel behind me won't be such a big deal. If there are scabbards there that would fit.

 

[rcmodel]

Again, a shotgun on your back is less then useless during a bear attack.

If you seriously believe you will be attacked by a bear?
Maybe you should leave the shotgun at home.

And carry something more useful, and lighter.
Like an industrial size can of bear spray you can carry in reach in front of you on a pack strap.

I've tried, but I don't know how else to tell you!

rc

 

[ahtoxa]

Bear spray will most likely be part of the gear anyway. I agree with that alternative.

Your opinion is appreciated, aside from a slightly snarky demeanor. I'm thinking through to see what may work, and prefer to have a shotgun with me, unless the drawback are too large and it's simply too impractical, or not cost efficient.

 

[oneounceload]

You might look at some saddle ones designed for longer barreled rifles - might not be perfect, but should be able to do the job. Thing is, most of those will be more than the cost of a 18" barrel

 

[ahtoxa]

I'll see if I can find any good deals on used 18.5" barrels, like RC suggested. If the price of used barrel and scabbard is close to that of a new scabbard for longer barrel, might as well have an extra barrel.

 

[jakk280rem]

That or learn to sew. A few dollars in some nylon and a new skill.

 

[rcmodel]

18" Barrel = $100
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/24...fixed-improved-cylinder-bead-sight-parkerized

28" Scabbard = $200
http://www.packsaddleshop.com/CatScabbard.html


rc

 

[oneounceload]

And I suspect you might do better on the barrel at a local pawn shop; maybe even on the scabbard as well (or look on your local Craigs List for the scabbard)