Squirrel CCW.....or.....How do you carry your Ruger 22/45 in the field?

[rantingredneck]

Well, deer season is over here in NC and as is tradition, I tend to take to the woods to squirrel hunt a few days in January (squirrel season ends 1/31). I went this past Saturday for the first time this year. Saw no squirrels of course, but two deer. Figures.......:banghead:

I wanted to carry my Ruger 22/45 for the first time. I got it in late Jan of last year and really haven't carried it anywhere other than the range. It occurred to me on Friday night as I was laying out my gear that I had no holster for this gun...... I'd thought several times about looking for a holster for it last year, but never got around to it.

After digging through my box o' holsters in the closet and trying several uncle mikes nylon holsters out (some for guns I don't even own anymore...) I ran across a Bianchi Black Widow made for the Ruger P89. Believe it or not it was a pretty good fit. Not perfect mind you, but certainly passable. Good retention, good coverage of the trigger guard, comfortable. So that's how I carried it Saturday.

Now, while that Bianchi works in a pinch, I'd actually like to have a holster that is made for the gun. I also wouldn't mind having one that will fit it with a 30mm red dot on top of it. I know there are a lot of 22/45 owners around here, so the question to you fine folks is "what do you use?" Where did you get it? How much did it cost? Got a link? The usual drill............

Thanks in advance...

 

[ArmedBear]

Oh, with a red dot? That's another story...

I have one that fits well, though my 22/45 has a 6 7/8" slab bull target barrel. But I don't have a red dot or other scope on it.

 

[MCgunner]

I don't, I hunt with a scoped 10" Contender rimfire. One shot, one kill. It shoots rings around any other pistol and lots of rimfire rifles I've ever shot. I'd think an aimpoint equipped Ruger would work in a UM's shoulder rig, too, though. It's comfy and works for me. On bigger, bulkier, and/or heavier guns, I like shoulder rigs. A Bandoleer rig might be better for my 12" .30-30 I deer hunt with and I've been thinking about getting one, but the shoulder rig works fine even with the 12" gun.

 

[ArmedBear]

I think you'd be impressed with, maybe surprised at, the accuracy of the Ruger semiautos with long bull barrels, MC.

Doesn't mean they'll shoot quite like your scoped T/C, but whereas I ditched my 10/22 for its inaccuracy and spotty reliability, my 22/45 is on the other end of the spectrum. It's ridiculously reliable with even the dirtiest, cheapest ammo I've used, there haven't been any bum magazines, and it shoot tiny groups with any ammo I've tried.

 

[rantingredneck]

I'll take any suggestions for an unscoped holster too.

I've thought about an uncle mikes vertical shoulder rig for use with the red dot. I had a bandolier holster for my SRH and ended up never using it. Seemed to always be in the way. I ended up carrying it mostly in a vertical shoulder rig unscoped.

Oh and I forgot to mention that my Ruger is the 5.5" Target Bull Barrel model.