A Wheelgunner's "Combat Rig"

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Barry the Bear

Barry the Bear

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I am currently in the process of of building what I call a wheelgunner's combat rig. It all started when I got my 629 snub nose, for pics see the link http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=774893.
Although never called by name officially I view the n-frame .44 magnum in a 3-4 inch barrel the perfect "combat magnum. However the gun is only part of the equation . I have commissioned Ray of lobogunleather to make me a IWB style leather for the 629, I have been qouted an 8 week projection, it has been three weeks so that part may still take a bit.
Next was the ammo, I have settled on the federal 200 gr LSWCHP for that.I have turned to two hks speedloaders and and a carrier to be held on the left hip side.That gives me 18 rounds of lawkeepers on hand.Also looking for some boot style grips for a round butt n-frame, any recommendations?
Today I was at my LGS and put on layaway a charter arms off duty with "stratford,conn" on the side of the barrel , this gun will be a backup carried in ankle holster loaded with remington golden sabers.Any ankle holster info would be greatly appreciated.Will be using bianchi speedstrips for that reload.
All thats left is the knife, I have chosen a Puma sgb Blacktail to fill that role.
 
Sounds like a great setup my friend, would love to see pics when you have everything together.

Here is my wheelgunner combat rig:

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It's a Ruger GP100 six shot .357 magnum, fixed sight half barrel lug model. I wear it on a Beltman 1.5" bullhide belt, and the gun rides in a Simply Rugger Sourdough Pancake. I use Safariland Comp-II speedloaders, two carried in a Safariland speedloader pouch. Carry load is Federal "357B", a 125 grain semi-jacketed hollowpoint moving at 1450 FPS and rated as a 96% one-shot stop from a 4" barreled revolver such as this.

This setup is what I wear around the house and property when inclined. For winter carry, the GP100 also comes along occasionally and instead of the speedloaders and pouch I carry a Bianchi speedstrip in my pocket.
 
"N" frame IWB! Better order some pants 2 sizes bigger and put some more holes in your belt!:what:
 
"N" frame IWB! Better order some pants 2 sizes bigger and put some more holes in your belt!
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Either that or go on a SERIOUS diet and exercise regimen so that you can keep the same pants and belt! (at one point, when i needed to lose some weight anyway, i actually did that.)
 
When I had my 629 I carried it in a strong side hip holster. For city carry I used .44 specials with one extra speed strip in a pouch (custom made from a leather guy). For woods carry I switched to two speed loaders in a double pouch and magnum rounds.

Cooldill, beautiful looking Ruger you have there. They just don't make them like that anymore. I love the classic lines and styling.
 
Taurus 617 CCW said:
When I had my 629 I carried it in a strong side hip holster. For city carry I used .44 specials with one extra speed strip in a pouch (custom made from a leather guy). For woods carry I switched to two speed loaders in a double pouch and magnum rounds.

Cooldill, beautiful looking Ruger you have there. They just don't make them like that anymore. I love the classic lines and styling.
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Thanks my friend! Its actually a late production (2012) Model KGPF-340. I got it NIB a while back and it's been a real treasure. Shoots VERY nice, those Federal 357B's will put the hurting on any man or beast I'm likely to come across in this area.
 
Here is two "combat " rigs: the 6" 629-1 is in a Mad Dog (now defunct) holster made for Navy SEAL "special use" 629s . I have the only one a civilian owns and it is a superb belt holster for the roughest conditions. Since my son moved to Bear country , I recently gave it to him for his field geology work .
The 4" 629-3 Mountain Gun is in a much "faster" holster that I still own and will carry on appropriate Northern hunts and excursions. The shorter knife is a good all purpose hunting knife, notice the over shoulder strap which helps support the load and the light is a good tool to have at hand as is another 6 rounds in a speed loader.
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Kim Ahrends combat "boot " grips
 
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I quit wearing an all steel commander sized 1911 iwb on my strong hip when it started throwing my back out. I'm in pretty good shape too. My XDs carries there just fine. I'm just saying, your results may vary, but that's ok, they're YOUR results.
 
Gordon said:
Here is two "combat " rigs: the 6" 629-1 is in a Mad Dog (now defunct) holster made for Navy SEAL "special use" 629s . I have the only one a civilian owns and it is a superb belt holster for the roughest conditions. Since my son moved to Bear country , I recently gave it to him for his field geology work .
The 4" 629-3 Mountain Gun is in a much "faster" holster that I still own and will carry on appropriate Northern hunts and excursions. The shorter knife is a good all purpose hunting knife, notice the over shoulder strap which helps support the load and the light is a good tool to have at hand as is another 6 rounds in a speed loader.
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Kim Ahrends combat "boot " grips
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I really like that rig. Seems like something a cop of the 70s would wear. I understand people's concerns with weight but I have plain gotten use to it. People nowadays have so many choices that our dad's and grandaddy never had but I will always carry a .44 of some sort. If it was good enough for Elmer Keith it's good enough for me.
 
The N frames are 1/8" thicker across the cylinder compared to an L frame and lighter than many depending on barrel length. Still bigger than I'd want to carry all the time, but not as bad as many think.
 
How do those leather holsters work for you in Texas and Kansas? Here in Miami the humidity (and sweat) makes leather to soft and saggy. I'd like to know how it holds up in other parts of the country.
 
A son of the Alamo must wear leather! :D. I'm in south central TX so the humidity is not to bad, Leather seems to hold up pretty well here not to sure of swampy east Texas though.
 
If I were to go into combat, I'd probably still carry my ruger Blackhawk, as a back-up to an M-14, or better still, an M1 rifle.

Can't imagine going into combat armed only with a handgun.

Bob Wright
 
BobWright said:
If I were to go into combat, I'd probably still carry my ruger Blackhawk, as a back-up to an M-14, or better still, an M1 rifle.

Can't imagine going into combat armed only with a handgun.

Bob Wright
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Of course not but it's for carry and not war , I have been overseas and if they'd let me a model 29 or a super blackhawk would have been on my hip.
 
Bob, that .44 special Blackhawk would be a mean piece of hardware to be staring down... and at the same time most beautiful to look at otherwise!
 
I have been carrying a 4" "N" frame since the 1980s. My holsters have been a Bianchi 5BH, a Safariland equivalent and a couple of Pancakes. I prefer OWB so while not what you are seeking, it does show that an "N" frame can be carried easily and concealed.

Kevin
 
Clint Smith considered the S&W 24-1 in .44 Special a great example of a fighting revolver.

BFA9A250-88E5-46F0-886A-F29EDF3141DA_zps9osqlm7r.jpg

I agree.

I use a Galco a Combat Master for bot it and my Model 69.
 
I have never found a way to carry speed loaders as comfortably as magazines.

.45acp Moon clips can straddle a belt and aren't as bulky as say, 357 speed loaders.
 
I have my small Carry rig, a Model 36 in a Bianchi hip holster, using speed strips to carry extra ammo.
What I'm having a problem with is my HB Model 10. The one I decided was mine to carry,
Having a search looking for a suitable concealed carry/comfortable carry holster.
I have a used Jordan Rig which is a thing of wonder! Kind of a cross between a walk and Draw rig and a belt holster.
I bought a nice Cabelas 1 3/4" thick gunbelt for every sort of carry (even for BO B/P Crossdraw!
I found one high ride hunter holster t fit the Model 10 but it really rides high on the hip
 
Gordon, are those Mad Dog knives as well? Hard to find those these days!



Larry
 
Love the concept, Barry, look forward to the pics when it's all done.
Cooldill and Gordon, you guys have some pretty slick set ups there, very nice.

I've always felt that my Krebs Custom .45ACP S&W M28 "CROWBAR" would be what a modern day gunfighter might carry if autos hadn't taken over the universe. This one of the only, if not the only, custom revolvers Marc Krebs ever built, it was commissioned by an IL cop back around 1987. It doesn't see much use but one of these days I need to put together a rig for it.

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