TeamPrecisionIT
Member
On my way to go skiing with my family and was trying to think of how to carry while skiing. So who has done it and what advice can you offer up?
Merry Christmas to all
Damian
Merry Christmas to all
Damian
Carrying while skiing?
- Thread starter TeamPrecisionIT
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Open Carry.....................Just kidding..but I am going to start a thread someday on the overwhelming paranoia that exists in our community. I live in a Very gun friendly part of PA. and have carried since 1989 and always have a gun available. But... I do not live under the pretense that there is no where in my life that i can go and feel safe without a gun. If I were snapping my skis on I would leave the gun in my car in the parking lot. And I usually leave the gun in my bedroom when I get in the shower.
O Lord I cant believe I went down this path...here of all places.. I take it all back.
O Lord I cant believe I went down this path...here of all places.. I take it all back.
highorder
Member
I wouldn't advise carrying while downhill skiing, or durning most action sports. The danger of falling and being injured by your weapon outweighs the need. Not to mention I'd think most ski resorts have blanket no-gun policies.
Cross country skiing is another matter. A .22 or 38 kit gun might bring back something for the stewpot, if legal in your area. We used to carry .22 rifles backcountry skiing when I was a teen. The occasional cottontail was our reward.
Cross country skiing is another matter. A .22 or 38 kit gun might bring back something for the stewpot, if legal in your area. We used to carry .22 rifles backcountry skiing when I was a teen. The occasional cottontail was our reward.
docnyt
Member
Somehow your question conjures images of Swiss soldiers sniping while silently skiing downslope. LOL.
No skiing experience here but the only comparison I can make from personal experience is carrying while driving around a racetrack. Doable but not advisable.
No skiing experience here but the only comparison I can make from personal experience is carrying while driving around a racetrack. Doable but not advisable.
Corporal K
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Just a thought, as I live in Colorado and we frequent the ski areas often:
I always bring a gun on the trips as Breck and Vail are a couple of hours from where we live, but unless you're doing some serious back-country skiing, the runs are packed with people and as a result, there are no dangerous animals to be found. Occasionally tempers flare when people crash into each other, but hopefully those shouldn't lead to lethal encounters. Trees, other skiers, and gravity will be your biggest threats.
That being said, if you feel the need to carry, I'd go with a fanny pack of some kind, though be prepared to have to go back and find it if you have a "yard sale"
I always bring a gun on the trips as Breck and Vail are a couple of hours from where we live, but unless you're doing some serious back-country skiing, the runs are packed with people and as a result, there are no dangerous animals to be found. Occasionally tempers flare when people crash into each other, but hopefully those shouldn't lead to lethal encounters. Trees, other skiers, and gravity will be your biggest threats.
That being said, if you feel the need to carry, I'd go with a fanny pack of some kind, though be prepared to have to go back and find it if you have a "yard sale"
Starter52
Member
A S&W Model 37 in an inside pocket of my jacket. I don't ski but this works for me when dirtbiking.
nwilliams
Member
I don't carry while downhill skiing, just don't see point really.
Although I will say that while I was watching the movie Frozen I remember thinking that I'd really regret not having a gun with me if I were in their situation! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323045/
Although I will say that while I was watching the movie Frozen I remember thinking that I'd really regret not having a gun with me if I were in their situation! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323045/
Prince Yamato
Member
If you carry iwb with a retention strap, you should be fine. Inside a button or Velcro closed pocket in a pocket holster would be good too.
Corporal K
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off subject, but was "Frozen" any good?
bigfatdave
Member
And I like to get my [self-redacted horrible violent crime] on at the bottom of ski slopes, they're worn out and unarmed, after all!tkaction said:
Why would you belittle someone's question with "herf durf I don't need to carry somewhere so very safe as a ski resort!"
The correct answer is a flat autoloader set up for cold-weather carry, pick one with a large enough trigger and safety lever (if so equipped) that you can operate it with gloves on. Retention may matter, and if it is close in it will hurt less when/if you fall on it, I'd go IWB or OWB, unless wearing a full-coverage type garment, then you may have to get creative.
You do NOT want a lump of steel flopping around as you fall, you want it flat and tight against your body to spread the impact.
InkEd
Member
S&W Mountain Gun, of course.
TeamPrecisionIT
Member
Maybe I should have been clearer in my opening post, but yes I am going cross country skiing and yes I am more worried about four legged predators, not the two legged variety. To be even clearer for a chance to get the conversation back to where it should be, my son and I are going cross country skiing for a day with a chance for camping out overnight. It just depends how long it will take us to cover the path we have outlined.
I am just wanting advice on how to carry my 640 to where it would be accessible and not in the way. The fanny pack idea may bear some fruit because I could wear it in a messenger bag style format which would make it easy(ier) to retrieve should the need arise. I am just wondering because I typically carry IWB at about 4 o'clock but that wouldn't be practical considering the layers I would be wearing.
As for the condencension...seriously guys? I didn't ask if I should, I asked for practical advice, not criticism.
Damian
I am just wanting advice on how to carry my 640 to where it would be accessible and not in the way. The fanny pack idea may bear some fruit because I could wear it in a messenger bag style format which would make it easy(ier) to retrieve should the need arise. I am just wondering because I typically carry IWB at about 4 o'clock but that wouldn't be practical considering the layers I would be wearing.
As for the condencension...seriously guys? I didn't ask if I should, I asked for practical advice, not criticism.
Damian
steven58
Member
I carry when I am skiing because I don't want to leave my gun in my car or in a locker. Not because I perceive a threat while on the slopes.
I use a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster to stabilize the gun in my strong side jacket pocket zipped shut.
The 2 guns I use are a Colt Cobra with shroud or my H&K P7. Both guns that I would feel safe with even if I fell with them.
A few years back a nasty AM ice storm hit the area while we were skiing at a local resort. The runs shut down by 10:00 AM. before anyone knew what was happening, the roads in and out of the resort were closed by downed trees and high tension power lines.
All afternoon, you could hear the trees coming down, "booom, boooom!" in the distance sometimes far sometimes right at the closest parking lots. Many cars were severely damaged.
By the time the local fire departments cleared the roads and parking lots of downed trees and wires and we got out of there it was 10:00 PM. We had been at the resort with no power, no heat and very little food or drink since that morning. The staff was relatively unprepared for the event and while it all resolved itself without further incident I was glad I had my sidearm with me. You just never know...
For X country I'd recommend any 4-3" .357 or .44 Magnum in a Safepacker attached to the front of your backpack straps so it's accessible in a cross draw fashion.
I use a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster to stabilize the gun in my strong side jacket pocket zipped shut.
The 2 guns I use are a Colt Cobra with shroud or my H&K P7. Both guns that I would feel safe with even if I fell with them.
A few years back a nasty AM ice storm hit the area while we were skiing at a local resort. The runs shut down by 10:00 AM. before anyone knew what was happening, the roads in and out of the resort were closed by downed trees and high tension power lines.
All afternoon, you could hear the trees coming down, "booom, boooom!" in the distance sometimes far sometimes right at the closest parking lots. Many cars were severely damaged.
By the time the local fire departments cleared the roads and parking lots of downed trees and wires and we got out of there it was 10:00 PM. We had been at the resort with no power, no heat and very little food or drink since that morning. The staff was relatively unprepared for the event and while it all resolved itself without further incident I was glad I had my sidearm with me. You just never know...
For X country I'd recommend any 4-3" .357 or .44 Magnum in a Safepacker attached to the front of your backpack straps so it's accessible in a cross draw fashion.
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AStone
Member
If I had been the author of post 2, my first question would have been, "downhill or cross country?" The difference is significant. 
Now that we've got that straight, we can move on to a healthier, respectful and helpful discussion.
If it were me, I'd go for either a fanny pack (worn backwards), or a pocket carry (outer layer)
or a cross draw (or shoulder holster) over inner layers, covered by the shell.
Now that we've got that straight, we can move on to a healthier, respectful and helpful discussion.
If it were me, I'd go for either a fanny pack (worn backwards), or a pocket carry (outer layer)
or a cross draw (or shoulder holster) over inner layers, covered by the shell.
trickyasafox
Member
not sure what gun would be best, but a nice chest rig might be a good solution.
scaatylobo
Member
Shoulder carry
Shoulder holster was the rig I used when on my last - and only downhill ski thing.
DID NOT GET HURT falling,and yes I fell lots.
Cross country and a good quality shoulder rig sounds logical to me.
Only problem might be trying to keep it concealed from all if you stop to relax and then take off most of your gear.
I was not doing that so it was not a problem.
Shoulder holster was the rig I used when on my last - and only downhill ski thing.
DID NOT GET HURT falling,and yes I fell lots.
Cross country and a good quality shoulder rig sounds logical to me.
Only problem might be trying to keep it concealed from all if you stop to relax and then take off most of your gear.
I was not doing that so it was not a problem.
I live in the forest, ski and timber area of pa. and I was just jacking up about the paranoia, sheez....I never go in the woods without a gun of some sort including CC skiing.
I really do wonder about the "every waking moment" thought that a few folks have about their gun be at the ready. The shower, dancing at the wedding, taking the garbage to the curb, but, I still live in an area where we leave our houses unlocked and keys in the car. If I was in Pittsburgh it may be different.
I really do wonder about the "every waking moment" thought that a few folks have about their gun be at the ready. The shower, dancing at the wedding, taking the garbage to the curb, but, I still live in an area where we leave our houses unlocked and keys in the car. If I was in Pittsburgh it may be different.
Carne Frio
Member
These are popular, year round with those
trekking out in the bush, up here:
http://www.alaskasportsmanproducts.com/
This might also work for you:
http://www.survivalsheath.com/holsters/index.htm
trekking out in the bush, up here:
http://www.alaskasportsmanproducts.com/
This might also work for you:
http://www.survivalsheath.com/holsters/index.htm
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scaatylobo
Member
TKACTION = yes to all but the shower.
And then the house alarm is set and I have one 'close'.
Until I am sure I have found a person that will tell me exactly when/if I am ever going to need it - and exactly how ?,btw I would have to actually know that they are not blowing smoke either
And then the house alarm is set and I have one 'close'.
Until I am sure I have found a person that will tell me exactly when/if I am ever going to need it - and exactly how ?,btw I would have to actually know that they are not blowing smoke either
bigfatdave
Member
tkaction said:
It isn't "every waking moment", the issue is with the concept that nowhere is 100% safe, and nowhere is somewhere you should belittle someone for carrying.
The possibility of someone else carrying in a given location protects you when you choose not to. As soon as a "no guns needed zone" is established you have an "unarmed victim zone" for oppurtunistic predators.
jimwsea
Member
I carry when backcountry or xc skiing. I don't see the need for it at public slopes. I also carry when hiking or at hot springs. Here are two stories from the last two years....
A solo skier xc skier was attacked by two homeless people near a campground in the Columbia Gorge. They took his keys and his car and left him for dead. Luckily, some local kids found him.
Two women were returning to their car after hiking to a hot spring. A methhead had broken in and was still in the car. Methhead didn't run away; he picked up a stick, rushed the women and beat them. They were seriously injured, but survived.
I either case, there was no mention of the victims having any defensive weapons.
A solo skier xc skier was attacked by two homeless people near a campground in the Columbia Gorge. They took his keys and his car and left him for dead. Luckily, some local kids found him.
Two women were returning to their car after hiking to a hot spring. A methhead had broken in and was still in the car. Methhead didn't run away; he picked up a stick, rushed the women and beat them. They were seriously injured, but survived.
I either case, there was no mention of the victims having any defensive weapons.
Hanzo581
Member
I'd say if you are going to a ski resort leave the gun behind, but as others have said cross country is a whole other ballgame.
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