Holding it all up. I have had some inquiries regarding my last
post on holstering my carbine. I've now got a couple of hundred happy miles on my rig so it's time to post the details. The holster is a basic nylon affair available on
Amazon and is in the first photo below. I believe Uncle Mikes has a similar holster. Don't expect this to be a lifetime purchase. If you use it as much as I do it will wear. Expect to replace it every couple of years.
It comes with a basic strap, nothing exciting. Without the extra weight of the stock a sturdy gun belt is all that is needed. With the additional mass of the stock it helps to use a strap in light tension to help stabilize the holster. I feel a springy neoprene camera strap works best and applies very little force on your shoulder. The Tamrac strap I use has been lurking in my collection of camera gear for the last decade. I recommend using the stock strap to determine the length and then consider a quality strap from Op-Tech, available from Amazon or direct from Op-Tech in Bozeman. Their straps are available in different models and lengths with extensions and fittings to customize the strap for your specific requirements.
More important than the strap is a proper gun belt. I've used and highly recommend the Original Instructors Belt from
The Wilderness since 1998. I don't beleive that there is finer tactical gun belt on the market. They are made to order in the USA and like Op-Tech they are a quality oriented family owned business. For the Huben order the 5 stitch version for the extra vertical rigidity. The 1 1/2" width is adequate for the pistol alone. The 1 3/4" version works better with the additional mass of the folding stock. I'm a skinny guy, for larger folks the 1 3/4" belt may be enough without a stabilizing shoulder strap. The second photo shows from left to right; the 1 3/4" Original Instructor belt, 1 1/2" Frequent Flyer and the last two are a pair of 1 1/2" Original Instructor belts with titanium buckles.
The last two photos show how it all fits together for field use with a Mountainsmith Lumbar Pack. Op-Tech's Reporter/Backpack System Connectors hang the binoculars from the Mountainsmith Strappette's that stabilize the lumbar pack.