Scabbard options?

[Brontosaurus]

Did my first horseback hunt this year and it was legit! Gonna do it again this year and im contemplating different ways to strap my rifle to my horse.
Here's what what I have right now and it was terrible. Dug into the inside of my knee and hurt like crazy. Tried adjusting it in a bunch of different ways and styles to no avail.


Its also worth noting that I've changed my gun to a rokstock and a swfa 10x42. So the form factor is a bit bigger.

So, what options are there?

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

That’s how I run mine, it’s part of it, extend ur stirrup a hole or 2 on that side, I’ve seen guys rune them straight up and down but jumping a log and ur barrel goes straight into it sucks. Seen guys rune the butt out the back but seen a guy lose his out the back on a steep
Uphill and several horses mash it before he noticed. Run I f the butt stock towards the neck you can watch it but seen a horse wrap one around a tree and snap the butt stock off.

Outfitters run them all different ways and it comes down to what they have seen and all that.
Ur basically in the best bullet broadhead argument…. Someone loves it someone had a failure someone hates it.

I run a Ruger m77 with a nightforce scope and it doesn’t rub my leg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PNWGATOR]

M

Thread 'rifle scabbards'

Feb 1, 2017

More and more I am seeing pictures of scabbard set ups that are just asking for a rodeo (in my opinion). I even saw a post on Instagram from a relatively reputable hunter that had a scabbard hanging nearly to the horses knee. Someone called them out on it and they claimed it was a "custom" made set up and that is how it was intended to carry. Other than rider comfort why would someone risk a wreck by carrying their weapon of choice so low? How do you carry your weapon when horse back? Id love to see some pictures.

Cheers!

• MThorseshoer
• Replies: 23
• Forum: Backcountry Stock

My personal journey led me to an off side, vertical orientation similar to mentioned here.

Visible with positive control and nothing under my legs/knees.

 

[Brontosaurus]

M

Thread 'rifle scabbards'

Feb 1, 2017

More and more I am seeing pictures of scabbard set ups that are just asking for a rodeo (in my opinion). I even saw a post on Instagram from a relatively reputable hunter that had a scabbard hanging nearly to the horses knee. Someone called them out on it and they claimed it was a "custom" made set up and that is how it was intended to carry. Other than rider comfort why would someone risk a wreck by carrying their weapon of choice so low? How do you carry your weapon when horse back? Id love to see some pictures.

Cheers!

• MThorseshoer
• Replies: 23
• Forum: Backcountry Stock

My personal journey led me to an off side, vertical orientation similar to mentioned here.

Visible with positive control and nothing under my legs/knees.

Any pics of your personal setup?

 

[PNWGATOR]

Any pics of your personal setup?

I’ll take a look and see if I have anything and if so, I’ll share it.

I’m out of the equine world now unfortunately…otherwise I’d be happy to go tack one up and share pics.

@robby denning is the one who turned me onto this carry method. He may have pics.

 

[Pony Soldier]

I usually have mine on the right, like yours. I hang the scabbard off the pommel but have it hanging at about 45 degrees or steeper off the rear cinch so the butt is somewhat above the neck of the horse. You have to adjust to the fit and the horse.

 

[Ralphie]

Try it rifle butt to the rear. A rifle can absolutely fall out going uphill that way but if you get a scabbard that zips up or even the one you have in the pic would keep it in as long as the snap stays snapped. Zipped in does slow down getting it out if you are ever jumping off and shooting.

Every way is a compromise for some situation. But small adjustments in both the length of the scabbard straps and stirrups can make a big difference in comfort.

I will say I never liked hanging a scabbard with the scope down.

Trailmax makes some nice modern scabbards. They aren’t punchy but they work well carrying a rifle securely with good protection.

 

[Brontosaurus]

Loving this feedback keep it coming!

 

[rayporter]

i dont like to hang my rifle with the scope on the bottom [upsidedown]. it puts extra pressure on the objective.

i like butt forward so i can watch it and make sure it does not hit trees.

 

[pbroski]

M

Thread 'rifle scabbards'

Feb 1, 2017

More and more I am seeing pictures of scabbard set ups that are just asking for a rodeo (in my opinion). I even saw a post on Instagram from a relatively reputable hunter that had a scabbard hanging nearly to the horses knee. Someone called them out on it and they claimed it was a "custom" made set up and that is how it was intended to carry. Other than rider comfort why would someone risk a wreck by carrying their weapon of choice so low? How do you carry your weapon when horse back? Id love to see some pictures.

Cheers!

• MThorseshoer
• Replies: 23
• Forum: Backcountry Stock

My personal journey led me to an off side, vertical orientation similar to mentioned here.

Visible with positive control and nothing under my legs/knees.

Yep. Vertical for me too. My knee can't take a rifle under my my leg for hours at a time.

 

[GBHunter]

We have had good success with Rawhide Gear scabbards that hang vertically.

 

[yycyak]

I've tried a bunch of different ways, but right now I run mine on the on-side. i try to hang it so the skinny part of the barrel is under my knee, and not much else. Learned the hard way to lengthen my stirrups when you add gear like this.

I don't know what the "right" way is, though. Seems it's either a regional thing, or a "my dad did it this way, so i do it this way." Probably as long as at the end of the day you aren't sore, and your mount isn't sore, means you're good to go.

*edit for formatting

 

[mntnguide]

Ive ran them every way possible. For the most part now adays, I run mine similar to how you have yours, but I put the strap of my scabbard up higher through the pommel instead, and run the gun more vertical, getting more of the bulk of the scope area forward and not under my leg/knee, and that works for me for many long miles in the saddle each season. Ive ran it on the On side with butt backwards as well plenty, and never had an issue with losing a gun and never had clients lose them during years of guiding that way. Just more personal preference, and for me, I like having the butt up by my horn, and the gun vertical on the off side.

 

[Brontosaurus]

We have had good success with Rawhide Gear scabbards that hang vertically. View attachment 898145

That's legit!

 

[wysongdog]

I like having mine on the drivers side facing back so I can tie up and pull the rifle out the back away from their head and where I’m tied too. Carry my bow on the same side as well. Keep it simple for my dumb ass lol

 

[wymtnpounder]

Put it on the pack horse, under soft pannier, butt forward, on side. Game changer. You can thank me later lol.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Put it on the pack horse, under soft pannier, butt forward, on side. Game changer. You can thank me later lol.

Do you have a pic?

 

[wymtnpounder]

Do you have a pic?

 

[wysongdog]

Put it on the pack horse, under soft pannier, butt forward, on side. Game changer. You can thank me later lol.

That’s a hell of an idea. Damn sure save on your knee and ankle. Will be hard to do with my bow tho lol definitely going to try it with my rifle next time tho.

 

[Cwsharer]

I second the pack horse method , only way to go. You can even shove it in the pannier in a regular rifle case just not as quick access