In
the time since I did my original evaluation of the John
Ross Special .500 Revolver for GunBlast.com, I’ve
continued to shoot mine a few times a year for enjoyment.
As I watch Life
Below Zero or other shows about Alaska, I may fantasize
about trudging around the Great White North carrying my .500
S&W, but I still live in St. Louis.
We have a lot of dangerous animals here, but they walk on
two legs, and a cocked and locked 1911 carried in a belt holster
will usually suffice!
Still,
I have given a lot of thought to carrying my Ross Special while
watching shows about hunting and living in the wilderness.
The Ken Null cross draw holster I originally recommended
is still outstanding, but watching a show about the Iditarod I
started thinking about a holster that would put a big bore
revolver close at hand for the draw when riding a snowmobile or
dog sled. I also
considered a draw that would allow wearing a good-sized pack.
When I started researching the type of holster that I
wanted, I found, naturally, that it is available from Diamond D
Custom Leather.
Designed
to wear across the chest over a parka or other heavy clothing
yet allow easy access to the revolver, the Guide’s Choice
Chest Holster is perfect for my John Ross Special.
It’s made for Alaskans who carry powerful revolvers as
a matter of course, and it carries a heavy revolver comfortably
while allowing excellent access without interfering with other
gear. Its design
also allows it to be put on or removed quickly and easily.
Although designed for wear outside the parka or other
clothing, I was wearing it on a cold snowy day a couple of
months ago under a heavy coat as an experiment and found that by
zipping the coat about halfway down I could easily access the
revolver.
Each
Diamond D holster is hand molded for a good fit.
I can attest they are well molded.
I found when mine arrived that I needed to use some of
Mitch Rosen’s Leather Lightning on the inside and push the
revolver in and out a hundred times or so to get the tradeoff
between rapid draw and retention just right.
This is not a criticism, as I don’t want a sloppy
holster. Retention
is still excellent when the revolver is in place.
The Guide’s Choice also has a hammer loop for added
retention.
The
straps are wide enough for comfort and well designed so, once
positioned, the holster does not slip around on the chest.
I also like the quick release elastic strap that fits
around the back to hold the holster in place.
A feature I would recommend to anyone ordering a
Guide’s Choice is the Reload strip for 5, 6, or 7 rounds,
depending on the holster. The
one for my Ross Special holds five rounds positioned for easy
access on the strap just above the holster itself.
More rounds could be carried in a pocket, but five in the
gun and five extra should handle any immediate needs.
I
have been very impressed with the Guide’s Choice and consider
it a perfect companion for my John Ross Special.
Diamond D makes the same holster for an array of other big
bore revolvers as well. Retail
price is $165.00 and $30 for the ammo carrier.
Given the quality, that’s quite fair.
For
more information, visit the website: http://www.diamonddcustomleather.com/Holsters.html.
Leroy
Thompson


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