Rifle Carry

[swisski]

Has anybody ever used the kifaru gun bearer with your SO pack?

Kifaru offers 2 models, one that fits their packs, and then a universal that will attach to any pack. However, their original one I can tell would fit a SO pack around the hip belt just fine, as it utilizes a molle webbing attachment just the same. However, I'm not sure if the top connection would work or not. I like the idea of utilizing the molle instead of just a velcro quick connection (which is their universal gun bearer), so that's why I'm trying to figure this out.

Thanks

[kevin_t]

No experience with those . If you have a Revo the head scoop works well for rifle combine it with stretch on pals of hipbelt and you are set . Although perhaps you prefer the gun bearer which is ok . I know Dave C has used one


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[DaveChenault]

I love the idea of the Gunbearer, properly set up and with a lightish rifle your gun just disappears, but is immediately handy. I've climbed 4th class terrain with my 6 pound Kimber in the Gunbearer and it didn't hinder me at all.

That said I've never used the Kifaru version as it was so easy to make my own. With Kifaru the upper tab is meant to thread into a buckle with on a Seek Outside harness isn't there. I'd just loop the main strap through one of the loops on the harness, and hold it in place with perhaps zipties or tape.

[swisski]

Thanks for the replies.

Kevin - I know what you mean as far as the head scoop goes. I upgraded my Evo to Revo with the kit. What I've found is that with a small load, or day pack style, my rifle stays on just fine when slung over the frame and down into the head scoop, it works really well. However when I have a full load or big pack, that is a lot harder to make feasible, just by the way I am setup. I don't think I'm familiar with the stretch on pals off the hip belt that you speak of, does that just secure the stock of the rifle to the hip belt?

Dave, I did end up finding a video seeing how that top part attached to the harness. I think it will be easy to do what you're suggesting, utilizing one of those loops now that I have looked at the harness again. Shouldn't be a problem at all. Thanks for the input!

[kevin_t]

Yes it is harder with a large loaded pack. Yes just stretchy cord looped through pals as a butt stock hold down


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[Nathan C]

I've used the gunbearer in the past and honestly didn't like it. Way too fussy, and if that top strap fails or comes loose your rifle could take a bad fall. Plus it hangs in brush and I'm in brush a lot.

Ive found that the Revo's head scoop works well as a head scoop but doesn't work at all to carry a rifle.

The load lifters, pack bag, etc always combine to keep the sling from staying put.

Add a gunhook to the Revo though and it's money.

The bottom hold down I use is a loop of shock cord with a cord lock on it. Loop through the pals, back through itself to lock it down, then use the cordlock to adjust length/tension on butt stock.


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[swisski]

That's a good point about the brush. We have thick underbrush over here and being in it is just a regular occurrence. Thanks for all the input.

[huntin'monkey]

I use the original Kifaru Gungearer with my Divide and a top keeper strap up top that my wife sewed. It works great with my not so ultralight Savage Model 10, which comes in a bit over 8 pounds scoped. I wouldn't worry so much about brush opening up the keeper clasp and dumping your rifle out. If that's really a worry, you could make your own keeper with a heavy duty snap closure.

I like the gunbearer because it puts the rifle in a handy position for quick access when hiking. Maybe I'm not the most coordinated guy, but I find trying to get the rifle off of a gunhook style attachment is much clumsier and I'd be much more likely to drop it, especially if I was in a hurry to pull up on an animal. Of course, what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for the next guy. I'd give the gunbearer a shot.

[swisski]

I ended up going with the gun bearer from Kifaru. I got their normal bottom attachment because it works with the PALS on the hip belt, and then for the top I used their universal connection. I used it all past week on my revolution with Peregrine, hunting out of that every day and it carried better than I even expected! We hunted out of a forest service cabin in SW Montana so my pack was fairly light each day just being a day pack. The rifle carried amazingly well and I'm very happy with the purchase.

[AK Troutbum]