Good Bear Spray/Pistol Holster setups

deertrout

deertrout

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 29, 2017
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Location
MI
How are you carrying your bear spray/pistol (or both) on the waist belt? Or are you carrying them somewhere you feel has faster access? Ordered an exo 5500 the other day, are there any setups that work particularly well on the exo waist belt? Thanks.
 
I used a FHF Gear bear spray holster and a cheap leather holster (with thumb break) on the hip belt of my EXO pack this year. Added some velcro in the holsters to help them stick in place. Wished the belt strap was a bit stiffer, to hold things in place better, but it was comfortable. When dropping the pack, slipped the handgun into the back of the FHF bino harness, which was not ideal, (no retainer) but effective. Hope this helps.
 
I use a diamond d guild holster (but lower and off to the side more than mid chest) and slide the spray on so it sits right on top of the pistol. Both are readily available and do not interfere with my pack or my bino harness.
 
I use a blackhawk serpa CQC holster for my glock 20 on my left waist belt (Crossdraw) and put my bear spray on the back of the right side belt and a belt pouch on the front portion. Add a second tri slide to the waist belt webbing and it will help keep thinks tight. Alot of weight on those straps and they loosen up and I actually had it come undone on me one time and my pistol hit the gound.
 
I find this topic of particular interest after listening to Steve Rinella's Podcast (MeatEater Podcast) over the last few weeks about his Elk Hunting trip to Afognak Island. If you don't know where that island is just go ahead and consider it Kodiak, same place, same bears only separated by a small straight. If you have the time I HIGHLY recommend listening to all 3 Afognak Island Podcasts... Anyway to make a long story short Steve and Crew end up caught off guard and VERY unprepared for a large Kodiak. There is a long debate about the best way to carry sidearms AND bear spray. While I don't live in Griz country I often carry a Glock 20 (Full Size 10mm) on a belt with a Safariland retention holster. This is when I am not carrying a backpack. In my very humble opinion if I were to be hunting/ hiking/ or fishing in Griz country with either waders or a pack on I would opt for the Gunfighters Inc. Kenai: Kenai Chest Holster – GunfightersINC this is waterproof and most importantly chest mounted I would mount it UNDER your backpack. Therefore when you drop your pack (or your drawers when nature calls) your side arms is still on you. I would mount bear spray to your pack waist belt in a kydex holster. If you listen to the POD cast you will hear that this particular bear comes calling while everyone is eating lunch and no one is armed... All packs are laying around. If you had a chest mount holster even if your Spray was on your waist belt you'd still have 1 level of protection. Also mentioned in that particular podcast is the need to practice deployed Spray and or your firearm on short notice. Seriously listen to the Afognak Series it was AWESOME!!!!!! For what it's worth I do not know Steve or anyone on that show nor do I have a relationship with Gunfighter Inc. I just happen to think both are badass in this occasion. Good LUCK!

ALW
 
I don't live in brown bear/grizzle territory so I can be more casual than those who are in that region. I always have my handgun in a HPG chest pack and the chest pack is worn whenever I am out of the sleeping bag. It will hold a Ruger SRH Toklat 454 Casull. If your revolver has a barrel longer than 5", I'd have a Diamond D, Kenai, or other chest rig. Gun covered.

Hill People Gear | Real use gear for backcountry travelers

I would probably have my bearspray in a pouch on my pant belt and it would be in my hands if I went to the john.

Here is an example of a bottle holster/pouch that attaches using a PALS system. take a look at the 16oz picture. I bet a canister of bearspray would fit nicely in that.

Hill People Gear | Real use gear for backcountry travelers
 
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Worth pondering;

One of the most recent G bear charges in MT the victim said he couldn't deploy his bear spray fast enough.

No surprise really. Whatever your choice make sure you can draw a fire quickly and accurately. In playing around with a bunch of setups pistol/spray....I could get on target with my pistol from a belt holster apps 3x faster than the spray. Partially because I packed a pistol that way for decades.

Whatever you decide on spray/pistol/whatever...practice until its automatic.
 
I carry my pistol in a hill people recon kit bag, and when in bear country, attach the spray to the pals on it via a FHF bear spray holster.
 
alwayslookingwest said:
I find this topic of particular interest after listening to Steve Rinella's Podcast (MeatEater Podcast) over the last few weeks about his Elk Hunting trip to Afognak Island. If you don't know where that island is just go ahead and consider it Kodiak, same place, same bears only separated by a small straight. If you have the time I HIGHLY recommend listening to all 3 Afognak Island Podcasts... Anyway to make a long story short Steve and Crew end up caught off guard and VERY unprepared for a large Kodiak. There is a long debate about the best way to carry sidearms AND bear spray. While I don't live in Griz country I often carry a Glock 20 (Full Size 10mm) on a belt with a Safariland retention holster. This is when I am not carrying a backpack. In my very humble opinion if I were to be hunting/ hiking/ or fishing in Griz country with either waders or a pack on I would opt for the Gunfighters Inc. Kenai: Kenai Chest Holster – GunfightersINC this is waterproof and most importantly chest mounted I would mount it UNDER your backpack. Therefore when you drop your pack (or your drawers when nature calls) your side arms is still on you. I would mount bear spray to your pack waist belt in a kydex holster. If you listen to the POD cast you will hear that this particular bear comes calling while everyone is eating lunch and no one is armed... All packs are laying around. If you had a chest mount holster even if your Spray was on your waist belt you'd still have 1 level of protection. Also mentioned in that particular podcast is the need to practice deployed Spray and or your firearm on short notice. Seriously listen to the Afognak Series it was AWESOME!!!!!! For what it's worth I do not know Steve or anyone on that show nor do I have a relationship with Gunfighter Inc. I just happen to think both are badass in this occasion. Good LUCK!

ALW
Click to expand...

That was a very good podcast. I am going on my 1st bear hunt this spring and it will be on the edge of Griz country in MT. Ive never carried a sidearm or spray before so this topic is one I'm trying to learn about.

I'm still trying to figure out what sidearm to go with, but I like the looks of that Kenai chest holster. I typically have a bino harness on though. Do you just layer this underneath or do you forgo the bino harness?

Sent from my SM-G610F using Tapatalk
 
goodorbit said:
I used a FHF Gear bear spray holster and a cheap leather holster (with thumb break) on the hip belt of my EXO pack this year. Added some velcro in the holsters to help them stick in place. Wished the belt strap was a bit stiffer, to hold things in place better, but it was comfortable. When dropping the pack, slipped the handgun into the back of the FHF bino harness, which was not ideal, (no retainer) but effective. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
I bought a pocket holster that I slip in to my fhf harness. Really makes a difference in retention and positioning.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 
I have a Springfield XDM .40 cal in a Blackhawk Serpa holster, on my Exo 5500 belt. Works great. I really like that holster because the gun is incredibly secure, it's definitely not falling out of that and zero chance of an accidental firing.
 
FlyGuy said:
That was a very good podcast. I am going on my 1st bear hunt this spring and it will be on the edge of Griz country in MT. Ive never carried a sidearm or spray before so this topic is one I'm trying to learn about.

I'm still trying to figure out what sidearm to go with, but I like the looks of that Kenai chest holster. I typically have a bino harness on though. Do you just layer this underneath or do you forgo the bino harness?

Sent from my SM-G610F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Well, the Bino harness thing is going to be personal preference, for me personally my Binos on my left side waist belt of pack are fine IF I'm in a place where I really think a bear attack is that much of a concern. The point, to me anyway, of a chest mounted setup like the Gunfighters Inc. setup is your gun is ALWAYS on you. Anything that is on your pack or your waist may not be on you for one reason or another. Again this is a worst type scenario type of situation. I actually also have a "Chesty Puller" from Simply Rugged holsters for my 3.75" Stainless Ruger Super Blackhawk. This mount is the same location however has 1 major drawback in my opinion. The Simply Rugged holster is Leather and where I hunt is very wet and damp and IMHO a leather holster is a very poor choice for that type of environment. If your are in dry Idaho/ Montana perhaps not so much.

I'd like to dive into the sidearm topic for a few minutes since I'm a big time gun guy. I.E. I LOVE guns and any excuse to get a new one is ok with me. From my research and experience there are more than a few guns that stand out as bear protection guns, everything from 10mm glocks up to some of the big Rugers in 454/ 460 ext. I own the 3 that I consider the very best out there as far as my particular needs. Those are a Glock 20 (10mm), a Ruger Super Blackhawk Bisley Stainless 3.75" (44 mag), and finally the Smith and Wesson 329PD (also 44 mag). Why no hand cannons? They are simply too large and way too heavy (Again this is simply MY opinion). So with that being said I like all these guns a lot, but what is MY choice 100% of the time? The Glock, why? Simply because I am far and away the most familiar and comfortable with it. I can deploy it and get on target much faster than I can with the other two it's not even a debate. I have an extensive background running Glocks for work and play and it is what I am comfortable with. To me that is the reason to make the this choice. I have night sights installed on it and a Surefire X300 that I can clip-on the rail for the long nights in the tent. I won't debate that ballistic facts of a 44 Mag vs 454 vs 10mm how ever I have proven to myself on MANY occasions with a shot timer (I have competitive pistol/ firearms background) that I can get multiple rounds on target much faster and more accurately with the Glock than I can with either wheel gun, therefore it is my personal choice.

The key to a lot of this is to practice and practice with what you have and become proficient muscle memory is the only thing your body will know in a high stress environment. The second and equally important choice is no matter what you choose be sure you are using ammunition appropriate for the task at hand. To me that means a hardcast premium loaded bullet (Buffalo Bore for me) that will hold together and penetrate deeply. That premium ammunition is quite expensive however what ever gun you use be sure it will RUN IN YOUR GUN. Don't practice with FMJ cheapo Walmart loads and than go load up your gun with the good stuff, when you need it isn't the time to find out your gun won't cycle or locks up with the high power stuff. Test it and prove to yourself it's 100%.

I could honestly type for hours about guns and ballistic choices however please keep in mind that everyone is different and everyone will have a different comfort level with different weapons. Choose what you feel is best for you and commit to it. Practice drawing and shooting from different positions and with different gear on. Be safe and good luck! And remember no matter how much fun it is to talk bear defense the best defense is good woods know how and experienced and trusted hunting partners.

ALW
 
Vids said:
I have a Springfield XDM .40 cal in a Blackhawk Serpa holster, on my Exo 5500 belt. Works great. I really like that holster because the gun is incredibly secure, it's definitely not falling out of that and zero chance of an accidental firing.
Click to expand...

I agree with Vids on the retention aspects of the SERPA holster and it was honestly my go to for a number of years (low price, lots of options for different guns) however there has been a number of accidental discharges in the competitive shooting world, enough that it is not allowed in most circles now. I only mention this because in a high stress environment your body will respond very different to casual range use. In the cases I mentioned above under the clock the shooters all drew there pistol while pressing on the retention release button with their trigger fingers (as is the design). Well unfortunately this can and has translated into the pistol being fired as it is drawn as your finger is already in place and pressing down where the trigger is located. I only mention this to reinforce training with the gear you choose. Be familiar with it as muscle memory will be what takes over no matter what when there isn't time to think. Be Safe.

ALW
 
I’ve had a couple different chest holstersive carried over the last 12-13years, typically with one of my big bore hunting wheel guns. This year I went to the Gunfighters Kenai Chest holster as the misses was giving me grief for the long weekend mountain training hikes and no sidearm. To keep the peace and my solo trips, I relented. After carrying a little S&W 629 in the Kenai rig for well over 150 miles this summer and then through hunting season, I liked it so much that I ordered one for each of my Linebaugh configurations. It’s a great holster.
 
wesfromky said:
Just the research I have done shows to me that spray is the way to go for bear encounters.

Recent story: To Live Or Die In Bear Country: Counting The Seconds In Your Grizzly Moment Of Truth
Click to expand...
In my research there is a strong bias of wildlife folks and treehuggers to push bear spray over firearms. They just don't want these bears shot- period. The above story is of that slant. The authors slant continues in another article second guessing the GW that shot a charging bear instead of using bear spray.

There has been a couple of recent cases where the bear ran right through the spray, disheartening.


I was in Ak when an Outward Bound group sprayed a bear...the bear ran off...but then came right back and mauled a kid to within an inch of his life.

I say use what you can deploy the fastest.
 
I get and can see the bias, but I also shoot uspsa and know how hard it can be, even when you have a stance and are ready, to draw and put rounds on a small, stationery target. And that is with a 9mm from a hip holster. Trying to do the same from a chest rig with a big bore and a moving target, all unexpectedly, seems like it would be exponentially harder. Just seems like bear spray has a great margin for error, but again, things are going to happen quickly, so might not even be able to get that deployed.

As to not shooting the bears, I am on board with that if at all possible. Just seems like the right thing to do to me if it is possible to also keep people safe. Bears are just doing bear things shouldn't be killed for it.
 
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