Mountain hunting sidearm

[Wyobohunter]

Lightest to heaviest.

- Pepper spray
- Springfield Armory XDM Elite 10mm Auto
- Sig Emperor Scorpion 1911 10mm Auto
- Ruger Blackhawk .357 Magnum
- Ruger Super Blackhawk .454 Casull

 

[dkim]

I'll carry a 38spl+P 3 inch Ruger LCRx since it's light and I can shoot it. Another possibility is an HK P2000Sk but it's definitely heavy enough that I notice it,

 

[Mosby]

If I'm hunting in an area with grizzly, I carry a 10mm Glock 20 in a chest holster. If I'm hunting or scouting in a place like Colorado, then I carry a Sig Compact 1911 in 45 acp which is attached to my bino harness. Anywhere else, I have a 380 in my pocket.

Because of people, bears, cats, wolves etc., I don't go on the mountain anymore without a pistol.

 

[theycallmemud]

I carry a g20 10mm with 200 gr hardcast bullets, in a razco harness under my marsupial bino harness. I take it on every scouting, or hunting trip, doesn't matter if I have a bow or rifle, I like having it on me all the time. It kind of sucks quartering a elk with it on, so I started packing a super light hip holster to put it in when I'm taking care of an animal, or after I drop a load and empty my pack at the truck. I have a compact Taurus 9mm, been thinking about packing this instead on rifle hunts.

 

[Scoutfan]

I've got several but the first choice is my Wilson Combat CQB 1911 in 10mm. It will eat 220gr hardcast Underwoods like candy, is 100% reliable, 10 rounds and hits what I point it at.

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The 329PD is a great gun but brutal to shoot. Greatly prefer my Colt Kodiak. It will handle Underwood Hardcast HEAVY LOADS with ease.

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I put a set of hogue grips for the 500 S&W on my 329 and it made a big difference. Now it's fun to shoot half to a full box of 300 grain hard cast.

 

[gatorfish]

Here in the southeast, I always carry a pistol, more for hogs and and Florida man, than any dangerous game. Typically a g17 when hunting or 19/26 when backpacking.

I did just pick up a G20 for my first trip out west this coming fall. Now, I don’t have much experience with the 10mm and after reading/watching about several success stories with the 9mm, coupled with my confidence with and in the G17, I may just take that…especially considering we won’t be in real grizzly territory.

 

[theycallmemud]

Here in the southeast, I always carry a pistol, more for hogs and and Florida man, than any dangerous game. Typically a g17 when hunting or 19/26 when backpacking.

I did just pick up a G20 for my first trip out west this coming fall. Now, I don’t have much experience with the 10mm and after reading/watching about several success stories with the 9mm, coupled with my confidence with and in the G17, I may just take that…especially considering we won’t be in real grizzly territory.

Take either one. I think people put way too much thought into this subject. If your aren't hunting a grizzly area I wouldn't worry. Bring it for piece of mind and extra weight.

 

[cq0302]

365 macro when looking for general use, m&p 2.0 10 in griz country, also with g9 woodsman

 

[cq0302]

Here in the southeast, I always carry a pistol, more for hogs and and Florida man, than any dangerous game. Typically a g17 when hunting or 19/26 when backpacking.

I did just pick up a G20 for my first trip out west this coming fall. Now, I don’t have much experience with the 10mm and after reading/watching about several success stories with the 9mm, coupled with my confidence with and in the G17, I may just take that…especially considering we won’t be in real grizzly territory.

If you’re not in griz country I’d take the Glock and save the weight, pick up a good bullet like the g9 woodsman and be confident. If you can’t shoot it confidently and accurately the size doesn’t matter.

 

[ThunderJack49]

I made a similar decision a few years back in Montana and left my pistol in the truck since I had a rifle, my hunting partner had a rifle and Bear spray.
While straddling a mountain bike in the dark, I was false charged by what was most likely a grizzly. When the bear was coming in and I was trying to unsling the rifle, I was pretty aware I was not going to be fast enough.
I carry a pistol on my chest at all times now.
I’m considering for this year carrying a Glock 43x to save some weight.
Also, visibility was terrible because of some light snow and wind swirling around my headlamp. A pistol light would have cut through that better.

 

[ThunderJack49]

Here in the southeast, I always carry a pistol, more for hogs and and Florida man, than any dangerous game. Typically a g17 when hunting or 19/26 when backpacking.

I did just pick up a G20 for my first trip out west this coming fall. Now, I don’t have much experience with the 10mm and after reading/watching about several success stories with the 9mm, coupled with my confidence with and in the G17, I may just take that…especially considering we won’t be in real grizzly territory.

I’d sell the g20 and put 2k rounds through the 9mm with the cash.

 

[jigkingg]

I’d sell the g20 and put 2k rounds through the 9mm with the cash.

In grizzly country id much rather 10mm 200g hardcast over 9mm, yes you can run 147g P+ hardcasts but youre now shooting a more expensive, lighter, slower bullet than 10mm. Being he already has it just get good with it, if a grizzly really wants someone dead he’ll eat both 9 and 10 just the same and die on top of the dead body after lmao.

 

[11boo]

I am ready for charging grouse in archery season.

 

[ThunderJack49]

In grizzly country id much rather 10mm 200g hardcast over 9mm, yes you can run 147g P+ hardcasts but youre now shooting a more expensive, lighter, slower bullet than 10mm. Being he already has it just get good with it, if a grizzly really wants someone dead he’ll eat both 9 and 10 just the same and die on top of the dead body after lmao.

It's a free country.

 

[jigkingg]

It's a free country.

good observation

 

[mostlybirch]

10mm G20 in a HPG chest bag. After two field seasons I'm not super confident in the quick draw from a bag, will be going back to a conventional style chest holster. I've been 3d printing some over the winter and going to see how well they hold up.

If I wasn't a limp waisted pansie I would go back to the .44 Mag but I was never satisfied with my draw and shot placement, much improved with Glock.

 

[Nick4050]

10mm XDM with a TLR 1-HL in a Gunfighters Inc Kenai Holster. Light adds a little weight, but it’s invaluable during night time butchering sessions and pack outs. It rides right underneath my bino harness, and if the holster is adjusted correctly I forget I’m wearing it.

 

[jw19]

Probably depends how you carry it, but I keep a 10mm XDM on my pack belt and hardly notice it's there. I do the chest holster sometimes but don't prefer it.

I run the same setups. Packed with buffalo bore it’s a prettt solid backup. Hope to never have to use it

 

[JoeK]

I’m on team sidearm for sure. I’ll choose gun over spray 10times/10.
I’m so used to carrying anytime I leave the house that it would just feel weird to be out there without a sidearm and leaving it in the truck.
And obviously bow hunting.
I do live in S AZ where two legged predators are by far the more likely encounter than a bear or lion attack.

I know that’s also very low probability and the real bad dudes stay on their side for now but sometimes I can get just a few miles from the border and the bad hombres are real down there, so I’ll pay the weight penalty. I’m hoping to get out of state in the coming years and in bear country I would feel way more comfortable with my familiar EDC 9mm on my chest than relying on a scoped bolt action up close and personal with a bear. Also as mentioned around camp, dressing a kill etc.

I’ve got a recon kit bag from Hill People and it carries my p365-xmacro really nice BEHIND the binos in a dedicated compartment. 2lbs in the harness Does weigh things down especially with LRF binos but you get used to the weight. Also during hikes you can hook the chest bag onto your pack straps so the weight is hanging on their much more substantial padding

Loaded to capacity at 18rds I just weighed in at 2lb1oz and ammo weighs .4/.5oz per so if I wanted to shave a few ounces on a long Mt trip I’d be feeling good with 10-12 “just in case” Underwood penetrator “screwdriver tips”.

I don’t see myself taking off the Streamlight, 20,000 candela gives me the warm fuzzy too.

 

[teph45]

If I’m in bear country, Glock 40 10mm either in a Gunfighters Inc kydex chest harness that sits under my bino pack, or in an Ivory Holster kydex that snaps into the molle webbing on the belt of my backpack.