Packing handgun thread #957,658,836

[Bisley45]

I hill be headed to central Idaho for a rifle Elk hunt this fall and I have several handguns I could potentially pack. Before I buy a holster for my FHF bino harness I should figure that out. I know that the possibility of needing a handgun is VERY low, but I sleep better at night with one.

1. Glock 30s has night sights, is a great small package, 11 rounds of 45 ACP with a 230gn WFN hardcast handload ~880 fps. The lights of the options with only one mag, with two mags it weighs the same as the G40 with one mag.
2. Glock 40 no night sights yet, currently has a burris fast fire 3 that I'll likely remove beforehand...maybe. The G40 is a longslide Glock 20 for all intents and purposes. Right in the middle weight wise. 16 rounds of 10mm 200 grain hardcast from Underwood.
3. Ruger Bisley 45 Colt, big, heavy, no night sights, slow back up shots, pushes a 325 grain WFN at 1100 very accuratly. Would literally be like having a backup firearm for shots out to ~60yds.

Have some fun with it, of these 3 which would you pack. Personally I can't decide between the G30s and the G40.

 

[FLAK]

I bought a 30SF mainly for this purpose. Modified it to shoot 45 Supers.
I be Jonesin" on that FHF bino pouch with Kydex Holster for it

 

[Bisley45]

Yeah, I was trying to figure how the heck to pack a handgun with a large pack and waist belt ect, so a chest harness seemed like a great option...except that I will have a bino harness on. Well the FHF and Razco setup checks most of my boxes.

45 Super is a sweet round! The G30s is a G30SF with a G36 slide (much more narrow), it cant be set up for supers or rowland. However those 230 wfn at ~880 isnt anything to sneeze at. The mold is a custom one I picked up off a guy, much wider nose than everything Ive seen for a 230 grain bullet.

 

[myalias789]

How would you attach it to the bino bag?

 

[Terrapin]

I’m in Idaho. I used to carry a 10mm with hard cast bullets... never had to use it. Then a lighter 45 with JHP, same result. Then a Glock 9mm Model 43, still the same. Next year I’m carrying a little 380. If I don’t respond next December, you’ll know I hit the lower limit.

If I knew I would need it (and wasn’t lazy), it would be the big Glock 10mm.


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[lyle_destroys]

I would probably take the G40. I shoot larger handguns/longslides better. Gotta add a little more weight on your chest to balance what is guna be on your back, right?

 

[Bisley45]

I’m in Idaho. I used to carry a 10mm with hard cast bullets... never had to use it. Then a lighter 45 with JHP, same result. Then a Glock 9mm Model 43, still the same. Next year I’m carrying a little 380. If I don’t respond next December, you’ll know I hit the lower limit.

If I knew I would need it (and wasn’t lazy), it would be the big Glock 10mm.


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haha I hope like heck I don't need it! Perhaps in 2021 you can use one of the folding credit card sized 22s!

 

[Bisley45]

How would you attach it to the bino bag?

Razcor makes a kydex holster that straps to the bottom of the bino bag and marrys with the existing straps, pretty sweet setup.

 

[Beendare]

Heres another angle,....I wouldn't pack a pistol while carrying a rifle.

Personally, I like to stay as light and mobile as possible without duplicating gear I'm packing around. So in Grizz areas or even a black.....are you really going to put your rifle down to use your pistol?

Sure, There are times where a pistol is useful...like in lowland areas with a lot of snakes. A little 9mm with snake shot is invaluable. You won't see a lot of snakes at elevation in the Rockies.

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[elkguide]

Which one do you "WANT" to carry?

Having hunted in Idaho since the 80's and guided in Wyoming in the 90's and 20's, I carried a handgun in Wyoming as I wasn't carrying a rifle but haven't ever packed/carried in Idaho.

 

[HawkCreek]

I'd take the Glock 40 or the .45 Colt myself. I recently purchased a 40 as a replacement for my Glock 20, we'll see how that shakes out in the future (haven't got to fire it yet).
Single actions can be fired quickly, just takes practice.
I'd be more concerned with a light than I would night sights. Night sights will help you line up in the dark sure but can you tell what you're shooting at? If the light is on you can identify what the target is (or isn't) as well as line up sights.

 

[Bisley45]

I'd take the Glock 40 or the .45 Colt myself. I recently purchased a 40 as a replacement for my Glock 20, we'll see how that shakes out in the future (haven't got to fire it yet).
Single actions can be fired quickly, just takes practice.
I'd be more concerned with a light than I would night sights. Night sights will help you line up in the dark sure but can you tell what you're shooting at? If the light is on you can identify what the target is (or isn't) as well as line up sights.

That's a good point

 

[JollyRoger]

I always carry a G29SF (compact 10mm, same basic size as your G30) while bow hunting. It's a nice pistol, but overall I'd rather shoot a full size frame. Just like everything else, is portability or shootability more important?

For general carry I like the G17 or G19

 

[howl]

G30 so you can stick it in a pocket holster when you're not wearing your binocular harness.

 

[yeti14]

Heres another angle,....I wouldn't pack a pistol while carrying a rifle.

Personally, I like to stay as light and mobile as possible without duplicating gear I'm packing around. So in Grizz areas or even a black.....are you really going to put your rifle down to use your pistol?

Sure, There are times where a pistol is useful...like in lowland areas with a lot of snakes. A little 9mm with snake shot is invaluable. You won't see a lot of snakes at elevation in the Rockies.

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...

Depends on the area you hunt. In SE AK there are places so thick that deploying your rifle is pretty much impossible. These are the areas where you are likely to "sneak" up on a brown bear. Even if I cant shoulder my rifle, I can always get my pistol out of a chest holster. I also like to have a weapon easily accessible while processing game. A pistol just makes this easier.

 

[*zap*]

2 is 1.

 

[Mackay Sagebrush]

Heres another angle,....I wouldn't pack a pistol while carrying a rifle.

Personally, I like to stay as light and mobile as possible without duplicating gear I'm packing around. So in Grizz areas or even a black.....are you really going to put your rifle down to use your pistol?

Sure, There are times where a pistol is useful...like in lowland areas with a lot of snakes. A little 9mm with snake shot is invaluable. You won't see a lot of snakes at elevation in the Rockies.

...


...

I carry a pistol here in Central ID. The rifle is the primary, but when I get to the truck with the first load of meat, I have ZERO desire to pack the weight of a rifle in addition to the other quarters of meat that have yet to be hauled out.

The rifle stays behind, and the handgun becomes the primary means of defense. I have wolves in the same vicinity of my cabin, in addition to mountain lions, bears, you name it. I think it is a very wise course of action to carry a sidearm in the mountains of central ID.

For the OP.

When going light, (like when elk hunting), I choose my G30S. One main compelling reason for the G30S over a big bore revolver is wolves. I would hate to run into an aggressive pack of fast moving big dogs and only have 6 rounds as my primary load.

Mine is usually carried in a Hill People Gear chest rig.

 

[Bisley45]

Depends on the area you hunt. In SE AK there are places so thick that deploying your rifle is pretty much impossible. These are the areas where you are likely to "sneak" up on a brown bear. Even if I cant shoulder my rifle, I can always get my pistol out of a chest holster. I also like to have a weapon easily accessible while processing game. A pistol just makes this easier.

One of the main reasons I will pack a handgun

 

[Bisley45]

I carry a pistol here in Central ID. The rifle is the primary, but when I get to the truck with the first load of meat, I have ZERO desire to pack the weight of a rifle in addition to the other quarters of meat that have yet to be hauled out.

The rifle stays behind, and the handgun becomes the primary means of defense. I have wolves in the same vicinity of my cabin, in addition to mountain lions, bears, you name it. I think it is a very wise course of action to carry a sidearm in the mountains of central ID.

For the OP.

When going light, (like when elk hunting), I choose my G30S. One main compelling reason for the G30S over a big bore revolver is wolves. I would hate to run into an aggressive pack of fast moving big dogs and only have 6 rounds as my primary load.

Mine is usually carried in a Hill People Gear chest rig.

I agree, and that's a big reason I lean towards the G30s and the G40. The g30s packing smaller and lighter, the g40 a bit heavier but more firepower.

I looked at the HPG and think I prefer the razco.

 

[Mackay Sagebrush]

I agree, and that's a big reason I lean towards the G30s and the G40. The g30s packing smaller and lighter, the g40 a bit heavier but more firepower.

I looked at the HPG and think I prefer the razco.

I don't know anything about the Razco but I will have to check them out. Love the HPG, and use it for a wide variety of purposes from big game hunting, kayaking, backpacking, etc. I also use it at work doing low vis/ high threat protection type stuff. That said, I am always willing to check out new gear and will take a look at the Razco.