What and how do you carry your sidearm in the highcountry?

[Oak Sage Calls]

Kenai holster behind bino harness

 

[3325]

Springfield XD 10mm in a chest holster.

 

[WCB]

Correcto. My comment was more to stir the pot since so many think a 9mm can't be a bear defense round. I'm willing to gamble my life with it. Yolo

AH yes the 454 Casull guys....got ya

 

[donrleonard]

Just how a guy would that would draw carrying on the waist band with a winter coat on in public. left hand pulls coat up and right hand draws. I carry appendix inside the waist band with multiple layers on in the winter. Practice practice practice is the key...I am by no means a speed shooter but I am efficient and smooth.

Too be honest most times my outer layer is kind of tucked up behind it when I put it on anyways so mostly uncovered anyways. Most important part on wearing long clothes is making sure you clothing is clear when you are holstering. I have seen multiple occasions where clothing gets caught in the trigger guard and gun goes off while holstering.

Fair point. Your post inspires me to go for a cross-draw OWB setup. One that I can easily move from pack belt to waist belt and back.

These guys make just such a thing for my Glock 20. https://www.crossbreedholsters.com/product/the-reckoning-holster/?ref=fp-top-sellers

 

[Dave0317]

I only carry on bow hunts. The USMC will teach you to always keep your rifle in arms reach, so even doing stuff around camp or breaking down an animal, it’s close and ready to grab and use.

On a bow hunt, I’ve used a Safariland ALS tied with a little creativity and 550 cord so it sits tightly to the bottom of my AGC KISS. The way I tie it and the way I have the straps nice and snug, it’s high enough that it’s not tapping on my belt or anything. There is still potential for it to make a little plastic knocking sound when you bend over though. This was a budget solution that actually worked quite well. Security of the ALS is excellent, but also instantly available.

Next hunt, I will likely purchase the Kenai or something similar. I think I’d like it up higher and somewhat hidden is not a bad thing.

 

[Beendare]

One lesson from the guy and his dad that just got mauled out of Kenai, Ak:

Don’t use a holster with a retention strap that you have to undo to draw. His first attempt a drawing he couldn’t get his 10mm out of his holster…..then the bear was on him tossing him around.

 

[tangodelta13]

I've hunted with a leg/drop holster a few times. Some pro's & con's, but it works out alright. I've carried a couple varieties of Glocks (10mm or .357sig)

 

[DSchliep]

S&W 629 Mountain performance center in a gunfighters inc chest holster w/ 310gr hard cast.

 

[Northwest Outdoors]

I carry a glock 21 on an eberlestock bino harness. I always used to carry it on my hip in a holster but my pack puts pressure on it, causing the screws to come loose. So I made the switch to the harness holster and absolutely love it!

 

[el_jefe_pescado]

I carry my spray underneath my bino harness pointed away from my body. In a pinch I can operate the spray with one hand and the business end is already pointed at Mr. G Bear. S&W 629 on my hip belt with 305 grain HSM hard cast. Heavy gun, pain and a pain the rear end but I shoot it better than my 10mm.

I know of too many goofy encounters with big predators to not have some insurance.

 

[Jaredk03]

I usually hunt bear country so I use a strong side drop holster as that is what I have found is the quickest draw for me. Attached to my belt, not my pack so it is always on me if I decide to drop my pack. FNS 40 with TLR 7 light shooting Underwood 200 gr hardcast. I try to only carry my bow or rifle on my left side so my right is always free to draw quickly if needed.

 

[Roger17]

I'm changing my method this year. Posted earlier about using the Marsupial holster under their bino pack. Carried great, but I also refused to carry chambered since the muzzle covers anyone on my left side. I just bought a Gunfighters chest rig to wear behind my bino harness. Think I'm really going to like this setup.

 

[Orchemo]

WCB in post 91 is totally correct.

I use a paddle type holster on the hip belt of my EXO pack. This allows me to take the holster easily off the back and place on my pant belt.

When rifle hunting, my rifle has far my punch than any handgun.

When do I primary need a handgun, cleaning animals and cutting meat.

Rarely do I have my pack or bino harness on while I am working on an animal.

 

[Yung6ix]

I recently held a Ruger Super Redhawk in .44 mag, stainless with a 2-1/2 inch barrel so it can be "carried" carefully with a bulky cylinder. It's close to 4 pounds, woof, but definitely has some of that wow factor and sits in the mid price range of revolvers now a days at $900. It wouldn't be fun or pretty to shoot but seems like the closest thing to an equalizer in bear country.

A .41 magnum revolver seems pretty intriguing too but for range and carrying comfort I'd like something in the 4-6" length. S&W model 57 is a nice one but I'm not sure .41 mag would be quite big enough for the Bears out there? If I stayed small, that would take me to a semi auto loaded in 10mm or .45 ACP with an extra magazine, or three.

Many would argue, rightfully so, that .45 just isn't enough and recommend a short barreled 12 gauge slung over your shoulder loaded to the nines with slugs. They all sound more intriguing than a stick.. Good luck!

 

[OnPointBrands]

I carry a Glock 20 in a chest rig behind/below my bino harness. I posted a pic the other day in the elk meat pole thread, you can see the setup there. The G20 is high capacity if you want to fully load the mag and 10mm heavy hardcast loads are pretty stout.


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[greyghostnw]

10mm, ivory holster on exo…ivory awesome retention and keeps outa the dirt…although i have to take my light off not sure if they ever added light bearing. Surefire 300 stowes in pack until night. May switch to safariland …Always bring side arm adds another way to hunt bear if chosen when opportunity exists.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

I hunt in and out of Griz country and only during rifle season. It kinda depends on a lot of factors whether I decide to carry a pistol. If I hunt areas near the Bob, I’ll likely carry more often. Depends on the time of year and weather throughout the season. Warm season, bears are probably still crawling around.

If I do carry, I like the strong side drop holster. I use a safari land and it’s fantastic albeit expensive. It does have a retention system. I practice often with it so it is second nature when I draw.

I recently got a smoking deal on a used G20 and it included a Kenai chest holster. I have no use for this during hunting season so I’m interested trying this holster fishing this year when I don’t need a bino harness.

I’d rather shoot a bear with a rifle 10 out of 10 times over a pistol. One of the reasons I use lower power scopes and always carry with the scope set on the lowest power.

I never carry a pistol in my pack…what good will that do you?

Side note: One year I carried my G19 with a red dot. Ran into crazy snow days out on the hill. Needless to say, the hood on the red dot constantly filled with snow. The pistol was unusable. No matter how many times I cleaned out the hood, it was still a foggy mess and I couldn’t even use the back up, suppressor height irons. Because of this, I only carry iron sight mounted pistols in the woods during rifle season.

 

[Turkeytider]

I hunt in and out of Griz country and only during rifle season. It kinda depends on a lot of factors whether I decide to carry a pistol. If I hunt areas near the Bob, I’ll likely carry more often. Depends on the time of year and weather throughout the season. Warm season, bears are probably still crawling around.

If I do carry, I like the strong side drop holster. I use a safari land and it’s fantastic albeit expensive. It does have a retention system. I practice often with it so it is second nature when I draw.

I recently got a smoking deal on a used G20 and it included a Kenai chest holster. I have no use for this during hunting season so I’m interested trying this holster fishing this year when I don’t need a bino harness.

I’d rather shoot a bear with a rifle 10 out of 10 times over a pistol. One of the reasons I use lower power scopes and always carry with the scope set on the lowest power.

I never carry a pistol in my pack…what good will that do you?

Side note: One year I carried my G19 with a red dot. Ran into crazy snow days out on the hill. Needless to say, the hood on the red dot constantly filled with snow. The pistol was unusable. No matter how many times I cleaned out the hood, it was still a foggy mess and I couldn’t even use the back up, suppressor height irons. Because of this, I only carry iron sight mounted pistols in the woods during rifle season.

Just never had a desire to shoot a bear, for any reason, but if I had to spend time in territory where there were big things that could and would eat me, hell I’d carry a Gatling gun if I could figure out a way to tote it!