Who carries??

[goldenhtr]

I would like to get a pistol to carry while archery hunting and riding my MC in the woods in the summer/scouting.
What caliber and how do you carry? For whatever reason I was thinking .40-.45.  or should I look at the 9mm?

[Scheindogg]

Honestly if you’re getting it mainly for woods carry I wouldn’t get anything less than a 10mm.
10mm is the only capable woods load in a semi auto IMHO.
Most wheel guns (.357, 44mag etc are also great for it.
I carry my Glock 20 in a drop leg holster in the woods

[goldenhtr]

Great info , thanks I will look at the 10mm guns.

[jrebel]

40 or 45 will be sufficient......with that said I carry 454 casual in a gunfighters Inc kenai chest holster most of the time.  For simple day trip hikes I will also carry a .357 / .40 /.45.....depending on my mood.  Most the time I'm hiking I am more worried about two legged predators. 

[superdown]

I carry a Smith & Wesson model 69 five shot 44 mag in a leather chest holster.It's nice to carry because you get 44 mag power in a 357 size package.

[Duckslayer89]

I bought a 40 when I bought my glock. Mainly for ammo availability but I hardly shoot it so looking back I would have went 10mm for sure for the extra power

[goldenhtr]

So when archery hunting do you guys carry on your hip or chest? I was thinking hip if hunting and chest if on the MC.

[Miles]

I carry a Sig P320 in 9mm.   With good ammo it should be more than enough to get you out of a hairy situation.  Lots of information out there about 9mm and their performance with some of the newer ammo. Plus ammo is cheap for plinking rounds. 

I always carry on my right hip, even while on the atv.  When driving, it’s loaded and in the console.  I love Colorado, no permit needed for loaded carry in your vehicle.

[jrebel]

So when archery hunting do you guys carry on your hip or chest?

When archery hunting I carry a Ruger lcr 357 on my hip.  Light weight and small so it doesn't get in the way.  Depending on my pack it can be attached to the hip belt.  This is a pain sometimes because when you take your pack off the gun goes with it. 

[ghosthunter]

Think long and hard.

I know a dozen guys,me included who thought they needed to carry a big caliber gun while hunting for self defense and every one of them gave up the big guns for something smaller and lighter.

The best self defense gun is the one you will carry every time. And comfort over all else determines it at least around this state.

You have little to zero chance of ever needing it.

Yet I carry every day. I am never without at least one gun on me.
My favorites now are two Bond Hand Cannons in .410 / 45 Long colt. In a double shoulder rig.
Or my LCP 380.
I own bigger guns but in the end they are just too big and heavy.

I carry while hunting because I fell once off a ledge. My long gun was gone. But a handgun will in most cases stay with you.

Choose comfort first ,caliber 2 nd

[KFhunter]

I pack a G20 when I'm going in pretty deep archery or scouting.  It's heavy, Ghost does have a point there but I won't pack a 2 shot derringer either (no offense Ghost)
Nor one of those goofy Judges either, I hate those things.

Nothing wrong with a .40 S&W in your favorite flavor either.  This is Washington, if you were archery hunting AK or MT I'd suggest the biggest thing you can carry and use very well, but here a .40 S&W is fine. 

[j_h_nimrod]

 

Think long and hard.

I know a dozen guys,me included who thought they needed to carry a big caliber gun while hunting for self defense and every one of them gave up the big guns for something smaller and lighter.

The best self defense gun is the one you will carry every time. And comfort over all else determines it at least around this state.

You have little to zero chance of ever needing it.

Yet I carry every day. I am never without at least one gun on me.
My favorites now are two Bond Hand Cannons in .410 / 45 Long colt. In a double shoulder rig.
Or my LCP 380.
I own bigger guns but in the end they are just too big and heavy.

I carry while hunting because I fell once off a ledge. My long gun was gone. But a handgun will in most cases stay with you.

Choose comfort first ,caliber 2 nd

When I was in brown bear country I opted for the biggest, baddest thing I could get (snubbing .500 S&W), it was compact and light enough to carry easily enough while working. Here It would be massive overkill and entirely unnecessary.  Down here I pretty much stick with my Sig 938 with an ISWB at the small of my back or a holster clipped to my pack waist belt. If I am scouting in bear country or feel like I want a little more I grab my .44 S&W 329 NG in a Gunfighters Inc. chest holster, 6-.300gr hard cast lead slugs in an easy to carry  light framed pistol should do the trick. I probably carry the 938 over 90% of the time and have not felt under gunned.

[syoungs]

I'm replacing my 44 with a glock 20, love the 10mm's versatility. I have large hands, and the size of the pistol doesn't scare me, and running a large gun in a chest rig is what I'm used to.

If your not used to packing a large pistol around it may not be for you, only you could answer that!

I wouldn't hesitate to carry my 9mm either, I fear a confrontation with a 2 legged creature more then a 4.

[BLDtraLR]

Might want to look at the S&W sheild 45.  Light , compact easy to carry and one of the most accurate guns i've shot. My buddy also swears by his.

[NorseNW]

Think long and hard.

I know a dozen guys,me included who thought they needed to carry a big caliber gun while hunting for self defense and every one of them gave up the big guns for something smaller and lighter.

The best self defense gun is the one you will carry every time. And comfort over all else determines it at least around this state.

You have little to zero chance of ever needing it.

Yet I carry every day. I am never without at least one gun on me.
My favorites now are two Bond Hand Cannons in .410 / 45 Long colt. In a double shoulder rig.
Or my LCP 380.
I own bigger guns but in the end they are just too big and heavy.

I carry while hunting because I fell once off a ledge. My long gun was gone. But a handgun will in most cases stay with you.

Choose comfort first ,caliber 2 nd

I'm with ghost on this one.  I will add to his the best self defense gun is the one you will carry every time - the best self defense gun is also the one you can shoot quickly and hit accurately.  I'm a huge fan of the .40 round.  I've done a lot of defensive handgun ballistic research (reading and personal testing).  I love the .40 - I can't shoot it for CRAP!  I can run a 9mm much much faster and more accurate.  That's where I hang my hat.  If the "heavy hitter" shooters can run their guns my hat is off to them.  If I can get 5 rounds in you accurately before you pick up yours sights for the follow up shots.  I'll take that.  My 2 cents

[syoungs]

Think long and hard.

I know a dozen guys,me included who thought they needed to carry a big caliber gun while hunting for self defense and every one of them gave up the big guns for something smaller and lighter.

The best self defense gun is the one you will carry every time. And comfort over all else determines it at least around this state.

You have little to zero chance of ever needing it.

Yet I carry every day. I am never without at least one gun on me.
My favorites now are two Bond Hand Cannons in .410 / 45 Long colt. In a double shoulder rig.
Or my LCP 380.
I own bigger guns but in the end they are just too big and heavy.

I carry while hunting because I fell once off a ledge. My long gun was gone. But a handgun will in most cases stay with you.

Choose comfort first ,caliber 2 nd

I'm with ghost on this one.  I will add to his the best self defense gun is the one you will carry every time - the best self defense gun is also the one you can shoot quickly and hit accurately.  I'm a huge fan of the .40 round.  I've done a lot of defensive handgun ballistic research (reading and personal testing).  I love the .40 - I can't shoot it for CRAP!  I can run a 9mm much much faster and more accurate.  That's where I hang my hat.  If the "heavy hitter" shooters can run their guns my hat is off to them.  If I can get 5 rounds in you accurately before you pick up yours sights for the follow up shots.  I'll take that.  My 2 cents

That's a good point.

I run my self defense guns along side my comp guns shooting a steel challenge match 1-2 times a month.

If you want to get familiar and confident with a pistol, I highly recommend finding a match near you and doing it!

[tritt007]

I like to carry my glock 19 with a 17 magazine in it in the woods , not many tweakers it can't handle  , than again i live in the woods lol . Once in awhile ill throw my springfield range officer in .45 on, and in town I carry my Sig p290rs in a Vedder light tuck iwb with a spare mag holder . Or my lcp . 9mm works great for sw washington !

[follow maggie]

I carry either my Beretta 9mm or H&K .45 in a holster on my hip. Mostly the Beretta because I shoot it & run it so much better than the H&K. Spent so much time with them in the Navy that it's still automatic to me.

[biggfish]

I carry a single action army in.357 for hunting. I like it but it does weight on you after a couple hours.

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[724wd]

usually my .357 or my 1911. every once in a while I'll opt for my S&W airweight .38 (usually when it's hot).

[Cylvertip]

For the woods, it is usually my 17-L (Glock 17 Long Slide) . 9mm is fine for the wetside.    You can soop up a 9 by running Underwood Xtreme Penetrator Ammo.  When it is not the 17-L, it is a 17 with FMj's.

When I move to hunting in brown bear country, I will up my game to a Glock 40 (10mm Long Slide) with Underwood Ammo.

[Special T]

Think long and hard.

I know a dozen guys,me included who thought they needed to carry a big caliber gun while hunting for self defense and every one of them gave up the big guns for something smaller and lighter.

The best self defense gun is the one you will carry every time. And comfort over all else determines it at least around this state.

You have little to zero chance of ever needing it.

Yet I carry every day. I am never without at least one gun on me.
My favorites now are two Bond Hand Cannons in .410 / 45 Long colt. In a double shoulder rig.
Or my LCP 380.
I own bigger guns but in the end they are just too big and heavy.

I carry while hunting because I fell once off a ledge. My long gun was gone. But a handgun will in most cases stay with you.

Choose comfort first ,caliber 2 nd

Great advice... The kind that comes from some one whom has packed iron for quite a while.

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[Torrent50]

I prefer the 10 mm as well.  I carry a Glock 29 with Underwood 180 grain XTP when in WA.  If I'm in a location where there might be some grizzlies I opt for Buffalo Bore 200 grain hard-cast. 

Even though I carry a handgun for defense I always remember some advise I read somewhere.  "If you choose to carry a handgun  in the woods for bear defense, it is a good idea to remove or file down the front sight.  That way when the bear takes it from you and shoves it up your A$$ it won't hurt as much." 

 

[TVHunts]

I am another glock 29 guy during archery season.  But, I carry a LC9 every day for the last several years now including every time I am upland hunting. It’s light and comfortable to carry with a good holster.

[follow maggie]

I love my lc9 also. I also carry it when I’m bird hunting and in my vest when fishing.

[Stein]

My thinking is that I'm going to have trouble with a two legger about 1,000 times more often than one with four.  I usually carry my LCR .357, it hides away in any carry configuration.

[tgomez]

I carry a Glock 21 Gen2 in. 45, I like the piece of mind in having a 13 round magazine and 1 in the chamber.

[Wagglyfawn]

I carry a S&W 22A in case I see any grouse.

[KimWar1911]

Glock G40 10mm with Underwood 200 grain hard cast rounds in the woods for me. 16 rounds which are capable for pretty much any situation. Good shooting gun that’s optic ready and a 6 inch barrel.


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[KFhunter]

So when archery hunting do you guys carry on your hip or chest? I was thinking hip if hunting and chest if on the MC.

You don't wear a chest protector?


I used to ride MC a lot, and had guns pointed at me while doing so.  I got into a long haired hippy grow patch and had a rifle pointed at me, dude looked straight out of ZZ top with his beard...point taken, I got out of his MJ patch.

I think a chest holster would be best for MC riding, if you wanted too you could attach a quick attach to your chest protector.  Another option is a tank bag with a pistol in it, but it's going to get jostled a lot so it'll need to be super secure.

[Big6bull]

I broke my arrow rest shooting my black bear this year. Wish I had my  9mm on me was a little worried blood trailing it with no way to follow up shot in thick brush. (usually carry the 9 cause it’s all I have). Luckily it was dead. Now I will carry every time.

What do u guys think on this I have an Alaskan guide creation  Bino pouch on my chest and I stArted carrying it in the zipper pouch on the back side next to my chest. I found it super easy to access and out of the way. I can’t help but be conserned of shooting myself in the chest so I might go back to holster. Any thoughts on this? I feel comfortable with a round chAmbered on my belt but not on my chest. Saying that might have answered my own question...

[colersu22]

I broke my arrow rest shooting my black bear this year. Wish I had my  9mm on me was a little worried blood trailing it with no way to follow up shot in thick brush. (usually carry the 9 cause it’s all I have). Luckily it was dead. Now I will carry every time.

What do u guys think on this I have an Alaskan guide creation  Bino pouch on my chest and I stArted carrying it in the zipper pouch on the back side next to my chest. I found it super easy to access and out of the way. I can’t help but be conserned of shooting myself in the chest so I might go back to holster. Any thoughts on this? I feel comfortable with a round chAmbered on my belt but not on my chest. Saying that might have answered my own question...

I use the AGC bino harness as well and use the Gunfighters INC Kenai holster and have the holster right under the bino harness or have the bino harness slightly on top of the holster and it works real well, easy to access and gives it a little concealment.  Plus I don't like taking my pack off and not having the pistol on me and I don't think it is comfortable to have an IWB holster and have my pack waist belt over top of the pistol.