Loaded for Bear

Black bears are becoming a problem on the AT in these parts. I have pistols suitable for bear defense if necessary, the problem I have is how to carry. Where/how do you carry a pistol while wearing a backpack with waist belt and shoulder straps?

I remember an account of a (Alaskan I think) guide carrying out a load of meat when a brownie took a swipe at him. He ducked, the bear hit the backpack knocking him down, but he pulled and fired his revolver ultimately killing the bear. Again, backpack shoulder straps, waist belt to shift weight to the hips, so where was the revolver carried?

The waist belt on my old external frame allows a cross draw holster to be attached.

Chest rig

Shoulder, chest and practice... practice

12 gauge slug gun!

Put on your pack and th n see which area is easyist to reach then look at ways to carry your pistol there

For me that worked out to be just to the right of my belly button, not at the waist but up higher with the but almost horizontal so I put a strap between the pack straps at th right height and that is where I put my holster

A friend just gave me a strap that fastens to your belt kind of like a Sam brown belt to put my holster on it puts the house later in a slightly different spot but I think it will work out a bit better

Exactly

I always put mine on the LH shoulder strap in front.

Check out Pistolpackaging.com belt and holster options. Maybe they have something that would work for you. I carry a 14" 7x30 Contender in one of their shoulder belt/holster combinations.

http://www.pistolpackaging.com/Bandito_Shoulder_Belt_p/bsb.htm

Dave

if I was worried about bears it'd be in my hand

x3...that's how my .41 mag rode all those yrs guiding in Idaho.

X4