Thread: No Back-Up Sidearms?

Quote: Originally Posted by blasterak Fred Eichler and the guide were at the ABA Banquet this year, I believe the gun "jammed" after the first shot. So a second shot wasnt going to happen! It was a 500 S&W, and Fred didn't have his pistol on him, very lucky! I don't think they had anything to worry about - they were in a group of three. -hiker

I have for 20 years.Now for the flip side wonder how many carrying a whistle got ate by a bear cause the whistle didn't stop them.

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike Echo "if I expected trouble I would be taking a rifle, the pistol is always with me" Any group of three or more doesn't need anything, except not to get to far apart when the hair on the neck starts standing up. Mike I've read these kinds of reports all of my life. There is some truth to it no doubt. I still remain skeptical. Please forgive me if I do not believe everything I read...

or assume a bear will leave a group of people alone (3 or more). I do carry the 41 when I'm outside, don't get me wrong. On our club ATV rides I am not concerned about bears at all but still carry in case a cow moose starts stomping someone. Bears are more predictable than moose, therefore, to me anyway, more dangerous. Mike

Quote: Originally Posted by hiker Good clip. It shows how quick it will go down. Just wondering if he really tried to discharge into the water in front of the bear or did he just miss. Either way, it worked out for the best. My guess is a miss and if she had not stopped he would have been hard pressed to get another aimed shot off! No warning shots from me!

I guess statistics or not it is a piece of mind thing for some. I have not bought a pistol yet but every time I have been out hunting I have had my rifle with me. November 1st I will be headed out for a mountain goat bow hunt so we will see how I feel about pistols (or whistles) after that one

I'd like to hear some comments from REAL Alaskans about this : It seems pretty well established that you don't go unarmed into the Alaskan backcountry. But, even my wife has noticed that on hunting and fishing shows, "North to Alaska" in particular, you never see anyone carrying a sidearm. Is Larry Csonka that tough and intimidating that he doesn't need protection? Or is this just more PC crap from the TV...

I almost always carry a handgun in addition to my preferred longarm. That's because of the nasty tendency for trouble to start while you've laid down the longarm and walked away from it. You don't see mine though, because I'm not carrying it on my belt where it will be snagging in brush or getting wet. Might as well carry a cell phone and call Dial-A-Prayer instead though, if you don't shoot it well enough to do the job.

I've always liked this one:

Yeah me leaving the 10 at spike camp wasn't probably the best idea though you getting rid of all your 338 ammo before the hike down doesn't exactly say great things about your planning either... I look at it as incentive, figuring we would be less inclined to take excessive breaks in the tall grass on the way down. I think it worked as we did make decent time getting down the hill on that trip considering the heavy packs.