This was made in response to 358 Hammer's recent encounter with a bear. It was lost in an unrelated thread on another forum, so I thought I would post it here under its own title so more handgun hunters would geta chance to see it.

Hammer: For where you are hunting, I would strongly consider a bolt gun also for backup shots on a charge. I don't have big bears to contend with where I hunt.

You ought to look into Kifaru's GunBearer System. Their sight is located @ www.kifaru.net

Here is a link to the GunBearer Systems for both rifles and handguns: http://www.kifaru.net/GUNBEAR.HTM Scroll down and the Universal GunBearer and Handgun Bearers will come up. The GunBearer System employs a webbing cradle the butt of a rifle rides in that connects to a pack's hip belt. A Cam-Lock Strap connects to the adjustment buckle on the pack's shoulder strap suspension. A quick tug on the Cam-Lock strap releases the barrel and or the fore arm and a rifle can be at your shoulder in a fraction of a second. All of this is illustrated very well on the link given above.

For handgun use, I have adapted this system for my pistol by installing a pouch on my pack's hip belt in place of the Gun Bearer Cradle system to carry my Encore's grip. I run the Cam-Lock Strap around the legs of the bipod mounted on my rifle length fore arm. The hip belt carries most of the weight of the gun with this set up and this system works out much better when carrying a pack than a sling or anything else I have tried. It isn't quite as fast as a rifle is with a Gun Bearer cradle but pretty darn close.

A handgun will ride with the scope reversed as compared to the rifle pictured. A rear grip bolt handgun would work even better and wouldn't require a bipod to run the strap around the legs of because of the added action length and the barrel sticking out there farther.

The Gun Bearer System was developed for just the kind of hunting conditions you are hunting in, where you may need a gun to stop a bear at a moments notice.

Kifaru also makes a Handgun Bearer, which I also have. It is designed for carrying a large scoped handgun sideways a cross your chest. It also works well but is much slower to get the gun into battery than the rifle Gun Bearer adaptation system is that I have worked out. The Handgun Bearer is basically the Hand Warmer Pouch with an extra compartment for the pistol. It is a fantastic way to carry your binos with out putting any pressure on your neck. A lot of other gear can also go in Handgun Bearer as well, and it offsets the weight of the pack on your back to a noticeable extent.

Kifaru also sells Possibles Pouches, and the small one would be about right for a handgun grip carrying container. The pouch I am using was made by Uncle Mikes, to carry a snub nosed revolver in concealed as a belly pouch or fanny pack. I hope this is of some help to other handgun hunters out there...Rusty.

Rusty, thanks for the information. Do you have any insight as to whether the handgun bearer will work on other manufacturers' packs? I have a Badlands 2200 that, while being a dandy pack, isn't terribly conducive to carrying rifles or scoped handguns (as with most packs). I'm just wondering if the handgun bearer (or something similar) would work with it.

Thanks

I believe it will work on just about anyone's pack. The Handgun Bearer has webbing that threads through the shoulder strap adjustment buckle and is back stitched as a stop that can't slide back through the buckle. It is also adjustable for height by pulling on the straps that go through the male buckles. When using the Handgun Bearer or Hand Warmer pouches, no sternum strap is required as the pouch keeps your shoulder straps in place.

The pouch connects to the harness with male and female quick-release buckles. Adjustments for the handgun carrying position or closure for that compartment are made by velcro on the hand warmer openings. There is also the pouch compartment for your binos, which has a zipper a cross the top, with a detachable camo-fleece cover over the front. It is a little hard to remove the gun with binos and a lot of gear in the pouch. I bought the Handgun Bearer with my Long Hunter Guide Pack before I figured out the quicker and more comfortable system.

In hunting, I use both set ups at the same time...Rusty.