Your sidearm choice

[mrbb]

Bear sightings may be rare elsewhere, but I hunt in Pike County, PA, which has one of the highest black bear populations in the country I've been false charged twice while bowhunting. I've had about four other encounters in the woods while hunting that went better. This purchase is long overdue.

On a serious note, I appreciate your advice. I'm sure the pistol will choose me.

any how, if your plan is to OPEN carry a hand gun while bow hunting, , I am 99.9% sure that is ILLEGAL to so
you cannot be carrying a firearm in the open while bow hunting, its NOT allowed in PA
the ONLY way you can legally carry a firearm while bow hunting in Pa< is if its with your conceal carry permit
so like I said, might be better off with bear spray which an be legally carried in the open!

 

[Idaho Lefty]

I've packed in, for, tent / Bivy hunts for, 3 or, 4 Days at a Time and have Bow Hunted Elk, in Idaho for over, a Decade and,..
I STILL like, my Glock 19, Gen 3, with, some custom, Trigger work that, I carry Cross Draw fashion in, a Thumb Break, holster, on my EXO Pack's, exterior, Belt. Glock 19's are, fairly Small, very "Shootable" and light weight on a 45 lb Pack = 47 Lbs total.
I only load, 9 rounds in it to, keep the Weight, down and Hopefully NOT, have to, use it for,.. Rattler's, Mountain Lions, 2 or, 4 Legged Coyotes, Wolves, Black Bears, etc. And YES, it felt "good" in my Hand, while shooing away, a 300 lb Blackie, coming up the Creek, AT ME,.. @ 30 ish, Yards !
IF, 9 shot's doesn't,.. "Get it, done", I'll throw it at, them, LOL ! I practice, at least, Monthly with, it as, it's, also my, EDC ( W/ 13-15 rds in mag. ).
I use, 147 grain, Federal HST, HP's in it. Good luck with,.. Your Choice !

 

[Mark37082]

I shoot and carry a HK45 full frame on the hip with jacket or shirt cover. When hunting I often carry the SW500 4" barrel. Bears are seldom a worry, but if something comes at me with I'll intent I can generally put two rounds on target in less than 3 seconds with this beast. It's a little heavy and you better be using ear protection.

 

[2buffalo]

I carry a Springfield Armory Hellcat. 13 rounds of 9mm in a small package.

 

[Wolf76]

For CC, I use a SW shield 9mm. It's very thin and doesn't print when carrying it. I don't love the feel of it in my hands, but I shoot it well. I'd look at a sig P365 if I didn't already have the shield.
Open carry is a Glock 29 in 10mm. Definitely more KO power.

 

[just_jon]

Lots of excellent options for concealed carry, but the best advice I can give you is buy what feels good to you and invest in a quality holster. I carry either a Glock 26 and a S&W 640 depending on clothing worn.

As for carrying during PA archery season, the 2022-2023 Hunting & Trapping Digest states on page 20:

"Persons hunting deer in the archery seasons may not possess a firearm, except individuals who possess a License to Carry Firearms permit, an then only those firearms authorized by the permit (most sporting firearms are not permitted)."

"Possession of any firearm during archery season is prohibited unless the individual possesses a license to carry a concealed."

 

[lancetkenyon]

I daily carried a Kimber Tactical Ultra 3" .45ACP for 15+ years. With all of the craziness in the last 2-3 years, I started wanting for more capacity than 7+1. Even if my 7+1 was a 240gr+P.

So, now I daily CC a Glock 19. 15+1 of 9mm 124gr+P. I really like it.

My wife used to not like me carrying. Now, she does, feeling more protected should the SHTF.

As for a bear deterrent carry, I would match a G19 daily carry with a G20 10mm. It will feel similar, but the 10mm has a lot more HP. Lots of guys going to a G20 in big bear country for pure speed on target and higher round capacity and rate of fire over a big double action 44mag. 15+1 of 10mm is no slouch.

 

[Troutslayer2]

EDC - P365
Bear Defense - Ruger Redhawk Talo exclusive with 2.75" barrel. I came close to needing to shoot a griz once, had the hammer pulled back.

 

[NW NM hunter]

My CC is a sig 365, hellcats are good too, both are small with a higher capacity. In it I use barnes tac xpd bullets. My out in the hills carry is an hk vp 40 full size with leigh xtreme defense (their xtreme penetrator may be good for bears). Recoil on both is about the same. Bullets are just as important as the gun and pick them for your intended use. Good luck and happy shooting.

 

[ZAK13]

I hunt in Pike county, personally for bow hunting, a Ruger GP-100 with a 4" barrel is perfect carry while hunting. The 357 is good medicine for black bear or 2 legged predators. Personally carry a P365x when not hunting.

 

[dmj]

I carry a Glock 27. I need to practice with it more. Not operating the pistol but actual shooting. Seems like I carry it for miles and miles and am always going to stop someplace and actually shoot. But for reason or another it doesn't happen. Anyway for me it's a pistol that I don't mind carrying. Good luck with your search.

 

[megastink]

I hunt in Pike county, personally for bow hunting, a Ruger GP-100 with a 4" barrel is perfect carry while hunting. The 357 is good medicine for black bear or 2 legged predators. Personally carry a P365x when not hunting.

Always good meeting a fellow Pike county hunter. This season, we should share a campfire and tell stories over whisky!

 

[ZAK13]

Always good meeting a fellow Pike county hunter. This season, we should share a campfire and tell stories over whisky!

I like that idea.

 

[Len729]

I conceal carry a Springfield Hellcat and on other occasions a full size Springfield XDM in 45. Both shoot great and never had a misfire or jam.