Bear County Chest Rig Updates

Updates I made to my bear country chest rig in 2023.

[@filmsbydiek7316]

Nice rig! I've been thinking about the dual-chest holster concept, you have a lot of good concepts thought out here. Bravo!

[@406MountainBoys]

Thanks!

[@locacarnivore900]

Nice rig, and thanks again for turning me on to the High-Speed Gear chest panel. Top draw kit, that is. Also, welcome to the 10mm family (cult), been a fan since my first one in the late 80s. I'll link this vid to my chest rig build vid so folks can see this one as well as your first--which I thought was well done, too. I run my rig a bit different and have also evolved it as I get more and more time with it in the timber. I'll do an update some time in the future. Glad to see you took heed of the dangers of moose encounters--especially in winter--which I mentioned in my build vid. Montana has many ways to bite, claw, chomp, or stomp you to death--be ready for all. Cheers.

[@406MountainBoys]

There's more more moose out there than bears but how many people (besides us) would watch a video titled Moose Chest Rig? I finally justified the 10mm to myself because I was doing so many solo hunts this year (which is probably riskier than being in bear country anyway).

[@406MountainBoys]

And yeah, the Glock 20 shoots great! 10mm cult isn't such a bad place to be.

[@riversavage5608]

Good video.

[@406MountainBoys]

Thanks!

[@notaturkey2607]

I am glad that you posted this today because I was JUST revisiting this "Bear Country Chest Rig" idea today. I had pulled up several 5.11 website pages to browse their chest type rig, AND also looking at type of chest pack's they used in the movie Maze Runner. I appreciate your insight into the placement of "mid-chest" to avoid getting in the way of a regular backpack spaces. There's lots to think about. Also, I too use 147 grain Hardcast 9mm, because I believe it penetrates more than 10mm, due to it's smaller diameter.

[@406MountainBoys]

I agree, that 147gr HC is no slouch! Deeper penetration just because of the smaller frontal diameter, that I'm a little sceptical of because it's running about half the ft-lbs of energy of the 10mm HC loads. That's where the .357 Mag fits into that goldilocks zone of smaller frontal diameter with the velocity edge. I had a "better" woods gun all the time before I got the Glock 20, it's just heavier, harder to shoot well with these kinds of loads and only has a five shot cylinder.

[@406MountainBoys]

Ron Spomer has been doing doing a series of bear videos this month you might want to check out. Here's one where he's talking with Phil Shoemaker in Alaska who put Buffalo Bore's 147gr hardcast to the test kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3KxemmLYrh_atEsi=E8Zr8tPSUdQbJBb8.

[@dominion5150]

Mike, good choice with the 10mm, however, I would change out the holster for it. Personally, I don’t like the Sherpa holsters because when you draw the firearm, it places your finger right in or near the trigger, as you mentioned… From my experience, this HAS caused several AD’s /ND’s for people when they draw their pistol in a stressful situation. If you want to have a retention system for your pistol, there are other options from BlackHawk that don’t place your finger so close to the trigger… Just my personal opinion based on my experiences.

[@406MountainBoys]

I might try their other duty holsters with a thumb release. Not as many options for the fullsize frames, and they only seem to come in black which means it would be time to bust out the coating tools. I get what you're saying about finger placement but NDs/ADs happen regardless of the holster if the shooter has their finger on the trigger or in the trigger guard when they shouldn't. It's a training and proficiency issue. We've had this same conversation before.

[@joeljacobsen1180]

Recommendations?

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

Nice video. But you still have that dangerous Serpa. It’s really bad if you fall and get even a small pebble lodge in the release mechanism. It’s why most police departments these days forbid their officer from carrying it off duty or in plain clothes. I bought the all leather Diamond D chest rig and I love it!!!!

[@406MountainBoys]

Yep, still working for me and still have yet to find another that works with my rig the way I want it to. if only my Galco Fletch could ride on the chest rig next to the bear spray!!

[@joeljacobsen1180]

Do you recommend an alternative holster for this chest panel?

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

@@joeljacobsen1180 Vedder “light tucks” are better than anything else. Not bulky, adjustable height and can’t angle with spring steel metal clip. It will never break. Inside area of the kydex when it contacts with the gun is polished smooth like a waxed new car paint job. Once you buy Vedder light tuck, you’ll never buy anything else for appendix IWB carry.

[@joeljacobsen1180]

Thanks!@@colt10mmsecurity68