Outdoors carry in AK changes from 1999 to 2023

by Rob Leahy , Prescott, Arizona, Monday, July 17, 2023, 15:32 (430 days ago)

from my personal observations... Most of this was seen in the wildlife sanctuary and popular fishing spot on the Kenai & Russian rivers. ("The Confluence") It is known for the abundance of black and brown bears that are never hunted and very habituated to humans.
In 1999 almost every outdoors man or woman that carried a pistol used a belt holster.
Guns in the late 90s revolvers were IT! I saw everything from 4" Taurus .22LR, many 4" Ns and Redhawks, K and L frame .357s to a T/C Contender(carried by a well to do appearing lady in her 60s, hazarding a guess) A Native gal had a 7.5" SBH on a belt over her traditional parkee, with a nylon uncle Mikes holster and pachmayr grips. a few young men carried G20s, older guys had 1911s and one young man had a Desert Eagle in a Uncle Mikes shoulder holster. 2 men carried 4" N frames and Marlin 45-70s the first day I saw them, and left the rifles in camp for the next couple of days. (it's a PIA to try and fly fish with a long gun, been there, done that, my Robar 870 was carried 1 day...)

Just back from our most recent Alaskan trip to visit our son and wonderful DIL and 3 grand children. Tends have changed for sure. Belt holsters account for maybe 10% of field carry today. Of those about half were cheesy plastic/nylon rigs. Half were some type of leather, the economical Hunter brand being the most commonly observed by me. Chest holsters rule for men and woman. Diamond D's excellent leather and nylon Guide's Choice was the most commonly observed chest rig, followed by the same company's nylon rig, then various other cheap Red Chinese nylon and/or plastic rigs and a few of Simply Rugged Chesty Puller Conversions.
Guns trends: 90% autos, with many G19/23s, followed by large framed Glocks, either 20 or 21s (I didn't ask) I saw some M&Ps in various chamberings and one XD in 10mm (I asked him, he's a friend) One wag had a 1911 nylon rig on his chest with the muzzle portion flopping around. He was carrying a little tiny LC9 in this 1911 rig... Most of the revolvers were stainless L or N frames. One Mennonite gal had a 6" stainless N, carried in a Hunter holster on a nylon belt, over her dress. A LOT of folks carried big canisters of bear spray. Very few gun toters carried bear spray. More than half of the fisherman, hikers and tourists didn't appear to be armed. I was carrying concealed. A 2.5" 329 Night Guard loaded with moderate level hard cast 250 TCs .44 magnums and a SIG365 9mm with Tim Sundles excellent Buffalo Bore 147 grain hard cast lead GC. The 365 is a travel gun that pairs with Jan's choice of a 365. these are easy to carry and conceal, and easy to shoot well. The 329 is not fun to shoot, but great to carry. I leave that in my son's gun safe. I used a Simply Rugged Pocket Protector holster weak side for the SIG. Along with a Single Mag Pouch. and one of my Sourdoughs IWB for the S&W. a Sidewinder Speed loader Pouch held and Safariland speed loader and a Vertical .44 pouch held a Quick Strip of .44s as well. File photo
2009 on the Kenai with my Chesty Puller System (A Sourdough Pancake Holster and 629 Mountain Gun)black bear Russian river boardwalk by Morgan Terry 2023 Mike Terry 92nd MP and me 2023. Mike was carrying a G19 I had my 2 pistols as described above. Mike lived in AK for years was a wildlife MP He recently retired after a long career as a Law Enforcement trainer. We served togother in Germany 83 and 84.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops