Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Kifaru Gun bearer. Yes another ???

I know this has been asked in one form or another more than once, but my question is straightforward to those who have used the gun bearer.
Would you recomend it or not? Why or why not?
I carry an Eberlestock Blue Widow pack & a Marlin Guide Gun with scout scope & spend a lot of time spot & stalk hunting in Alaska's high country, sometimes covering a lot of ground in some fairly steep or thick areas where it's nice to have both hands free.

The gun bearer is a great tool. It does hang out in front of you. You to pull it up tight to your body if climbing on all fours up steep slopes, but it is ready in an instance, I love it.
I have both the standard and universal. My pick is the universal because big boot holder for bottom of rifle stock. Universal goes in and out quicker.

I use the universal even on my non-kifaru packs.

Have had mine for several years now. Being hands free to climb, move brush out of the way or use trekking poles is awesome. The top of the gun barrel at times can block your vision slightly, but nothing that has hindered me. I've had to adjust it a bit to get the rifle where I want it so that it's not hanging too low or too much in front, but once you find the sweet spot, it's perfect. Being hands free, yet able to deploy the rifle quickly and quietly is MONEY. I've never had it fall out or fail to deploy. I mostly bow hunt now, but when carrying a rifle, I always use the gun-bearer.

I like mine for sure
Tim

I've used the Gunbearer for the past three elk seasons, in some really rugged terrain, and I'm completely happy with it. I've never had an issue with it coming loose (ever), and the gun is right there if I need it for a quick shot. You can adjust the "ride" so its not right in your face, which is nice. One thing of note; it might leave wear some minor marks on your rifle or scope tube over time, but this is a non-issue to me. Any marks on my weapons are just reminders of great hunting days in field.....

I've used one for 4 years now - it's a tremendous help. You get less fatigued and are much more able to climb, etc.

The only caveat is that you have to be aware of your muzzle in an unusual way. That is, if you bend forward at all, it's possible to 'cover' something with your muzzle without realizing it.

Other than that - I love it.

Bought mine on the advice of folks here.

Had it three years and love it....

I've had mine on quite a few hunts and I love having it. I dont use it ALL the time, but its such an easy thing to have along and use. For glassing in high winds it works very good, and its stable and out of the way when hiking with heavy loads....

Another vote for the Gun Bearer. Once you get used to your rifle riding in front of you, it's a great system.

Been a a couple hunts with some friends that have had them....I don't like the fact that you have to remove it to sit down. I like to take "sit down breaks" and its one more thing you got to do. Granted its MUCH faster than strapping it to my pack with the butt stock in the water bottler holder and it doesn't stick up above you as high when going through the brush either. For that the Kifaru is the way to go. But the rifle removal to sit down and the having in my grill while hiking is hard for me to get used to.

This year I am going to try using this on the waistbelt of my pack and a zip tie to the rifle barrel next to the frame. When I want to access my rifle just unclip the waistbelt thingy and slide the rifle down until the barrel clears the zip tie and I am good to go. Pretty fast access without having to take off my pack (not as fast as the Kifaru) but I can sit down with it as well as not have it in my face. Plus its only as tall as my head now not an antenna like when I carry my rifle in the waterbottle pouch on the side of my pack.

http://www.gunslingercorral.com/

Its all about finding what works best for you.

Rifle stock attached on the waistbelt with the corral gun slinger:


Rifle barrel secured to the pack frame with a simple zip tie:


Not the way the Corral gun slingers designed it to be used no doubt but I have since dropped the rifle sling off of my sheep rifle as I never use it, plus the zip tie keeps it way more secure than the sternum strap securing the rifle sling corral gunslinger people suggest from my experiments with it.

I have the gunbearing attached to my Kifaru Express and love it. I dont know that I would want to have a rifle barrel zip tied to my pack in a maner that the muzzle may cover my face while removing it. Normaly even if wearing the rifle on a sling I have to move the rifle. I tend not to sit too much on my hunts.

No worries man the muzzle never covers my face while removing it. Tried removing several different ways and it is always pointed FAR away from my head.

As for sitting on hunts....Well I am just a pansy and like to sit down a lot when I am taking breaks from hiking up hills.

Like I said just gotta find what works for you...just happens i prefer this over a gun bearer...just showing another option.

I like mine. I always remove the rifle when I sit down. On the premise that I might see something I want to shoot while I'm sittin.'

I only unclip the top strap when sitting. It's not too difficult to re-clip when starting back out...

Love ours. Son has one on his Mystery Ranch now.

You mean, as opposed to the immense difficulty and logistical challenges associated with taking the butt out of the cradle?

Wanted to add something that I forgot that hasn't been mentioned yet. The area I hunt elk in is (naturally) steeper than h*ll. I noticed that if were hiking up a steep trail, and I'm behind someone, sometimes the rifle barrel points a bit close to them if I'm leaning forward moving up the trail. As a result, I usually take the lead on the steep sectons to prevent this. YMMV, depending on how you wear your gunbearer, but that's what it does for me.
Also, I've sat down many times on the trail with my pack and gunbearer on, with no issues at all. Gun stays put, and doesn't get in the way while you take a break.

I like mine as well. My rifle has a 26" barrel and the GB allows you to keep it out in front and lower. At first, I thought it might be a little clumsy, but it is not. For me, it provides better control when hiking requires both hands.

I guess I'm the odd man out. I hated the thing. First trip up an Alaskan mountain, the damn thing was in the way and throwing off my balance and getting in the way of negotiating some steep stuff. It caught in the willows and thumped around like a 3rd leg. Couldn't wait to throw that piece of crap in the dumpster.

The Eberlestock J104, was the opposite. Just great! The rifle out of my way and out of harms way in its scabbard in back.I can and have pulled it out over my shoulder with the pack on and killed two elk. I'm hunting animals not Al Qaida where I need the thing ready for a frontal assault.

Its good to have options.