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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 40
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 40 |
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.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,961
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,961 |
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.
Last edited by DayPacker; 05/06/11.
Time spent hunting is not deducted from one's lifetime.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,961
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,961 |
I use the universal even on my non-kifaru packs.
Time spent hunting is not deducted from one's lifetime.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 31
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 31 |
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.
Last edited by JBR; 05/06/11.
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 315
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 315 |
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 13
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 13 |
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.....
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 490
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 490 |
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.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,871
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,871 |
Bought mine on the advice of folks here.
Had it three years and love it....
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,431
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,431 |
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....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,718
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,718 |
Another vote for the Gun Bearer. Once you get used to your rifle riding in front of you, it's a great system.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,831
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,831 |
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.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 248
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 248 |
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.
Have to be OUT THERE!
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,831
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,831 |
I dont know that I would want to have a rifle barrel zip tied to my pack in a manner 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.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,114 Likes: 6
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,114 Likes: 6 |
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.'
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,661
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,661 |
I only unclip the top strap when sitting. It's not too difficult to re-clip when starting back out...
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,352
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,352 |
Love ours. Son has one on his Mystery Ranch now.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,114 Likes: 6
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,114 Likes: 6 |
I only unclip the top strap when sitting. It's not too difficult to re-clip when starting back out... You mean, as opposed to the immense difficulty and logistical challenges associated with taking the butt out of the cradle?
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 13
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 13 |
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.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,082
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,082 |
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.
Start young, hunt hard, and enjoy God's bounty.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,736
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,736 |
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.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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