A little story maybe...I was deer hunting last Nov. Up North Fork of Shoshone River area. A friend had shot a nice buck 4 mi. up a canyon the weekend before. He packed the head, hind qrtrs. and straps out. Next day he got the rest. I went in a few days later and found griz tracks over his . The tracks were coming out. I was going in. The mud was frozen. I figured they were a couple days old and the bear found his kill site, ate and left. It still gave me the creeps and had me on high alert. I had a rifle and bear spray. I was wishing I had a pistol the whole day. I swore to myself to never go without one again. I sat down about a mile up. Did a little glassing and ate something. Fed and watered dog. I was sitting at the base of the Mtn. with thick pines . I kept thinking a griz would be on me in seconds . It was cold 32° and I'd be in the shade for another couple hrs. I got the creeps and moved down trail in the sun. (I told this story in another thread) I got up and walked about 50 yrds. and the dog locked on something near base of Mtn. in the trees, which was about 25 yds. from me. I unshoulderd rifle. I didn't see anything. Put my binos up and I saw brown hair thru a small opening in trees. I thought ok, here we go
The dog just stood there staring at it. It wasn't moving. I waited a min. I moved a little left and saw dark hair ? Moved a little more and saw it was a horse and mule tied up inside the trees... My butt unpuckerd
There was a truck w/2 horse trailer at the trailhead when I got there in the dark. I even remembered seeing the horse/mule tracks going in. All the way back to truck I said never again without a pistol. If it was a bear and it charged I'd of had one shot with rifle. If it was a bear it wouldn't of stood there while I tried to figure it out. I kept thinking which pistol I'd carry. S&W 460 and Ruger Super Redhawk 454 to big and heavy but good bear cartridge. Super Blackhawk 44 mag. lighter and good round. Single action. Hmmm... Maybe. Dam, I wanted a 10mm. A guy I had just bought an English Lab pup from came in the store with a brand new Glock 20. 3 mags. Holster. I brought it. About a month later a new Springfield XDM 10mm came in store. Following day was my last day there so bought myself a parting gift. Why 2 - 10mm ? I don't know. But I do know I'm going to find out which I shoot best ! One thing about the Glock I don't like is the same thing I don't like about my Glock 21 (which I was thinking of carrying) is the grip is a little big for my liking. My hands aren't small by any means though. I like the grip on XDM better. Maybe the grip safety also. I've always liked the slide lock and grip safeties on my 1911's. That's my story be it long but I'm stickin to it