Loaded for Bear

Former President George W. Bush was recently presented with a Ruger New Vaquero by his friend Brian Birdwell. The revolver featured faux ivory grips that were engraved by Baron Engraving.

This fall, my wife and I are planning a drop-camp mule deer hunt in Wyoming, and while the outfitter says it's not in grizzly country, my read of the map shows it's at least "grizzly adjacent." So I'm bringing some .44 Magnum firepower in the form of my five-inch S&W 629.

I ordered up a new holster from Galco, the Dual Position Phoenix ($120)--a handsome molded saddle-leather rig with a reinforced thumb break and stitched sight rails. The design allows you to wear it strong-side or cross-draw; the butt of the gun is in the proper position for a smooth draw from either side. It has tension-screw adjustment for a custom fit and a silicon suede lining to protect your revolver.

They were also kind enough to give me a look at their new speedloader pouch ($40) and the 2x2x2 belt-slide cartridge carrier ($43). I didn't have the right size speedloader on hand to try the former, but the latter is a handy addition to an outdoorsman's rig--six rounds, separated into pairs, for quick and easy reloads.

Bring on the bears! (Okay, don't actually bring them on, but I will sleep better at night.)

Galco, 800-874-2526

---