thanks for the replies guys. I am looking more twords the pistols because i archery hunt almost exclusivly. I am hunting the interirar of alaska so the bears i will encounter wont be the big costal monsters but a bear is a bear none the less. i was thinking a XD in 45 ACP or something like that. what do you all think. I would carry a 12 gauge will baiting but while hunting the pistol.