REALLY! My guess is you have not been in big bear country. [/quote]
Really? You carry the rifle at a high-ready (heck, even low ready) the entire time you're out camping?

Anything other than that, and a pistol will almost always be faster to get up and sighted in.

Have I been to big bear country? Depends if you consider the Yukon "big bear country" or not. It's not my normal playground, but I do get around.