357 mag s&w
- Thread starter rosie1
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Omaha-BeenGlockin
Member
Loaded heavy---I would say so.
gbran
Member
I spend a lot of time in black bear, cat country here in CA. I feel just fine with my .357 or my 10mm. I carry a .454 when in AK
Deaf Smith
Member
Here in Texas we have some cougars and black bears. Hot 158gr .357s will do fine. I use my 3 inch Ruger GP100 all the time for hikes in Crockett National Forrest with such handloads.
Neither black bears nor cougars are that big and they almost never attack unless they are desperate for food.
Deaf
Neither black bears nor cougars are that big and they almost never attack unless they are desperate for food.
Deaf
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=102
This will do nicely.
Or for some serious penetration, these...
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=396
If you don't load your own, these factory loads utilize the true potential of the 357 mag.
.
This will do nicely.
Or for some serious penetration, these...
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=396
If you don't load your own, these factory loads utilize the true potential of the 357 mag.
.
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Zaydok Allen
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- Feb 12, 2011
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- 13,274
If griz are involved, go bigger. Otherwise you should be fine.
bannockburn
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- Apr 24, 2007
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I'm with 357 Terms; Buffalo Bore ammo should serve you very well if you don't handload your own hotter .357 loads.
Coyote3855
Member
What defense against bears is one of the most discussed topics in every gun forum, and there are many threads on the subject here on the High Road.
For bears of any size or disposition, you are better off with bear spray that you know how to use than any handgun of any caliber. In the firearm department, those who know carry a 12 gage loaded with slugs.
Richard Head
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- Jul 2, 2013
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If you're really worried about a bear attacking you get some bear spray. It's much easier to spray a charging bear than it is to shoot it in the head and you both live to fight another day.
http://www.fieldandstream.com/artic...pper-spray-instead-guns-stop-charging-grizzly
http://www.fieldandstream.com/artic...pper-spray-instead-guns-stop-charging-grizzly
I'd opt .44 mag.
Grew up with .44's.
What used to be considered "big" aint diddly these days.
Some cannons are rather beefy.
If I had to have something on the hip, it'd be a 329PD Smith.
Maybe a 5" Classic at worst.
Chest rig, might go with a .460 shorty.
But my neck is kinda bad, really prefer hip carry. I rarely sling a rifle over a shoulder due to neck/headaches.
So bad my neck, and old and cranky in general...........I refuse to carry a handgun as a sidearm to a rifle when deer hunting. Not a fan of day packs either. Prefer to be as light as possible.
Blasted a few deer, and many chucks, with .44 magnum. It aint all that.
Grew up with .44's.
What used to be considered "big" aint diddly these days.
Some cannons are rather beefy.
If I had to have something on the hip, it'd be a 329PD Smith.
Maybe a 5" Classic at worst.
Chest rig, might go with a .460 shorty.
But my neck is kinda bad, really prefer hip carry. I rarely sling a rifle over a shoulder due to neck/headaches.
So bad my neck, and old and cranky in general...........I refuse to carry a handgun as a sidearm to a rifle when deer hunting. Not a fan of day packs either. Prefer to be as light as possible.
Blasted a few deer, and many chucks, with .44 magnum. It aint all that.
gotboostvr
Member
I'd opt for bear spray and the 357 with something along the lines of a 158gr JSP or LSWC.
The spray for the bears, and the 357 for anything else.
The spray for the bears, and the 357 for anything else.
CPLofMARINES
Member
Yes, minimum 5" barrel though.
ATAShooter
Member
Black bear and Kitties,... Use Barnes #21543 140gr VOR-tx
chaim
Member
No handgun is really "enough" for bear. .357mag is considered to be the minimum. If you are in brown bear/grizzly country, go bigger. If you are in black bear country, you should be OK. And as others have said, get some bear strength pepper spray as your first line of defense and use the handgun as backup.
Oh, my personal choice, when camping or fishing in bear country (and in a state where I can carry) I go with a 4" .45LC S&W 625MG and bear strength pepper spray. I'd consider a .357mag loaded with heavy rounds with a 6" barrel (4" minimum, 6" preferably) but I prefer the larger bore. When camping or fishing in MD, bear pepper spray only.
Oh, my personal choice, when camping or fishing in bear country (and in a state where I can carry) I go with a 4" .45LC S&W 625MG and bear strength pepper spray. I'd consider a .357mag loaded with heavy rounds with a 6" barrel (4" minimum, 6" preferably) but I prefer the larger bore. When camping or fishing in MD, bear pepper spray only.
Corpral_Agarn
Member
The gun can do its job.
Can you?
Can you?
Deaf Smith
Member
I don't consider bear spray the 'first' line of defense. See you might very well have to defend others from the bears and you are not in the bear's path. Bear spray neither has reach nor accuracy. And it is dependent on the wind.
Rather have a powerful six gun and skill to use it.
Deaf
Have you ever had something squeaking or that needed lubricating so you went to get your can of WD40 only to find that the can was full but something happened to the propellent and the can was useless? Carry the spray but also the gun. 44mag would be my choice. Also Glock makes a 10mm 6"bbl that has a 15rd mag.
TimSr
Member
I guess what we really need is the actual number of cases where people were attacked by bears or cats after the beasts were shot with a .357.
RustyHammer
Member
.. bear spray and a couple buddies who run slower than you! 
Else, go big or go home!
Else, go big or go home!gamestalker
member
I wouldn't feel comfortable with a .357 mag. if for some reason you were facing a charging black bear, especially a sow with cub, they will usually keep charging until the threat has left, or has been physically confronted and defeated.
But, and considering, black bears aren't generally very aggressive, it's rather unlikely you'll ever have to deal with an angry one. I've had hundreds of encounters with black bears, none have ever involved an angry charging bear though, and one was a sow with a cub. I thought she was gonna charge though, she came charging up on us, but thank God at the last second she stopped dead in her tracks, took in a big nostril full of human pee and feces, then she turned and ran, with cub in tow. I knew a guy that got one of his buttocks literally ripped off by a wounded black bear though, so it can happen, more so if they've been wounded or agitated I'm sure. And considering that one had been shot, and had been chased by dogs all day long, he was extremely agitated.
Some years back I would tease them with food, they would run up a tree, I would put more food on the ground, they would come down grab it, then go back up the tree. One day when I was doing this, "Big George" as my Son had named him, decided he wanted to go directly to the source, and tried to break into the truck with us. End of games, I started the truck and left "Big George" standing there on his back legs, he was what I would regard, as very agitated.
Personally, I would be more worried about a lion attacking, they can, and usually are far more aggressive than a black bear. I haven't had very many encounters with lions, maybe 2 or 3 in my entire life, but of those several encounters, one almost got me.
As for lions, I don't think I could hit one on the charge, they're fast, and also very stealthy, so you don't often know they are even there, until it's too late. Having been in a close encounter with a perusing lion, I don't think I would have been able to hit it while on the charge with a revolver, well at least not until it was on top of me. I think a short barreled 12 ga. is the best option there. But again, you're not nearly as likely to encounter a lion. But if you did get a good shot with a .357 mag., it should be plenty of cartridge to stop him fairly quickly I think.
GS
But, and considering, black bears aren't generally very aggressive, it's rather unlikely you'll ever have to deal with an angry one. I've had hundreds of encounters with black bears, none have ever involved an angry charging bear though, and one was a sow with a cub. I thought she was gonna charge though, she came charging up on us, but thank God at the last second she stopped dead in her tracks, took in a big nostril full of human pee and feces, then she turned and ran, with cub in tow. I knew a guy that got one of his buttocks literally ripped off by a wounded black bear though, so it can happen, more so if they've been wounded or agitated I'm sure. And considering that one had been shot, and had been chased by dogs all day long, he was extremely agitated.
Some years back I would tease them with food, they would run up a tree, I would put more food on the ground, they would come down grab it, then go back up the tree. One day when I was doing this, "Big George" as my Son had named him, decided he wanted to go directly to the source, and tried to break into the truck with us. End of games, I started the truck and left "Big George" standing there on his back legs, he was what I would regard, as very agitated.
Personally, I would be more worried about a lion attacking, they can, and usually are far more aggressive than a black bear. I haven't had very many encounters with lions, maybe 2 or 3 in my entire life, but of those several encounters, one almost got me.
As for lions, I don't think I could hit one on the charge, they're fast, and also very stealthy, so you don't often know they are even there, until it's too late. Having been in a close encounter with a perusing lion, I don't think I would have been able to hit it while on the charge with a revolver, well at least not until it was on top of me. I think a short barreled 12 ga. is the best option there. But again, you're not nearly as likely to encounter a lion. But if you did get a good shot with a .357 mag., it should be plenty of cartridge to stop him fairly quickly I think.
GS
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