I carry a 357 for general purposes.
As an avid bowhunter and backpacker, I have to say that the number of times I've needed to use a gun to run a bear off or defend myself after 35 years is zero. But, you never know, do you?
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Make sure you're taking as much care with your bear prevention strategy as you are with your weapon choice.
I will say this: I've seen bears wrestle each other in the woods, and I've seen them at full gallop. There's generally something hardwired into the brain that creates a prey response when something this big and scary is after you, or even in a bad mood around you. If you have one bluff charge you, your gun won't feel quite so big in your hands and you'll wish you'd put the food away (including that apple in your pants pocket) in a bear bag and not thrown those fish bones in the fire.
If an auto jams, you'll probably stand there trying to pull the trigger as it charges down on you. If the safety is on, you'll probably stand there trying to pull the trigger as it charges down on you.
With a wheelgun, once you get past the prey response in your brain's wiring, all you do is pull the trigger and hope smokey goes down before you hear *click*.
& another joke &
Guy gets to alaska for a fishing trip. He meets his guide and tells him, with chest poked way out, that he brought a hand gun with him "for bear."
"Oh yeah?" Says the Gude. "What sorta gun you got?"
"I got a _ insert gigantic favorite griz handgun here_ ." he said with great pride.
"didja file the front sight off?"
"What so I can draw it faster?"
"No," says the guide, " it'll just hurt less when the bear shoves it in your backside."
