.357 mag for bear protection?

[BradenM4]

I have a friend that uses a .357 mag for a bear hunting sidearm, is this adequate? I'm kind of thinking not, but i'd like some other opinions.

[Roland of Gilead]

Never did it, nor am I a hunter, but I've wondered also, having been hiking in bear country. I saw this discussed someplace a while back, and the gist of it was that if you had to use a .357, get the heaviest ammo available (namely this: http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php...duct_list&c=20 ) and use at least a 4" barrel.

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[MTechnik]

For a second I thought this said "for beer protection".

[Buckster]

I could see this working. I would limit the range to <50yds and stick to heavy lead bullets to be safe though. It works for deer so I wouldnt see why not for black bear. If its brown bear youre talking I say definetly NO. That goes for hunting. I've carried a .357 for bear defense and felt fine, knowing I wouldnt use it but at near point blank ranges aiming at the bears face.

[imashooter2]

A 180 grain cast WFN at 1,200+ fps will penetrate a long way...

Check the Federal Cast Core or Buffalo Bore offerings.

[Leftloose]

A 180 grain cast WFN at 1,200+ fps will penetrate a long way...

Check the Federal Cast Core or Buffalo Bore offerings.

Can you clarify the WFN for me? Is that a Semi-wadcutter?

[imashooter2]

Can you clarify the WFN for me? Is that a Semi-wadcutter?

Wide Flat Nose. Veral Smith and Marshall Stanton are both very high on this design. Federal and Buffalo Bore use it in their loadings. Cast Performance sells them as component bullets. These are from my own lead pot:



14.9 grains of Lil' Gun gets them moving 1,137 fps from my 4 inch 686 and 1,703 fps from my 18.5 inch 1894C.

Buffalo Bore advertises their offering at some phenomenal speeds:

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php...t_detail&p=100

Federal Cast Core is about the same as what I get with my reloads.

[AxiTech]

Quick, run and fill your bathtub with cold water. Somebody will be along shortly to flame you for thinking you need protection from our fluffy black friends in the woods. You will be told they will not hurt you, well, maybe they will steal your picanica basket, and possibly cuddle you half to death, but they DEFINITELY never hurt anyone.

I personally carry when I go in the woods, but i have heard stories of horrible maulings.

[knight0334]

Those type of slugs above are called "Keith" type bullets modeled after Elmer Keith's design.

[Sandcut]

A co-worker of mine lives and hunts in Schuylkill Co. w/ his family and a few friends. They hunt all three days of bear season all day long. All guys on post use rifles. All drivers carry .357s. They take multiple bear every year w/ the pistols.