Black Bear & .357
Would a guy be considered insane to enter bear country, black bear, not grizzly armed with a .357? I've been reading bear gun threads on other forums tonight, OK I am bored I'll admit. Some people say the .357 is good for exactly nothing and it's under powered, some say it's plenty for black bear if it is loaded with 180 gr or larger hard cast loads. I have my opinion, just curious for yours.
My opinion is that for hiking and camping where there are black bears the .357 would be adequate, provided you follow the rules for camping in bear country, keep a clean camp and don't provoke a bear. Chances of getting struck by lightening AND winning the lottery on the same day are probably greater than a bear attacking, but it can happen.
now I am not an expert either, but I have danced with
3 bears, all big black bears. The first one I shot 6 times with a 44 Magnum while he was running at the guide and me, the last 3 shots while he was sitting on my chest and chewing on one of the bear dogs that happened to be on top of the guide.
![[image]](images/uploaded/201810310532405bd93e7895fbe.jpg)
Bear number 2 was in Washington state on the Columbia River, a big cinnamon bear Colleen shot out of the top of a tall tree with her 338 GNR TC. He landed almost at my feet. I leaned over to get a good look at him and turned to tell Colleen that was a great bear. I turned back around and he was standing almost nose to nose with me. I figured I should either kiss him, dance with him or shoot him. I had my Redhawk in hand loaded with 41 GNR so that helped make the decision. I emptied it into him at maybe 3 feet. Colleen chewed me out for putting 6 more holes in her bear.
![[image]](images/uploaded/201810310533435bd93eb71ab85.jpg)
Bear #3 was in Alaska. A big black bear chased a small bear across a small creek onto a sand spit where I was standing taking a leak. The bear obviously didn't like me urinating in his living room so he decided to have a short talk with me. I hit him at maybe 2 feet with the 510 GNR. He rolled, said a lot of nasty things about my Mother and turned to run away. I hit him again as he brushed by me, again at maybe 2 feet. He said a few more foul things about all my ancestry and ran off and I had to go in after him to finish our conversation. At the two shots the bear was close enough to splatter blood all over the front of the scope on my 510 GNR and pretty much cover up the gun with his blood, ruining the nice finish on the gun.No pics of the bear.
![[image]](images/uploaded/201810310534545bd93efe5380f.jpg)
The gist of this diatribe is take the largest caliber you handle well, and leave the 357 home. On a pissed off bear you have to break him down first and then kill him. The 357 might not give you that extra edge.