Bear Defense Round....

These ought to do the trick; https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=100
have some of their 305 grain .44 Mag Hard cast loads, I shot off a few to see what they were like. HOLY COW, they are HOT!

Arch,

While I've never had to plug a bear, and defiantly not a charging brown bear, still the .357 is kind of weak.

Go for the .45 LC if you can, and if not just get some Berenek 'Black Magic' 12 gauge slugs and a pump shotgun like a 18 inch barrel Mossberg 500 and be done with it.

3 inch magnum 12 gauge 600 grain slugs at 1500 fps will do in any bear made (and your shoulder.)

Deaf

Average Black bear is perhaps 350 pounds with 500 pounds being about the top end. .357 Mag is fine and I would go with a hard cast semi wadd cutter in the 160 - 170 grain range. Penitration is more important then expansion.

By the way, a black bear attack is very rare . They have excellent noses and stay away from humans.

If you carry the .357, use hard cast rounds.

If you step it up to a .45 Colt, get one that can handle hot +p ammo. It's a better option for black bears for sure.

If it were me, I'd look at the Ruger Super Redhawk Toklat with the 5" barrel chambered for 454 Casull. It is all the revolver you would need, though it doesn't fit in your desire for a single action.

Personally, I'd rely more on bear spray.

If you need an excuse (remember honey, it's to protect our son) get the 45LC. Otherwise Buffalo Bore 180 gr. hardcast would make me comfortable. Especially in a 7 or 8 round S&W.

Personally, I'd rely more on bear spray.

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I'd agree. far more effective.

Archangel14 said:

Gents:

I may be heading to some wild back country to do some serious fishing. The area is heavy in black bear. I'll be bringing my boy and think it might be a good idea to bring a revolver. I have a .357. Question is this: should I load with cast or HP (or something else....SP?)?

As an aside, I've been thinking about stepping into a single action in .45 Colt for some time now. Think such a caliber would perform better on defense against an aggressive black bear, compared to the .357?

Many advance thanks for your opinions.

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Back country blackies are little or no threat to man. Those urbanized blackies acclimated to humans are much more dangerous, but even then are very low on the ladder of threats. Most times waving your arms and shouting is all you need to make them run. Next would be the use of bear spray. Your being aware of what's going on around you and making your presence known in the woods is more important than a handgun for defense against blackies. Take the .357 along if it makes you feel safer, but ammo is probably a moot point. Most folks can't hit a charging bear running full speed with a handgun anyway.

"Most folks can't hit a charging bear running full speed with a handgun anyway."

Which shows the need to practice, practice and more practice!

I've had multiple face to face encounters with Black Bears, and they have always ran away from me as fast as possible. I'm not saying things can't go bad with them, but typically they go the opposite direction of human scent.

I would carry some spray, and a good .357 load, that's all you'll need for black bears.

To avoid problems though, don't bring food into your tent, make sure to burn your garbage, and store your food away from your tent.

GS

If the "possibility "is real ...........Then your choice of weapon should be as well!

Sav .250 said:

If the "possibility "is real ...........Then your choice of weapon should be as well!

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The possibility of getting struck by lightning if you go outside is real also, and the odds of it happening are much greater than being attacked by a Black Bear while fishing. Still folks go outside everyday without protection from lightning. It's called being realistic.

Yes, bear spray first, 45 Colt second.

Assuming that the black bear will run away works about 97% of the time, if you read all of the non-hysterical contact reports you find on the Web. If it's autumn, and the bear really wants some meat to fatten on before denning time, that percentage won't mean much. Kids (smaller humans) are more appealing too. Making pacific assumptions around a bigger-than-you, fanged and clawed omnivore - well, you do it your way.

This thread isn't about the likelihood of a bear encounter, so let's not go there. It's more about the best tool to use in the (albeit unlikely) event of an encounter.

If you look at records of actual encounters, bear spray isn't as effective on black bears. On browns it might actually be effective more often than a .44.

It is very hard to find actual reports on the effectiveness of various handguns on black bears. What I have been able to find indicates you want to use .44 240gr hollow points to stop the charge. Black bears are different from browns in that they are lightly built and likely to flee. Browns will come for you and will not stop until you break them down by busting bones or interrupting their nervous system. The USFWS did a study once where they concluded the minimum for browns was 250gr from a .338 Win Mag rifle. People have stopped browns with .357s, though; very lucky and highly skilled people.

As for .357 on black bears specifically, it just doesn't have the kind of energy the .44 mag does. So, I would go with heavy hard cast and shoot for bone. Well, I wouldn't. I have a .44 mag and 240gr XTPs for that.

As an aside, Buffalo Bore has a .327 load they claim will break bones on a black bear. That sort of thing is why I skip from .327 straight on up to .44.

Buffalo Bore has a .327 load they claim will break bones on a black bear

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The force exerted over the diameter of the hardcast bullet used in that BB round is rather phenomenal. In other words, pounds the per square inch. It could probably break bones in a elephant.

You have more to fear from two legged predators than you do Yogi. He's not interested in your picnic basket or you. Cindy will get PO'd if you get between her and the kids though.
In any case, if Yogi is under 100 yards, you'll never be fast enough to recognise the threat, draw, aim and fire accurately enough. He can cover that 100 yards in less than 6 seconds, flat out.
Think spray and a jingle bell.

The OP specified black bear. Virtually all problem black bear encounters are with animals in the 150-250 lb range. If you are confident in your gun and load to stop a 150-250 lb adult human male, it will likely work on a black bear. Yes, blacks get bigger, but the 400-600 lb animals don't get that big by hanging around humans. Almost all problem bears are cubs that are struggling to find food after recently being chased off by mom.

I carry a Glock 10mm loaded with 200 gr hardcast bullets @1300 fps in bear country and leave the 44 at home. It is a bigger, heavier gun with more power and recoil than needed. In fact I've gotten to the point that I often carry the smaller, lighter G23 in 40 S&W loaded with the same 200 gr bullet @ only 1100 fps. I feel it is more than adequate for black bear. If I were in brown bear country where bear can easily reach over 1,000 lbs I MIGHT opt for a 44 mag loaded with heavy bullets. I might still use the 10mm.

My 2nd choice would be a 357 loaded with either 180 or 200 gr bullets loaded to about 1200-1300 fps. You can get similar loads in 45. It'll work, but no better than the 357 or 10mm.

My preference for the semi's is based on the fact that I'm still far more likely to need the gun for 2 legged threats. A lighter, smaller gun with 3X more ammo capacity is a better tool for the primary threat and still suitable for large animals.

In any case, if Yogi is under 100 yards, you'll never be fast enough to recognise the threat, draw, aim and fire accurately enough.

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This is pure nonsense. People having been stopping charges by scarier animals at far closer ranges than that for 200yrs.

It is a bigger, heavier gun with more power and recoil than needed.

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Hmmm, I've never heard a gun being more power than needed when it comes to bear attacks. I don't have a 10mm auto but my 5" Springfield XD .45ACP is 43oz loaded. My 629MG is 46oz.

hso said:

Bear spray as well (and I've had dozens of close black bear encounters in the Appalachians without even needing bear spray).

You and your kid carry the spray and you can carry your handgun with hard cast to back him up.

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Been my experience as well with black bears although I don't think I have had "dozens of encounters". I have seen dozens, but not encounters. I don't worry about black bears and feel comfortable carrying a 22 handgun. But if I feel like it, I can carry a 357 or 41 mag in a 3" or 4" barreled revolver. I would load each with hard casts just in case if I chose to carry one. I keep some around just for this purpose although I tend to just go with 22LR or my carry 38spl and no bear spray.

If you are actually concerned. The bear spray would be my advice as well. Load the 357 up with hard cast rounds and don't worry about it. But if you want to buy another handgun, a 45 Colt is a good choice. I would buy one that can handle the high power loads if you are going to buy a SA revolver.

The "back country" camping or even fishing would tend to cause me to carry the 357 just in case you think I am suggesting you go with 22. Depending on the age of your son, a 22 handgun might add some fun to the trip as well.

Here we go again... Let the show begin!

If I had the choice between a .357 Magnum or a 45 Colt the 45 Colt would be my choice.

I'd use a soft point 180 grainer if I could find them, over a stout charge. What bbl length do you have?? I'd take at least a 4'er, preferable a 5'er or 6'er for more POWWWAAAHH!!!!

But yes, a .357 mag with the right load should be good, provided it has enough tube to get true magnum velocities.