Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska 357 magnum enough for bear?

I'm sure there is a reason to carry a handgun and not a rifle but I'll be damned if I know what it is.

Which brings up the question, what caliber of rock do you recommend? Should it be a magnum? Or maybe a +P?

Well stated as usual, Dennis.

The eternal but seldomly asked question is:

How big a cartridge is necessary to make up for a bad hit?

I would say fine for black bear....just put one behind his ear.....and NOT ok for the bigger bears. .44 mag or larger for big bear backup.

If I remember right that guy lucked up and caught the spine and put the bear down.

.........................Even though you didn`t write your viewpoint for me which I realize, it nevertheless doesn`t make your posted viewpoint immune from some healthy criticism, which by your reaction you didn`t seem to handle too well.

I experienced NO bear attacks when in Alaska several years ago on my successful big bear hunt. I didn`t own a 416 back then and don`t own one now. But I do carry a 500 S&W sidearm in big bear country. Carrying a sidearm did and does NOT make me "paranoid", nor did it eliminate or detract in any way from my great Alaskan experience. Nice try, but some wrong assumptions there on your part.

Even though the odds of a big bear attack might be one in maybe several thousand or even several million or whatever the odds may be, I nonetheless take no chances regardless of those very slim odds. Imo, which is contrary to your opinion, that makes alot of sense.

I'll be happy to explain it to you.

Try chopping brush with a machete, cutting firewood with an ax, or casting spinners or flies with a rifle in one hand. Doesn't work. You can sling it on one shoulder but it'll keep falling off. You can sling it across your back but then it's too slow to get to, might as well not have it. You can set it down, but then it'll be some feet away when you need it.

If you're working outdoors, or even recreating other than hunting, you need your hands free or you might as well not be there. A handgun is really the only viable option you've got.

At least, that's how it works out for me.

Tom

If you say so.

If you've got enough time to unholster your pistol, you've got enough time to get that rifle off your back. Doesn't take but a second or 2.

This topic has been beaten to death and all the sound advice offered up by the locals , as per usual, goes unheeded because the so-called, "I hunted Alaska once" experts from outside know better than we Alaskans.

A couple of days in Alaska and they know EVERYTHING, pretty typical of dipshitt Californians

I know approximately as much about stopping bears as I do about getting along with red headed girl friends, but Phil Shoemaker wrote that his daughter sometimes carries a 357 instead of a rifle when guiding fishermen. I think Phil has seen a bear, and may even have shot at one once.

Fred

Can a 357 stop a bear? Sure, but so can a sharp stick if the stars align right. I'm of the opinion that you can't carry enough gun, but then again, I'm just paranoid that way.
After seeing a medium size griz absorb 12 rounds from a combo of 375HH and 416 Rem, they earned my respect. I've also seen em fall over dead very quickly from one shot from an 06 though.

How about shooting bears that ain't charging with a 357?

If'n I have my druthers, I ain't ever agin shooting a bear with a 357, black bear or brown bear, chargin' or sleeping!

I ain't never been to Alaska, but was charged once by a mother black bear with 2 cubs in New Mexico, of all places. Still here to tell the about it, but that is another story.

I know one thing...I would have felt a whole lot better that day with any 6 pound 30-30 Win carbine than I would have with a 357 in each hand.

Just sayin.

well if a bear is chargin I figure I can maybe get 2 to 3 rds off if I'm lucky. That said...am I THAT much better off with a shoulder shot with the 500sw vs the 357mag or 10mm ? Or at that point am I just fcked?

Define shoulder shot cuzz they tend not to charge sideways. Pard managed 1 shot on a bear that charged him. Lucky he was in an open area, as it started when the bear was 70 yards away.

Forgot to mention it was a 3 legged bear also.

LUCK

uhh inch or two to the right or left ...just missing head lol

yeah I know I know if you don't hit head yer F'd

The 357 Mag is plenty!! You just cock it and shoot yourself just above the right ear. Beats having to watch Ursus Horribilus rip your guts out and crush your stupid skull.

"Never take a knife to a gunfight". Don't use a pellet gun for deer or a 357 for Griz either.

Wayne

I know i don't live in Alaska, but I think that most people take bear defense a little bit too seriously.