I have not taken a bear with a handgun yet, but I have friends who have. None of them have used a 357. Only 44 mag or 454.
I have been told that a 357 will not due adequate enough damage.. but i do not know how true that is.
I, personally, would go with something a little more powerful.

Most bears around here only go about 250 pounds. There are some big ones out there, one taken a few years ago near my house went over 500 pounds. They did some real world testing on walrus with the .357 before it was introduced, and it performed admirably. One of those things where I'm sure it will kill a bear, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to have a little more energy, such as a .44 or so.

If you are taking a 357 for bear, hope you have some good hot and heavy hand loads and you better take 2 pistols and a back up tied on your arm.Maybe a grenade also.

Where are you Wisconsin guys from? North, central, south? Are bears big pests by you too? We had one scratch up a good deer blind, and break off a good apple tree. A buddy of mine had one follow him home from bowhunting! Wouldn't run away. That's a little spooky.

In the south west part of Wisconsin ,the only bear I came across yet was a Chicago fan.OK I had to throw it in.Anyway ,no I myself have not seen a bear around hear but if I was to go after them I know it would not be with a small pistol ,but thats just me.As much as they may seem to just lumber around in the wild (not around here)they can break out for no reason and kill your ass before you can say .357.

In the south west part of Wisconsin ,the only bear I came across yet was a Chicago fan.OK I had to throw it in.Anyway ,no I myself have not seen a bear around hear but if I was to go after them I know it would not be with a small pistol ,but thats just me.As much as they may seem to just lumber around in the wild (not around here)they can break out for no reason and kill your ass before you can say .357.

The only case I've heard of a black bear charging around here was one that already had been shot 5 times in non-vital areas with a .243. If you're on the ground with dogs, definitely go bigger, but you're in a 25 ft. stand with a solid rest on a stationary or walking bear, and can choose the shot...then it would probably work pretty well. I can't imagine a .357 shot to the heart/lungs wouldn't cleanly kill a blackie, but it never really hurts to have a more powerful gun when going after any bear.
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So many guns, so little money.

[ This Message was edited by: mister_venison on 2004-02-01 08:50 ]

And you Mr. V., what part of this great state do you hang your hat?

I am from north-central WI. Don't live there right now, but hopefully soon I'll be back. Stuck in Madison, hoping the concealed carry goes through. I get up there any chance I get, especially in fall!

I have been a large fan of 357. I have used hard cast 180 grain for 250lb pig and even shot one through the head. I have used 158 grain gold dot and have never recovered one. I know this is not a black bear but theses pigs have been around 250. Hope this helps. Keep us informed I would sure like to know how it goes
So with all these WI people here I have a question. How many years does it take to get enough brownie points to go hunt one.