357 mag for bear?

[adamR]

I do alot of trail riding deep into the woods, and one of these days I know I'm going to see a bear while riding.  I would like to be able to harvest said bear if it was nice enough.  I was thinking of what weapon I have that I would be able to carry while riding and really the best I can come up with is my 6" Colt king cobra 357 Magnum.

So my question is, is this to small for a bear?  If it's not to small what load/bullet would be best for bear hunting?  And what range would it be good too?

[Special T]

It is legal and with the right bullet combo AND practice i would do so. A close well placed shot would do the trick... Check out the Remington Ballistic calculator for some basic info on rounds.
http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/ballistics.aspx

[NW-GSP]

I'm sure they have been taken with less then a .357 before but I'm not sure if that's what I would use to try to harvest a bear. I also do not know allot about it though

[b.roberts]

With the right ammo, I would take the shot in a heartbeat.  Disclaimer; I have never harvested a bear, so what the hell do I know? 

[Rick]

With a hardcast bullet (no hollowpoints) I'd use a .357 on a bear without a second thought.

[Kola16]

The caliber with the right bullet is enough, but a good shot is the topper. Practice 

[Ripper]

 

[sled]

10mm!  Thats what im packin.

[sled]

10mm!  Thats what im packin.

  i will add that i to have not killed a bear yet so ......

[grizzlyadams]

10mm!  Thats what im packin.

 

With Double-Taps or Buffalo Bore

For me anyway.

357 would do the trick but I don't see that round bringing the bear down fast enough. I think you'd have alot of tracking to do. Seems to me you would need a heart or head shot to kill a bear quickly with that round.

[bearpaw]

I have seen bear killed at very close range with a .357 but I definitely do not recommend it. A .41 Magnum or .44 magnum is better, but you still need to hit them just right, anything less than a perfect shot and you simply wound a bear. You might be an excellent pistol shot, but most guys are really only about half as good with a pistol as they think they are, myself included. 

Set a target up at 50 yards and fire from the same position you'd be in if you saw a bear while riding. If you can shoot a 5 or 6 inch group then you are probably good enough to kill a bear. If not.....

I know a guy that shoots a scoped 7x37 waters pistol, he kills big game consistently at 100 to 200 yards, but that pistol is nearly a rifle and he shoots it very well. You might want to trade your pistol for a 30/30, 32, or 44 lever gun, keep it with you in a scabbord, your accuracy will be much bettter with a rifle.

Remember, many bear do not bleed when hit unless you blow a large rifle hole out the other side. Most tracking of wounded bear ends in a few feet.

[seth30]

357 mag is illegal in wash for hunting big game.

What caliber does it need to be for big game?  seen lots of threads with deer and revolvers

[washelkhunter]

I was wrong 357 is legal for big game. I think i got my muzzy limits mixed up with the centerfire. My bad.

[seth30]

I was wrong 357 is legal for big game. I think i got my muzzy limits mixed up with the centerfire. My bad.

good I was about to ask the wife for funds to buy a bigger revolver

[sled]

  I dont plan on shooting one with the 10mm.  Its my backup for bears and tweekers.