Will a 357 stop a bear?

357 Magnum or other similar-caliber load, a well-placed shot with a good bullet will certainly kill a bear, but it's not recommended.

What handgun can stop a bear?

44 Magnum is the minimum for charging bears, many others have opted for a Glock 20 in 10mm Auto and, interestingly enough, passed right by the . 357 S&W Magnum. Several folks have even successfully killed bears with a 9mm.

Will a 45 stop a bear?

45 acp is a poor choice for bear defense. The round is slow, fat, and has fairly poor penetration on tough-skinned animals; however, some people carry . 45 acp with modern +P ammo and hardened bullets for bear defense. There are many better options, but it can work.

Does a 357 have good stopping power?

Their initial research, published in 1992 and entitled, Handgun Stopping Power: The Definitive Study, showed the . 357 Magnum had the best track record in actual shootings. It delivered one-shot stops at a rate well over 90%.

What has more stopping power 45 or 357 Magnum?

The . 357 has more stopping power when aiming at targets further away, while the . 45 ACP provides higher stopping power when shooting targets at shorter ranges.

Is a 357 Magnum enough for bear defense?

Which is stronger 44 mag or 357?

As for bullet energy, the 357 comes out at 566 ft-lbs while the 44 creates 832 & 904 ft-lbs. This indicates what we already knew: The 44 magnum is much more powerful than the 357 magnum. When he changes things up to compare the most commonly-used bullet weight for each cartridge, you can really see the difference.

Is a 9mm more powerful than 357?

The 357 Magnum round loaded with a 125-grain projectile reaches almost 1,500 feet per second and strikes targets with 585 foot-pounds of energy. Needless to say, ballistically, it outperforms the 9mm. The 357 Magnum also has no problems reaching the FBI standards and even exceeding them.

How much more powerful is a 38 or 357?

Today, Winchester's 357 Magnum Silvertip round launches a 145-grain bullet at 1290 FPS with 536 ft. -lbs. of energy. That's more than double the muzzle energy of the 38 Special.

Is .357 the best ammo for self-defense?

357 Magnum 125 Grain JHP shoots a 125-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of 1,220 fps. It is an excellent self-defense round that is designed to work well in longer barrel guns for maximum velocity.

Is a 357 Magnum worth it?

Time and data have also unquestionably revealed that when compared to these auto-pistol cartridges, the . 357 Magnum does a better job at stopping bad guys. Depending on which study you give credence to, its considered to be somewhere between 5 percent and 15 percent more effective.

What is the best bear caliber?

Best Pistol Caliber for Bear: .

44 Magnum. This pistol packs a powerful punch while still being small enough to fit in the hands, which makes it a popular choice for people who want a sidearm when they take to the field for a bear hunt.

Is 10mm better than 357 Magnum?

When it comes to muzzle velocity, there is a lot of overlap between different loads for 357 and 10mm. However, the 357 Magnum will typically have a slight velocity advantage over the 10mm as the 357 can fire lighter bullets.

Where is the best place to shoot a charging bear?

Aim for the deadliest point you can find. On a close-in, charging bear, this will probably be the face or upper chest. Often full-attack grizzlies lower their heads as they come in, so that's about all you have to aim at.

Is 9mm enough for bear?

The 9mm can kill bears but is considered underpowered by experienced woodsmen. The 9mm has 350 to 450 ft/lbs. of energy, while 1,000 ft/lbs is considered the minimum for a bear hunting gun. Proper 9mm bullets yield sufficient penetration in soft tissue, but it may not stop a bear quickly enough to avoid being mauled.

What is the most powerful hand gun?

The Smith & Wesson Model 500 has held its rank as the world's most powerful handgun since it was first introduced in 2003.

Can a 40 cal stop a bear?

40-caliber Glock. The hollow-point bullet performed as advertised... As it turned out, the . 40-caliber 180-grain CorBon hollowpoints... were enough to take down a bear in short order.

What is the most powerful 357 bullet?

38 Special full metal jacket round will hit with the force of 189 pounds of pressure per square foot at a subsonic muzzle velocity of 810 feet per second. A similar . 357 Magnum cartridge with hit with 575 pounds at 1,440 feet per second.

What is the best grain bullet for a 357 Magnum?

357 Magnum to. For the most part, the 110 to 125-grain JHP bullets are best. At 1,300 to 1,440 fps, these bullets expand quickly, fragment and produce an effective wound channel. The Hornady Critical Defense at 1,380 fps doesn't fragment and produces an impressive balance of expansion and penetration.

Why is 357 Magnum powerful?

The speed of the bullet will have a major impact on performance, including terminal ballistics, expansion, and penetration, as well as shot trajectory. Because it has an extended case, which means more propellant behind the bullet, the . 357 Magnum in general has higher muzzle velocity.

What is the difference between a 357 and a 357 Magnum?

357 Magnum wins, because full power ammo pushes a 125-grain bullet 100 f.p.s. faster than the . 357 SIG in barrels of the same length. It's that simple. Comparing full power .

What is a 357 Magnum rifle good for?

357 rifle is suited for almost any duty you can cook up, short of long-range tasks. Hunting wise, in the right hands and with the right load, the . 357 Magnum will hammer everything up to deer and black bear. With that same gun you can also sling mild .

Does Glock make a 357?

Designed as a compact model, the GLOCK 32, in 357 SIG, offers a unique combination of versatility, convincing ballistics, optimum carry comfort, and the legendary GLOCK pistol reliability.

Is a snub nose 357 worth it?

The heavy bull barrels common to that class of pistol helps get back on target faster and tame muzzle flip, and the larger grips make for an easier impact on the hand. A snub . 357 is going to kick. Not only will this make full-house loads unpleasant to shoot, follow-up shots will take far longer than with a .

Is .38 and .357 the same?

Except for case length, the . 38 and . 357 are virtually identical. . 38 cartridges can be fired from revolvers chambered for the .

What bullet has the most stopping power?

40 round, which supposedly combines the best features of the . 45 ACP and the 9mm. However, others say that the lowly . 22 LR has the best stopping power, since it stays in the target's body and bounces around, shredding arteries and punching holes in internal organs.