A .357 for big bears? I think we're on the right track, but a little dislexic here. For me, a .3-7-5 H&H will be much preferable, over a pistol, pepper spray, or suicide note.

Honestly, any gun beats no gun (until a few years ago, the world record Alaskan brown was killed by a native American woman with a .22 rimfire), but instead of a handgun which is adequate for whitetails, I'll take just about any decent elephant gun - .375, .416, .404, etc.
Just don't trust those bears to have a sense of humor.