Here is my viewpoint on the 9mm... it is basically a .357 but not with enough push for medium to big living critters. Sometimes it works, sometimes the path of the bullet will be deflected by bone and not go to the vitals you were hoping to hit. The 357 magnum revolver round is a different story, at least in a decent barrel. It has enough powder behind it to penetrate relatively straight. I have a 9mm as well;if that was what I was toting in the weeds, I too would use the heaviest solid that I could shoot in the piece. Federal makes a 147 grain fmc flat tip for not much money. Otherwise, unless you drag food into your sleeping bag or otherwise smell like cinamon roll, bears probably won't be much trouble.
