RE: .45acp powerful enough for field duty in southeast?
6" 357 all the way. A 45 aint a bear gun, even for the little ones. The 158g buffalo bore ammo really puts the thump on deer under 40-50 yds, I would opt for the 180's for potential black bear.
That said, I just got a 44 because the 357 just wasn't adequate for longer shots on deer. Even with the very hot ammo. The buffalo bore ammo in a 44 ought to be good bear medicine.