For bear defense, I would rather have a canister of Counter Assault than any .357 handgun. The .44 Mag is marginal - I would get an inexpensive 12 guage pump shotgun unless you want to spend a bunch of money on a "hand cannon" like the .500 Smith and Wesson.

Studies done by various law enforcement and military researchers indicate that a handgun is very difficult for most people to shoot accurately in high adrenalin situations. A long gun is much better.

My camp gun is a Beretta .22 pistol.

I would have to say to get an inexpensive pump shotgun, and load it with slugs. A Rem. 870 or Moss. 500 with a 20" barrel would be much easier to handle for a wider range of people than a handgun would be. You can get low recoil slugs that would still put the hurt on a bear at close range.

if it were me i would go with a 12 guage with some rubber buckshot if its a camp bear that you need to learn it a lessonand its legal to. slugs for a life threatening situation. if your just looking for an excuse to buy a new gun then buy away

Bigbulls makes a great point.A .44 Mag is your all purpose hand cannon, and that's what I'dprefer to havein the woods with me.

Personally, I carry my .40S&W in the woods nowbecause that's my CCW pistol. Butafter I put asideenough money to buy a.44 Mag (looking at Rugers) with a 4" barrel, that's what I'll take into the woods with me.

An 18.5" bbl shotgun loaded with buckshot or slugs would do the trick very nicely, but naturally you'll have issues with carry and concealment. You might not have time to drop your firewood and run over to the tent to grab it when that bear comes into camp.

44 Mag. 6 inch minimum barrel. Garret 300 grain cast loads.

As for me a camp gun can I say Stroger's coach gun 12 ga 3",2 loads of000 buck.
If hiking of wandering the woods I carry a Ruger BH in 41 mag 4 5/8 barrel or my Ruger BH 44 mag 7 in barrel.
There isn't any auto out there that can be a efective bear stopper,except maybe a 50 AE,44 mag or 41from Desert eagle.But they are HEAVY and exspensive.
For the other times I carry a rifle.
BBJ

I also would pick a revolver, but it's BS that revolvers don't jam.

I like the 44 mag, but the real question is, will the owner beable to shoot this revolver accurately?????? If not, it's useless!!

Drilling Man