340PD is my go to CCW when I’m out and about, just getting into hiking and was wondering what 357FMJ is reccomneded? Something that will stop black bears?

To my way of thinking I dont want to shoot heavy .357's out of a Scandium J frame. And for bears I for one would want a min. 180 grain hard cast or monolithic solid. And those would be really hard to shoot accurately. That being said i own a 340 M&P The shrouded hammer version. full power .357's just hurt your hands

I live in the woods. I carry heavy 44 magnums to get off multiple shots on target.

One good coated hardcast option is underwood 158 gr swc +p 38 special. It is very close to being a magnum, and does have some stout recoil in a 340pd, but not as bad as some magnum options. It penetrates very well. There are youtube videos of it outperforming 9mm 147 +p coated hardcast from the same manufacturer.

Edit: see post 32 below. Upon shooting these rounds out of two titanium cylinders, they are very hard to extract. I may have shot them in a 340m&p without that issue. They are somewhat snappy, probably close to low end 357 rounds, recoil wise.

Swc bullets have a reputation for good penetration and are popular for woods defense.
Get a big can of bear spray in a good, hard holster. UDAP, for example.

You might go on Buffalo Bore website and study up on some of their options?
I have some pretty stout 38+P and 357 options from them, for my 340 M&P j-frame.
Definitely not great for extended range sessions, and not sure how effective versus a bear, but.. hard hitting!

Not “recommending it,” but I think you will find some of the European brand .357s with 158-gr. FMJs will be loaded to a somewhat higher velocity than current production US brands like Federal, Winchester, etc., that are usually loaded with comparable weight bullets that are the expanding types. Whether that is a good thing or not is up to you to decide. I would certainly use them sparingly in my 340PD, if at all, but I am an admitted 340PD-recoil sissy.

Unless you are a real master with this revolver, a slightly larger, heavier gun (like a newer .357 Magnum Model 66) is a much better idea. I’d save the 340 for cityslicker duty with 125-145 gr. loads and invest in another gun. I think you will be pleased, if you do.

I don't know... a short-barreled .357 seems mighty anemic if a bear decides to attack, such as a mama might if you were to inadvertently come across her cubs. Bear spray seems like it might be a much better alternative.

Bear spray for sure if 340's all you got. This fine snubby is best reserved for two legged dull toothed animals says me. A scream may help as deterrent too.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

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And so it goes...

@ Bakch0w

The good news is that Black Bear attacks are rare. Bear Spray is worth checking into. Also, you might want to look into pertinent info via your state of residence 'Department of Fish and Wildlife". I am sure they have an online brochure concerning tips & guidelines for black bear encounters.

Best,
Data

Keep in mind; if your first, second or third shot doesn't stop that bear, bears can run faster than you AND can climb trees! A 357 might only piss off a big bear!

I live in bear country. I have blackberries in my back yard and bear scat in my driveway this morning. I hunt bear and have seen many shot. I have killed bear with a revolver as has my son (406 lb.). I think I would get a bigger gun.
Les

As others have stated, if I were to go hiking and have a chance of a bear encounter - I would change the gun I chose to carry for that activity. Either a short barrel 629 or a Glock 10mm.

A BEAR THREAD!!! Been a while since I've seen one!

Phil Shoemaker killed an Alaskan brown bear with his 9mm. Shot placement is the key. Practice and shoot what you can accurately hit with under pressure!

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Even older, even crankier....

All good advice above. I recently traded my M&P 340 away that I had for many years and got a 649 instead. The M&P340 was just not that much fun to shoot even with .38+P and was terrible with .357's. I would get something a little larger with longer barrel length like a 66, 686, 669 or a 10mm.I have all sorts of choices but when I go up on the Grand Mesa here in CO which is right up the hill from my house, I take something bigger than an M&P340.

I agree with you. I have an M&P340 and it's great for what it is but I can't imagine shooting bear loads out of it.

Something like the new Model 66s will be easier to shoot well, aren't too heavy and won't cause as much pain to the shooter as to the bear.

I'm in the bigger is better crowd here and would carry .44 Mag at least, but still: an 8-shot .357 Mag revolver with a barrel lenght of 5" or more and proper ammo would probably have a decent chance of stopping most bears. And no matter how well you can shoot the heavier calibers, you'll still shoot that 327/627 a lot faster.

I know of a young man who works very far out in the woods here in Alaska. He regularly encounters bears. So far all these encounters have yielded is some professional quality bear pictures. His employer does not allow for the carry of weapons, not even bear spray. That being said, guns are very common in these remote locations, and a regular fact of life to anyone who has ever ventured elsewhere than their home and a board room. It was decided that protection is nice, but discreet protection would be preferred to strapping a 10mm in a chest holster and playing policy chicken with the powers that be.

His solution for discreet protection is a Ruger LCR with 180 grain hardcast. He has put down enough injured moose and other large critters with broken legs and such to have gained confidence in it's use for big critters. He also remains cognizant of the fact that the deadliest threat anywhere is your fellow biped, and a .357 is certainly enough for that.

Another suggestion would be the Model 69.

It's an L frame 44 mag.

It would be easier to pack than the N frames but is surprisingly shootable.

If I were in the woods, where bears are, I would want the caliber of
any handgun I was carrying to start with a "4" or "5"! When I started
handgun hunting for deer sized game, I tried 357 handguns, and after
wounding a few deer, some of them never found, I started using a 44
magnum Ruger, or sometimes a Smith 29, never lost a deer after that!

I have a 2.75 inch 386 I got to carry in parks in VA, where bears are out of control. I shoot pins with a larger 357 and carry it with similar loads. 180 gr hard cast flat nose or 158 gr SWC.
In my research I wasnt able to find a single incident where a gun 9mm or larger used failed to stop a black bear attack.
Also most black bear attacks tend to have somethign to do with an illegal off leash dog,, that of course the person doesnt get cited for.

I’ve owned the 340PD for years and found full magnum loads difficult to manage. I’m guessing putting down a bear would require follow up shots and unless you’re very lucky, or very skilled, this is where things will fall apart. If I lived in an area where bear encounters might happen (I don’t) then a .44 magnum would be my choice.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

That little thing might even be worse than nothing for a threatening bear. If you routinely go where encountering a bear is possible get a bigger gun. Just sayin.

My bear gun is a lot bigger. Someone told me it’s overkill for anything less than a grizzly. Me….when it comes to a bear overkill isint even enough for me. A bazooka might make me feel good. Lol



500 S&W with 700grn hard cast. And yes, I can hit what I’m aiming at

This was 25 yards. 5 shots in 15 seconds or so

There's a study available on line, of actual bear incidents. The only cartridge that didn't work, was the one that didn't hit the bear.
Black bears (which are in my locality), I'd just carry a subcompact 9 or my 66-8 short barrel with 38 +P.

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To cannon, all men are equal

Well you do you. My wife had to shoot a bulldog at close range with 38+P. Took all five shots and she still got bit. 4 shots verified hit the dog and it kept coming. The last shot was the fatal one but the dog bit her hand and gun during that shot. Me, I’ll carry the biggest thing I have a holster for.

I seriously doubt there are enough successful bear shootings with 9mm or 38+P to do proper study.

I’m not a fan of pain….. I don’t have a 340 but I do have a 360. For ease of conceal ability I keep Ahrends boot grips on it. Even +P “FBI” loads are uncomfortable for any kind of range session. I’ve never even contemplated 357, let alone 180 grain full house bear loads….

I loaded up some reasonably hot 158 grain coated hard cast 357 SWC’s that I’m trusting this week up in Wisconsin. My sidearm of choice is a 66-7 2.5” and I know I can shoot this round through this gun well. So far the only bear I’ve seen this week is Smokey.

I’d chronograph loads as you’re choosing to ensure you’re getting what you expect and not an optimistic guess from the manufacturer.

I would want the battleship Missouri around me in any defensive situation, but the 340PD has the virtue of being easy to carry, so that you have it when needed. Whatever round you use with a bear, placement is an issue. 340 PD would be fine if not optimum, but you need to hit an important spot as with any round.

A 357 is something I carry on occasion in bear country, mostly black bear, cougars and a rare grizzly although I have never seen a grizzly in my part of the mountains. Only in Wyoming and Montana. My 340pd wouldn't be my choice but it could be doable, but I would prefer something bigger. And in a bigger caliber if I was willing to carry it

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balin
NRA Life Member

As A10 stated the best load is one you can hit with. I own everything from a 22 lr to 500 SW. When walking in the woods I usually carry my 40 SW with FMj or 357 with hard cast. The most important thing is situational awareness in the woods, or on the street. Many loads will stop a bear when your are "hunting" them, it gets much more difficult to hit a running bear a 30 mph. A bear guide back in early 1970's suggested, tying a rope to a 3 gallon bucket and the other end to a friends 4 wheeler. Have them drive past you than try to hit the bucket, it is very difficult, just like an angry bear. So Practice, again, and again, over and over till you can hit the bucket. A 500 SW or 50 BMG mean nothing if you can not make the hit on a moving object. Be Safe,

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I BACK OUR BLUE

Well, shot some of the underwood coated hardcast 158+p in a 340pd and a 442 I put a titanium cylinder in. These rounds do stick in the titanium cylinders upon firing, at least both I tried. Very hard to extract. I should have brought a 340m&p and/or 642 to see if they stick in those. I thought I shot these rounds before, but it may have been the underwood 150 wadcutters.

I will refrain from using them in titanium cylinders, for now.

Good shooting but why the 700gr slugs. Lighter but still heavy slugs such as 440 gr can penetrate a Cape Buffalo end to end, more energy and less recoil.
I've been shooting the 500s since the year they came out. Don

Uh, no. Underwoods 158gr .38 +P is 1160 fps, the .357 is 1400 fps, considerably more potent. Don

Good shooting but why a 700gr slug? Big uptick in recoil but less energy than a 440 gr which has penetrated a Cape Buffalo from chest to tail. Don

Sorry for the double post. Don

Uh No. The Underwood 38 Special +P 158gr runs 1160 fps, their .357 runs 1400 fps. LOTS more potent. Don

If it must be that revolver, I'd have to choose Underwood .357 Mag. 140 gr. Xtreme Penetrator.

Comparing underwoods two loads with the same bullet, yes, that would be correct. The underwood magnum load is much faster, much higher pressure.

Compared to other factory 158 swc loads, the underwood 158 +p 38 special swc offering is very close to and, in fact, actually exceeds some magnum loads. For example: Cowboy loads for 357 158 swc loads typically run just 1000fps. And, quite a few factory 357 magnum 158 loads in swc and jhp are less than 100fps faster than the underwood 38 special +p 158 swc. If one checks reloading manuals, it is also very apparent how close to 357 magnum the underwood and buffalo bore 38 special +p loads actually are.

The truth is underwood and buffalo bore have managed to manufacture an impressive 38 special +p 158gr swc load that is not as punishing as hotter 357 rounds, yet gives great penetration/performance. They do have snappy recoil and operate at high pressures which can cause hard extraction of fired cases. The recoil is not as unpleasant as the hotter 357 rounds, so it gives options that were not available before - for 38 chambered revolver and lightweight 357 revolver users that want more than standard 38 offerings without the beating of full bore hot 357 magnum rounds.

The perfect bear gun is a belt fed 40mm grenade launcher

Unfortunately like 12 gauge shotguns, 458 win mags and 500S&W revolvers they are kind of cumbersome

Take what ya shoot well and use hard cast bullets

If a bear charges you he is coming at you head first and moving fast. Getting your gun out, aimed and firing it is a way bigger problem than caliber. Luck as to where and how it happens is even more important.

I carry a 45 colt with 255 gr hard cast at over 1000fps myself.

I am often in bear country. Several grizzlies have been found inside a 30 mile circle around my house and I see black bears way closer. Cougars are found right here in town almost every year. Yet, I fail to worry that much about bears or cougars. So far they have all run from me. Yup, one day one might jump me, whether or not I survive will be way more about luck than any gun I have. I am far and away more apt to get killed driving somewhere.

I am not saying don't carry a gun, I am not saying big bullets are not better. I am saying the chances of needing a gun for bears is actually pretty small and the chances that one caliber will work when another won't is even smaller

My standard hunting round for hogs is a 375grn double bonded hp. The 700 grn would be if I went to Alaska and wanted to protect against a grizzly. The 375grn would definitely be effective against any black bear we have in Florida

I shot the underwood 158+p keith swc coated hard cast in a 340 m&p and a 442 with steel cylinder. The fired brass is slightly sticky to extract in a steel cylinder, but nowhere close to the difficulty in extracting in a titanium cylinder. I will use them in steel cylinders, but probably avoid titanium due to how tight the brass gets upon firing.

Black bear, brown bear, white bear = .44 Magnum, end of story.

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V/r,
Markham

A 340pd would be fine for Koala bear defense.

We have Black bear, and Grizz, in my part of the country and when out and about my bear gun is a 460 S/W with HSM 325 gr. bear loads

When I am in bear country, I always try to travel with a buddy in case of emergencies. For a side arm, I would recommend a model 18, and a pair of good running shoes. You don't have to outrun the bear, just your buddy. (if your buddy is faster than you, that is what the model 18 is for, a knee shot will slow him down)

No hollow points. To me, best is a hard cast SWC with a stout load behind it. You have a light gun. See if you can tolerated emptying the chambers fast and accurately in case you have to. I can take all kinds of recoil IF NECESSARY, but I sure don't like practicing with such a combination.

Bears have heavy fur, a lot of fat, thick skulls and heavy bones. I wouldn't trust a .38 Special.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I'd get a woods gun.

Buffalo Bore .357s.

HEAVY 357 MAG OUTDOORSMAN

➤ 3-inch S&W J Frame

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard cast LFN = 1302 fps

MIGHT jump the crimp out of a Airweight .357... so I suggest you test it well (if your hand can take the pounding.)

Or HSM Bear loads.

Bear Load | HSM Ammunition

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Deaf

For hiking in bear country, you should have bear spray and wear little bells on your shoes and know how to identify bear scat.


How do you identify bear scat?


It has little bells in it and smells like bear spray.

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When words fail, music speaks.

In this instance , the limiting factor will be the OP's ( of similarly situated persons) limiting factor will be accuracy and control with the 340 , not the chrono reading .