It is an interesting thing, watching someone ask a bunch of strangers behind their keyboards, who have likely never killed a bear, what someone else should use to protect himself from a bear while hunting mule deer.
What you get is theory. Most of it is not even independent thought, just regurgitation of what each person’s internet hero(s) said.
You might even get some people espousing the insane theory that a deer rifle is the only gun you should have on you. A bolt action rifle as the only gun you should have? The anti-gunners would love that philosophy as a good starting point for their agendas. “A deer rifle is all you need!”
I keep waiting for a keyboard warrior with the user name “Joe Biden” to say all you need is a shotgun.
Logic dictates (if you will) that taking the gun and round that will penetrate deepest (in the creature that you have in mind), that you can draw and shoot most accurately in a hurry, and have on your person in every situation is the best choice.
This person is taking a .357. Okay. Can he shoot a screaming 180 grain bullet accurately without flinching? If not, maybe a lighter recoiling load may be best. After-all missing with a hot load is not mor effective than hitting with a more standard magnum load like a Hornaday Custom 158 grain XTP for instance.
Every person has different capabilities and I’d want to see how well these keyboard warriors shoot the guns and rounds they espouse before taking their word on what I should do.
What you actually get is dueling internet WAGs as well as popular keywords and catchphrases.