I've never felt more vulerable than when hiking with a 9mm in bear country.
The rest of the story; I was hiking to a glacier in April and came upon a large blood trail being drug up the trail into the brush.
I felt very under gunned, ill-prepared, and foolish.
Check out what I found on GunBroker.com!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=552321201
http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=338+win+mag&Cats=3016&PageSize=30
I was just finalizing a Midway order and they have free shipping over $150. Not sure if that helps or hurts worse... Or if it even applies to AK.
Midway free shipping code: FS1500416
I might have a unfired bag available too. I'll dig through my brass bin later tonight and see if I still have...
There is some at .338 WM brass at Midway.
Norma $1.57 - $1.70 ea.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1311262085/norma-reloading-brass-338-winchester-magnum
Hornady $0.91 ea.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/166762/hornady-reloading-brass-338-winchester-magnum-box-of-50
Ruta Locura made me a custom multi-shelter pole that works great.
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?11027-GoLite-SL5-owners-question&p=140217&viewfull=1#post140217
Here is their pole page.
http://www.rutalocura.com/Tent_Poles.html
Here is an oldy but goody from 1995. It talks a little about bullet selection . It also has an anecdotal .357 Mag story.
http://www.foggymountain.com/handgunning-bear-hunt3.shtml
I prefer the 431 rule over the 421 rule in the 1995 article.
Here is another bear / handgun article with an anecdotal .357 Mag Black Bear reference.
http://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2014/8/13/packing-pistols-in-bear-country/
A .357 Mag will kill a black bear. However IMO it is not the best caliber for the job. As mentioned above bullet construction will be important. Based on info from BB the 180gr would give you about 700# energy at 30 yds out of your 4" gun...