You never mentioned what type of bullet you were using in the .357 mag.Hollowpoints are not the best choice when penetration is needed,ask Larry Kelly about that,.44 mag revolver emptied into a brown bear with 240 gr.hollowpoints.After that lesson he used a non-expanding bullet and shot a bigger brown bear than the one his guide finished after Larry made him mad.I'm partial to the .454 casull eventhough the .357 mag. would work with the right bullet.