KodiakBeer
member
For reference, I mean whatever species of bear lives in the woods nearest to where you live. No specific bear species, but if you live near black bears, put down what you would carry in those woods. If you live near brown or polar bear, put down what you would carry in those woods. I just want to see what people really carry when they are out in the wild.
OK, then define whether you are hunting bears or carrying something for protection. Anything from a .44 mag on up is fine for hunting grizzlies. A .357 will do fine for black bears.
To stop a bear in a defense situation you need to hit his brain. Brown/grizzlies will hit 40 mph on the charge and those runs are usually begun from less than 25 yards. A handgun won't cut it. It has nothing to do with ballistics, but with hitting a 40 mph target (a bear brain) in less than a second.
Black bear attacks are (usually) begun with a series of challenges that escalate into an attack. A handgun will in most cases, serve as protection. You have time to make that brain shot before it turns bad.