To begin with, I love my .44 Mags. (3), all wheel guns.
I have a friend who lives in Talkeetna, his only side arm for fishing and hiking is a 12 gauge 3" chambered Remington 870 with the shortest barrel that can be carried legally, a pistol grip and a sling. He carries some brand of sabot slugs in it. 2 years ago he shot a large boar in full charge with it, the slug went full length of the bear at 10 or so yards, he piled up in front of my friend about 10 feet away, try that with a .44, even with hard cast.
Those bruins are real tuff, fire power isn't the solution, stopping power is.
The other side of this is that you can use it to get your lunch, just need a couple shot shells in your pockets, that is possible, but not very probable with a .44, unless you like pre-chewed stew with some bone fragments thrown in for added flavor.
Ray