I just couldn't keep quiet any longer. We all keep hearing that in the moment recoil won't be an issue. With adrenaline rushing, etc....I DON'T BUY IT
In fact, I think it's terribly risky to not be able to shoot that 2nd and 3rd shot reasonably well.
In order to do that you need to practice and you need to have recoil you can manage. It doesn't have to be light, just manageable.
Stopping a bear or stopping a man has one thing in common; shot placement is EVERYTHING! Hitting the arm of a bear with a small cannon will only enrage the animal more.
If shot placement is everything on a man, then I would guess (never having shot a bear but I have shot other large game animals), it's even more important on a large animal like a bear. I think next you have to consider penetration because the hide of a bear (and I have felt that) is a lot more than the average guy.
For men we use JHP but for a bear I think a hot loaded .357 with something other than a JHP could do the job well. A .41 or .44 would be ideal. But beyond that, you need to be honest, how well will you be able to perform with that weapon?
I do know this from 21 years in the military, you performe WORSE with weapons when the adrenaline pumping than when it's not. The only way to compensate is to practice sufficiently so that we just do what we need to with out thinking due to training, not because of a rush of adreniline.
I would consider a .444 lever action, or a revolver. If I was going to use a revolver it would be 4" probably not 6" and it would DEFINITELY be a double action for the very same reason I'd want a double action for CCW.
Also, another weapon I'd considere would be a full sized 1911 in .45. I believe it would be very good stopping power for black bear and cougar, would be great for multiple shots and would do well in the field for the very same reasons it performed well in battle all of those years.
A glock 10mm also sounds right for the same reasons although I have no experience with the 10mm.
You can practice with a .45 more than some of the other rounds mentioned and the recoils is not bad in a full size 1911.
I would NOT count on adreniline making recoil less of an issue. I think that's a dangerous assumption.
Just my .02 and I know nobody offered to pay...
God Bless
Gideon