Well, I havent decided what gun Im taking for black bear hunting this season, But its either going to be my .300 Win Mag rifle, .454 Casull Revolver, or my .500 Smith Revolver.
But I consider the .454 the bare minimum as far handguns, a .44 dosent have enough power for some of the really big blackies, I know a guy who killed a 500 lb black bear, he shot it 10 times with hot 44 mag 320gr hard cast, and he is no poor marksman with a pistol, nor is he new at all to bear hunting, hes been doing it with his hounds he raises since he was about 10, hes 25 now, and has taken many bear.