If you want the best in a handgun for Bear protection I would recomend at least a 45 Colt and 325 to 335 grain bullets at 1200 Plus FPS. The 475 & 500 linebaugh as well as the 500 JRH are even better.
In 88 the 475 Linebaugh proved itself on an Artic Grizzly that came in while I was working on a Moose kill and it literaly flattened that bear..
Check this out a man in Montana killed a Grizz after the bear had mauled him and returned for a secounf time. The mand was shooting a 41 Mag with 240 grain bullets according to the article.
http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2003/07/03/news/02maulingbzbigs.txt
