...but if I had to bet, one way or the other, I would think many many more than 50 percent of brown bears would flee when being pelted with such projectiles, just like every other animal I've ever observed, and just like in the reports I've read, like the one quoted above.
Your mission, should you chose to accept it...
If someone is hiking in bear country and can't shoot a .500 JRH well and doesn't want to lug along a 12-ga or .375 H&H every time they go out into the wild, I just see nothing wrong with relying on the equivalent of a fast-shooting .41 Mag that's easy to carry, draw, and shoot quickly.
Nothing wrong with it, IMO.
The problem as has been posted by others in similar threads, is that far too few are able to shoot a handgun with the accuracy that's needed, let alone during the stressful event of a true charge.
And, the best weapon is between one's ears rather than on one's hip.
