A friend who lives in Alaska has a Ruger Alaskan in .454 Casull. He went to a course put on by the fish and game on stopping a bear with a gun. The bear target moves at you at a running bear speed but not level as so many competitions do. It is bobbing and moving as much like a bear as they can make it. He missed every shot. Recoil and trying to hit a moving target like that was too much for him. Probably for most. He said the only people to make hits were those with shotguns with buckshot. He said it was eye opening. Another friend witnessed a black bear killed with a 9mm (1 shot.) I usually carry a Browning Hi Power in 40 S&W, Ruger GP 100 in 44 Special loaded with 240g cast bullets at 950 fps or a S&W 44 Mag at the same velocity. I have yet to have a problem with bears (but ya never know), but have been glad to have them at times with some humans. Griz are getting more numerous and we have several people mauled every year it seems now and some killed so having something is a good idea if it is not a safe queen when not fishing. Bear spray is easier to hit something with.
