CJ, thanks for the guidance. As another has said, my friend has to decide based on range experience whether he's comfortable with a wheelgun or semi. The Glock 9mm/40SW family would be the easiest semi learning curve and a good old S&W MG or 65/66 would work also with right ammo for NM black bears.
If I were deciding for myself, would have a hard time choosing between an appropriately loaded 4566, a G17g5, or a 625MG in .45LC.
