Igor was lucky to have likely clipped the spine of the bear as it was very close at the last shot, inside 15 yards. It turned away, then dropped rolling around. They were on a mountainside trail in 6' to 10' high alder bush.
I would suggest the 8mm with that load would be a very good bear hunting load, same as an '06 with similar loads, but a stopping load, not my choice. Seems to me, he went back to packing his Sako in .375 H&H.
I think a 9.3x62 or 64 would make a good back-up rifle for this country.
My bro did OK with his .356 Winchester & I packed a .458 2" & .458 Alaskan (my own Wildcat).