Once shot a black bear with my .45 Auto - 'double tap' to the noggin at 10' did the job well, using 230FMJ's - yes, I live in an area that forbids hunting with handguns. I was working at the time, so the 'shooting' was completely legal. Actually, I shot 7 that fall while working, using a variety for different guns, mostly rifles, of course.

The best "hand-held" gun I found for bears, was a 12 bore with a .710" round ball driven at 1,550fps. Bang/whock/down. Since those balistics were good enough for a 12 bore (7 dram BP load) in Africa, it's good enough for an 'easy-to-kill' black bear. I'd also use it for grizzly before attempting to stop one with a handgun, any handgun. No handgun made today or small-bore (under .45) rifle has as much 'impact' on game at close range. I'd have to compare it to at least a .450 magnum rifle with rapid expanding bullets. As to penetration, with hardened balls, "through and through an elephant's head" is good enough for me.