I'll also certainly get a .357 revolver one day.

I'd love a .45 Colt. Might have to join a western type shooting club to get one. And probably need to shoot some sort of metal silhouette targets, needed to justify greater than 9mm, .38 here in SA. AV.44 mag might be possible for the same?

I don't like the attitude of a specialist gun for emergencies.it goes against the grain and lesson that when thecshit hits, you'd better be familiar with what you want to use. When I have had minor emergencies, a big deer "charge" me! Not really hevran uphill pass me. I fumbled reloading my .30-06. I have double discharged my .450 facing elephant the first. Not good. But the triggers were an issue, since fixed. My .375's magazine needs to reloaded by pushing cartridges in backwards and down. I am aware of this. JB wasn't and in the heat of a hunt he had trouble recharging the magazine. Not his fault, I should have instructed him better. He wasn't familiar with my rifle.

So the point is, be familiar and experienced with ones weapons for self defence. In this case a handgun for bears.

As 260 says, practice with a firearm in ferals is great practice. Of course handguns can't be used for such, but that would be great practice.

One thing I find unusual in these bear discussions is the spray and pray attitude. That's the gist of the semi auto vs .44 revolver argument, isn't it? Those big bad bears come so fast, one had to pray and fire as many times as one can! Interesting when one talks about safari firearms, the opposite is the norm. If facing charging lion, one of two effective shots. Leopard, hope for the best! Buffalo, adequate power, accurate placement. Elephant, brain shot, massive power.

Not, "we need a semi auto, pull the trigger as often as possible, pray you buy something !!!! "

Of course completely from my leather armchair.

But any decent handgun is better than a spraycan. A revolver is more reliable than a semi auto. A .44 Mag or similar, is the big bore rifle equivalent. And being familiar with the SD firearm is essential.

Just academic for me, as I'll be lucky if I ever encounter bears seriously many times. I was in a Transylvanian forest once where there are 90 of so brown bears. No one was armed. Yes I did think about the lack.

By the way just enjoying the discussion. Nothing here serious for me.

And yes a big brown bear up close would be a scary experience.