Originally Posted by
GJM
There is a big difference between hunting a brown bear and defending against a brown bear with a handgun.
Hunting certainly favors the large bore revolver because you absolutely need to kill the bear, you are likely shooting at greater distances than defending against a bear, and you are likely shooting for the heart/lungs, possibly at an angle where you first need to penetrate bones.
To stop a bear attack, you simply need to make the bear decide it doesn't want to mess with you. Like people, many bears don't like being shot. That is part of the reason, in the longest running compilation of stats on bear attacks, handguns, many in common service calibers, are slightly more effective than long guns in stopping attacks. The other reason being that handguns are easier to deploy once the attack goes ECQC.
If you had a large determined bear attack you, that only would stop when you penetrate the brain, the big bore revolver would have the edge. If, as statistics show is the case, you only need to make the bear leave you alone, the 10mm/45 Super semi auto becomes pretty good as it holds more rounds, is easier to shoot follow up shots with, and it better than a heavy revolver against a variety of other two and four leg threats.