Guy I know grew up in Alaska, his parents were both wildlife mgmt workers. They never left for work without TWO .44 magnum revolvers.
I have heard, don't know if it's true, that there is no confirmed record of a grizzly bear charge successfully being stopped with any handgun, ever.
The guides in Alaska always recommend you file down the front sight of your revolver, so it doesn't hurt quite so much when the grizz shoves it up your a$$.
I lived in west AK for many years and only used this:
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