Bear country (ID) for me is a Glock 20, 10mm. Nothing smaller.
Yessir. I have a 29.
Glock 20 has become to go-to pistol for bear defense in Alaska. The only debate now is ammo...Buffalo Bore 220 gr or Xtreme Penetrator 140 gr. As the article pointed out, one of the cases was the only known successful reloading of a handgun during a bear attack, and they were firing semi-autos. Forget about reloading if you have some ancient relic wheel gun that only holds five or six rounds.
I have black bears around my house and some are quite large. I carried a .357 with hunting rounds for years and finally bought an old Virginian Dragoon in .44 Magnum which I carry now. If I go automatic I carry a Glock 29 .10mm.
The smaller calibers will kill the bear but the question is will it kill you before it dies.