[Mr Rogers]

No reason why it needed to be a 44 magnum. It didn’t kill the bear - and a 44 magnum has a poor chance of killing a bear too!

Bears, including grizzlies, often take off after being shot by 9mm and 38s. Maybe the noise, or the sudden sharp pain they didn’t expect. Now, if it was a mama protecting its babies, that might be different.

[marktwain]

There are 37 documented cases of .44 magnum pistols being fired in defense against bears. All of them were successful.

Lots of bears are killed with pistols, but the purpose of a defensive use is to stop the attack.

[circlecity]

“ No reason why it needed to be a 44 magnum”

it didn’t “need” to be but the 44 mag is far and away the most popular revolver for bear defense in far northern areas.

[marktwain]

It didn’t kill the bear - and a 44 magnum has a poor chance of killing a bear too!

The bear was mortally wounded, and was finished off by the authorities a few hours later.

Still, the bear traveled about a mile and a half before it went down.

My best guess is the shooter only got one lung, because the bear was facing him.