.44 Magnum for Bear Defense
The classic big-bore revolver round for the backcountry — what it does well against bears, and its limits.
The Short Answer
.44 Magnum is the traditional benchmark for handgun bear defense, and for good reason: fired from a sturdy revolver with heavy hard-cast bullets, it delivers deep penetration that can reach a large bear's vitals from a bad angle. A revolver also has the advantage of going bang reliably even if pressed against a charging animal, where a semi-auto might fail to cycle. For grizzly country, many guides still trust a .44 (or bigger) over a semi-auto.
The honest limits: heavy recoil makes fast, accurate follow-up shots difficult, and capacity is just 5–6 rounds. That's why bear spray — which has an excellent real-world track record and doesn't require precise shot placement on a charging bear — is widely recommended as the first line of defense, with the revolver as backup. Load hard-cast bullets built for penetration, not expanding hunting bullets, and practice with the recoil before you rely on it.