And a masterpiece it is! - possibly missing a comma or two, and maybe an "and."

I couldn't agree more with the comment about bears and nimrods obsessing about barrel profiles on guns. I know very little about bears, but I was just last evening speaking with a fellow whose neighbor was severely roughed up by a smallish female grizzly. Unfortunately, it was the familiar scenario of a sow with her cubs and the fellow got too close, completely unaware. He was able to save himself with a very ordinary Ruger .41 Magnum single action and three rounds. An unfortunate story for all concerned. Listening to it was a bit hard to fathom by a flat-lander here in Indiana.

Fresh from hearing that one, I think any handgun is better than none, but I would want something bigger than a .357. Any of the .4x calibers would suit me, if given the right cartridges.