I am very doubtful of a study that finds any handgun more effective at bear defense than a hunting rifle. Looks more like apologetics than a legitimate study.
If they are concerned about a safety then carry a revolver
Long guns can be set down, especially when gutting and skinning the animal. Likely they couldn’t get to and aim a long gun in time. Also a long gun could be a 22 or a shotgun with birdshot. A pistol is probably going to be a large caliber bullet.
If you are hunting bears then a long gun is your best bet. But if you are just carrying something for personal protection with bears being one of a number of potential threats, you probably are going to want a handgun. Remember that in close quarters a rifle or shotgun is not necessarily the optimal choice. This is especially true if you are taken by surprise.
If I were hiking/camping in the wild, especially in bear/big cat country, I’d probably opt for a good revolver chambered in .357 magnum. It may not be a hunting rifle or 12 gauge shotgun, but there is a hell of a lot of knockdown power in a judiciously loaded .357 (+ no safety). And they are a lot more convenient for carrying.
The bears move rapidly and it’s easier to discharge a handgun once the bear is at close quarters.
I would never go into "bear countuy" with less than a 30;06 rifle. It would just be stupid.
My father commanded a group of chopper pilots (civilian) back in the early sixties in Northern Canada. They were building the DEW Line early warning system. One of his choppers had engine trouble and they radioed that they were setting down. They never called in again. When they went out to look for them they found the chopper and remains of the pilot and passenger. It appeared that they were outside working on the engine when attacked. Polar bears killed them. They tracked them down from the air and killed the bears.
Well, I’ll stick witrh my Ruger 44 mag.
A rifle slung over your shoulder takes significantly longer to bring onto target for the first shot, on a target that may be approaching at 30+ mph at close quarters.
An additional factor is that one in the fur ball with the bear, a handgun is far easier to bring on target.
A rifle slung over your shoulder takes significantly longer to bring onto target for the first shot, on a target that may be approaching at 30+ mph at close quarters.
An additional factor is that one in the fur ball with the bear, a handgun is far easier to bring on target.