I have heard stories about .44 magnum rounds at point black range ricocheting off the skull of a grizzly bear too. I have a 500 magnum which I think is capable of cutting down a hardened utility pole but I hate to think about only having 5 shots in a pistol to deal with an enraged grizzly bear at full charge-especially if that handgun is of the short barreled variety.
“I have heard stories about .44 magnum rounds at point black range ricocheting off the skull of a grizzly bear too.”
If you have ever had the opportunity to examine a bear skull up close and from all angles, (my brother has several) it is clear why there is a reputation of bullets ricocheting off of the skull. If you from dead on between the eyes and up, it is a very oblique angle on the skull, and pretty tough bone as well. Shooting them up the nose follows a channel directly to the brain. Front on to the eye has a good chance of missing the brain to either side.