This may be the biggest animal ever taken with a .38 cal revolver.
Since he kept the weapon for home protection it was probably a .38 special loaded with plus p rounds. Those .38 plus p rounds are like a .357 magnum. Still, that’s some good shooting.
I couldn’t find anything on 38 special but in colonial times .38 to .40 calibre rifles were recommended for black bear. .38 calibre = .36 + patch
Double ball, double powder (common loading).
I would use 70 grns of ffg and you would get two rounds at ..1750 fps. A very hard shot to survive for the bear.