“If I am out where there is potential bear, you bet I will have a gun”
Back in the ‘90s I lived in Alaska. A guy was fishing on the Kenai alone. Apparently did not want to let the bear have the salmon he just hooked. The bear took offense. They guy pumped 6 .44’s into the bears chest with his pistol. Hikers heard the shots, saw the bear mauling the guy and called MediVac in Anchorage. The guy woke up 8 months later in hospital. Rangers found the bear dead ... 15 miles away.
And from that one example, would you recommend somebody not carry a gun, instead go unarmed where there might be bears? Heck, even the beer and the news report had to be shot. I grew up in Idaho and Alaska is well and I guarantee you not a single member of my family would ever go out without one.
Grizly's are BIG bears. Low-velocity rounds like .44 and .45 aren't nearly as effective as .357 magnum, .44 magnum, and 10mm. You have to penetrate a lot of bear to get to vital organs and do serious damage.