During my career in DEA and US Customs stationed on the Texas Border and in Mexico, I found Browning Hi-Power 9mm loaded with the Border Patrols plus P plus to be the best defense pistol of all I tried for the same reason that Phil stated, recoil recovery and I learned from the Mexican Federale's that "spray and pray" is damn effective on people just like on bears....I would greatly prefer a .458 Win rifle under such circumstances, even a steel outhouse would suit me immensely....

Up to this point I read this thread for a chuckle or two but we are iced in f or the evening so I will jump in the mix.
I killed my first brown with a Winchester model 54 30-06 and 220 gr Super X he squared a tad over 9' on day 6 of a 15 day mixed game hunt so often booked back then. Long story short the outfitter hired me as a packer/grunt the next few summers and falls until I started to guide for him off his boat "Shady Gray" after college. 2 dozen hunters and 2 dozen bears later I still was using that model 54 as my rifle...it was the only rifle I took to AK. Once and only once my hunter shot before he got the OK from me and gut shot a nice boar whom took to the Alders at the shot. I can tell you my ass was puckered as I manned up an circled those alders before I eased in on the blood. Eighty yards and 45 minutes later I saw the bears ears sticking up from behind a pile of grass and brush...he was waiting. When he eased his snout over the log I was damm glad I had that '06 's peep sight lined up on the crease between those beady eyes and not the 38 spl on my hip.
Someone earlier posted...when you have a gun and you have an angry bear you have a bear gun...very well stated.
Phil used what he had and I am,certain his clients are damm glad he did.