You know guys, I've got to say here that if I was walking out in the woods, and a black bear came outta nowhere to start some trouble, and all I had was my .45 LC, I wouldn't be real worried...not at close range anyway, assuming I could "beat the bear to the draw" so to speak...It probably wouldn't be my first choice to go out and hunt a bear, but for emergency, I think it would handle the situation just fine....