for bear protection get a shotgun with 00 buck shot or the centurion multiball defense shot. if you were to say the handgun were for protection aginst smaller animals or random unruley hikers then go for it, but you need something serious to stop a bear. mossberg makes some survival kit shotguns. it comes in a tube that has a strap so your not broadcasting to everyone what you've got. either that or get a strap on the shotgun and openly carry it on your shoulder.