I've heard of a bear defense tactic, don't know if you could use it but it seems effective.
Load a blank the the chamber, load in half buckshot, half slug. If you see a bear fire the blank. If he charges from a distance, fire the buckshot at him. If he's still coming, unleash the slugs. If you carry an 18" pump action with a pistol grip and an extended mag tube, it'd work. Buy a sling and bears are a little less terrifying.
Just hope you never run into a 12' Grizzly like the one in Alaska that ate two people and took a ton of bullets to stop. The gun unloaded his 7mm Magnum TWICE! The things head was the size of his torso. Now it is stuffed in an Alaskan airport as a warning to visiting people.
If you want something reletively small and somewhat light, buy a Smith & Wesson 500 4" or 2". Kicks like a mule but a respected bear stopper.
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