I live and hunt in black bear and griz country and have had several encounters with blackies with cubs, not a good situation to be in. I've seen grizzlies off in the distance and from my vehicle but I never had an actual encounter with a griz, or I wouldn't be here if I had. A griz has a personal space of 100-150 yards, meaning that your a threat and the griz will eliminate any threat. I pack a pistol at all times and its more of a self confidence builder than anything. I also carry bear spray which has been proven to be more effective than a pistol. Some people watch to much Hollywood but most often your not going to have a chance to make a lethal shot and stop a charging bear with its adredilian flowing and it has one thing in mindand that is to eliminate the threat. It happens so fast, your not going to have a chance to make a rational decision and in that split moment its on top of you. Your dealing with something that is 5 times heavier than you are and twice as tall. It first takes a swipe at you with its paw to be followed up by its jaw. Most grizzlies don't eat people(rarely) after they kill them, unlike a black bear, which usually consumes its victim,more deaths are actually attributed to black bears because there are more of them.
There is a lot of difference between an alaskian brown bears behavior than that of an actual mountain grizzly trying to put fat on for the winter.
I suggest pack a pistol, but have your bear spray ready also.

Bobby