ORIGINAL: tmeservey
trade your 9mm in for a real handgun.
My father is a police officer and said 9mm bullets would bounce of rubber tires, sometimes never penetrate a care seat and carry no knock down power at a person shooting at you. His friend had to hit a guy like 8 times with a 9mm while this bad guy kept firing back at him. Buy yourself a 45 colt and 230 grain ACP's, even a 357 or 44 mag if you are afraid of bears. The best thing you could buys is a can ofBear Fogger pepper spray.
If penetration is your only concern, 9mm ball outpentrates 45 ACP ball in most mediums....
I wouldn't pick a 9mm as my sole bear hunting weapon, but I wouldn't be afraid to carry it as an emergency backup weapon with FMJ or good 147 grain hollowpoint though. I've hunted black bear witha bow and no backup (do to being illegal in my state) with no worries. The 9mm would be worlds better than having nothing at all.