A couple of more thoughts: I have heard that shotguns w/slugs are used for bear protection but I'm not crazy about that idea. I know that slugs can deliver a lot of incapacitating kinetic energy, but from what I've seen on boar, a HP rifle is a better and quicker stopper than shotgun slugs. Going back to the shotgun; and I'm not saying that this is a good idea, or that I would want to try it, but how about if one of the persons in the party had a 10 gauge shotgun with a 3 and a half inch load of super buckshot, or even a top of the line load for geese to deliver into the bears face. I know that the face and head is generally a poor target especially to a bear, but used as a combo with a high power bullet to the vitals and then a disorienting load of serious 10 gauge scattershot to the face (preferably the eyes) seems like a good way to change the course of the bears attack. The scattershot effect from the shotgun would not be intended for stopping purposes but rather to blind or disable the bears navigational senses while the HP rifle or hand gun shooter simultaneously delivers deep penetrating shots to the vitals, or if lucky a crippler to the bear neuro system. I guess it wouldn't be too legal for a third guy to have a flame thrower (just kidding) but the other combo that I mentioned might be worth consideration. We need an experienced bear hunter to weigh on this strategy. I won't be insulted if he says it not a good plan but it can't be worse that just one shooter. Question is should they both go with single HP projectiles, or could the combo be better.