I find it interesting knowing what everybody else carries in the woods. It might influence my next purchase. Of all the bears I have seen in the wild (5) one was of good size. I'm guessing maybe 300 lbs. The most energy I can muster out of a handgun is about 640ft.lbs. In my neck of the woods I'm comfortable with that. .41 magnum? No way. I don't handload, not enough factory offerings. If you want to deal with .41 magnum recoil why not just get a .44 maggie? More gun offerings, more factory offerings (some really stout), simply- a more commom calibre. I can see one in the not to distant future. That said, do I really need a 41 or 44 or 45 or 454 or 50AE or some other Megadeath calibre for a 200 lb. black bear? Bear threads crack me up.
Just my thoughts, J. Parker