The discussion at work one day veered onto the subject of bear attacks and guns (don't really have bears around here to speak of). A coworker asked me what kind of damage I thought my .45 would do to a bear.

I told her:

1) I'll be shooting until the gun is empty and one of us is dead, either the bear or me, and he has stab wounds and a knife sticking out of him

2) I have the .45 ON ME, which is better than the "wish I had it with me" rifles all my coworkers were talking about

3) I'll be the most painful meal the bear has ever eaten and he'll probably die soon afterward if he does finish his meal.

All said and done, a .45 may not be the weapon of choice. But it IS the weapon I have handy.