I wrote a whole in depth response, somehow hitting backspace made the browser go back a page and I lost it all.
Distilled version, I've got a brother that's been in AK for 20+ years, another that worked summer jobs there in college, my parents own rental property there, and I've visited several times. Whole family is outdoorsy, brother that lives there is an avid fisherman, hunter, hiker.
Younger brother was leading cruise ship tourists on kayaks, hiking, and Jeep tours. He carried a Ruger Redhawk Alaskan in .454 Casull for bear.
Older brother who lives there, has a pistol grip, 12 Ga, 870 slung over his shoulder when out and about during bear season. I believe he called it the "home defense" model, pistol grip, no buttstock, shorter barrel.
If she can't handle the .44 Mag, no point in trying the .454 Casull. Though it will shoot .45 LC too, which is much easier to manage.
I get the desire for a revolver, but you can fit a lot more rounds in a modern-ish double stack 9mm. After reading about the
Alaskan guide dropping a charging grizzly with some Buffalo Bore +P 9mm a couple years back, I believe I'd rather have as many rounds as I could, rather than a fewer more powerful rounds. I'm a terrible shot with a pistol to begin with, add adrenaline and fear of a cranky bear to the mix, I need all the shots I can get.
I'm not trying to sound like a Buffalo Bore ad, but they make "bear loads," for a lot of smaller calibers.
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Item 24F) -- 9MM +P+ PENETRATOR
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Item 24L) -- 9MM +P OUTDOORSMAN
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Item 20H) -- 38 SPL +P OUTDOORSMAN
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Item 19A) -- HEAVY 357 MAG OUTDOORSMAN
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Item 23F) -- 40 S&W OUTDOORTSMAN Std Pressure Low Flash
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Item 21C) -- HEAVY 10MM OUTDOORSMAN
Edit to add, that while you're looking for firearms, don't discount bear spray. Thankfully I haven't had to use it, but know some folks that have successfully warded off bears that were too close for comfort with it. Try not to be down wind when you use it though.