A couple people had expressed interest in this topic, and I have a bit of extra time for a couple days, so here goes:
Bona fides: I am a former infantry NCO and sniper, hunter, competitive shooter, reloader, hobby gunsmith, sometimes firearms trainer and currently work in a gun shop, mostly on the paperwork/compliance side. Back in the day, was a qualified expert with every standard small arm in the US inventory circa 2003 (M2, 4, 9, 16, 19, 249, 240B, 21, 24, 82 etc.), and today hang around the 75th percentile of USPSA classifications. I've shot Cap-and-Ball, Trap and Sporting Clays badly; Bullseye and PRS somewhat better and IDPA/USPSA/UML/Two-gun with some local success. Been active in the 2A community since the mid-90s, got my first instructor cert in high school, and have held a CPL for almost twenty years now.
I certainly don't claim to be an expert in every aspect of firearms, there's huge areas that escape my knowledge base, but if you've got questions I'll do my best to answer.
Technical questions
Gun control proposals for feasibility
Industry
Training
Wacky opinions
General geekery
Some competition links (not my own) just for the interested.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=U5IhsWamaLY&t=173
https://youtube.com/watch?v=93nEEINflXE
https://youtube.com/watch?v=utcky0zq10E

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Notes -
Yes.
Yes.
Ok, kidding. Truth is, it depends on how you define "viable". There's also cost to consider, plus holsters, ammo, sights etc. My personal calculation is that if I were guiding bear hunts, or logging in the Yukon, I'd carry a 10mm. But I don't. It just isn't worth it to me to own a whole different gun for the limited amount of time I might be exposed to bear. Even if I lived in Alaska, I don't think I'd change unless I had a particular need to. If you know you're gonna meet a bear, you bring a slugged twelve gauge or you don't turn up.
I see. Thanks!
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