It also said in the comments that he only hit it once. From the description its likely good he wasn't in reach of the bear when it was hit.
This is one of many instances I've heard of when someone had to go out to their vehicle to get a weapon. It never ceases to amaze me, especially in bear country.
At our house and cabin we have a dedicated HD long gun sitting just inside the door. It is for bears not people and is a .45-70, 12 gauge with Brenneke slugs or .375 H&H.
Bears make Alaska a great place. Nothing like something vying with you for top of the food chain to keep you minding your P's and Q's!
Likes pretty much everything in every caliber.
I've let more big bore wheel guns get away than I'd like, but I still occasionally carry this one: S&W 296, ugly as sin, but real useful. Titanium, Hamilton Bowen sights, cut for moon clips, CTC laser, excellent trigger. Shoots 200 grain GoldDots into clusters, surprisingly not all that painful to shoot:
Here is one of mine...
S&W Mountain Gun in 44 Magnum. It was dubbed the "Flinch Master" by a friend after he shot a cylinder of full power loads.
Edmo