Granted, you can't really do rapid fire with them, but they are suitable for agressive and dangerous large animals which may be engaged at longer ranges, say 50' to 100'--but only where there is a pressing need for a compact weapon like a handgun. A.44 is probably the bare minimum caliber (if not totally inadequate) for an animal like a grizzly, a .357 is simply not powerful enough.

A large, heavy, long-barreled .44 pistol is accurate at long ranges, and would give you time to get off several carefully aimed shots.
Big, massive, well-balanced pistols with carefully designed grips minimize recoil, but they still require extensive practice--and a strong wrist. I know I would not feel comfortable relying on one for protection against large game unless I had fired several boxes of shells through it under varying conditions. And under no circumstances would I consider using it in an offensive capacity. If you're going to pick a fight, no handgun can replace a rifle.

I had a teacher who was stationed in Alaska in the Army. While on guard duty, he and a fellow GI were charged by a polar bear, and both opened fire with their Garands beginning at a range of over 100'. Most, if not all, of their combined 16 rounds (FMJ .30 calibre military ammo)struck the target, but the beast did not die until it fell to the ground just a few feet in front of them.