I like good old fashioned 2400 with a 162 gas checked bullet or a hardcast 168 Keith. No I have never shot a bear but I am responding to your load question. I dont remember where I got the load. Either Speers manual 14 for a hard cast bullet. It is a published load that i have been using for a few years. the 168 Keith is from Leadhead bullets and it is excellent. Sometimes you have to do the best you can with the equipment you have. If you could get a chronograph or do some penetration tests you could make a reasonably good choice for a load. Remember your short barrel. I have shot this in a 4 inch model 19 and also in a 5 inch 686. Good luck.