you say the 44 isnt really great for bear i have guided black bear in northern new england and canada for 25 + years i use the hornady 240 xtp in a 629 and it performs great !! my favorite is the 41 mag in a 657 4'' hornady makes a 210 grain xtp exclusively for Cabelas and that is my favorite now if your talking BROWN bears the 44 and 41 might be a little undersized but if its black bears hornady xtp ammo is superior jacketed lead bullets for black bears demize