Black bears are pretty soft, compared to other big game. I have come around to the notion that the ~300 grain, hardcast .44 loads are over matched for black bear. Way to much zip-through potential! Save these for grizzly, bison, moose, and elk size animals....

Ashley Emerson (Garrett Cartridges) tells me he will be shortly coming out with a 250 grain load, in his hardcast alloy and with the same bullet nose shape with optimized meplat, as the 310 grain Defender/Hammerhead. With a lower sectional density, it should not have so much zip-through, yet still penetrate more than deep enough even on a black bear frontal defensive shot. (Maybe also a .44 Special load as well, using the same bullet?) Should end up being my go-to load for black bear in the southwest, where there aren't any grizzlies.