AFAIC the 200 grain (44 special) Gold Dot Hollow Point can be considered a soft lead plated bullet.
Because that's what it is.
I have had them shoot well at lower velocities than most commercial cast bullets (cause those are usually too hard).
Plated bullets should not be any harder on old rifling than today's cast bullets.
Casting one's own is the perfect solution but I have never had the room or inclination.
The new polymer plated bullets should be fine for those soft barrels too.
I don't shoot jacketed bullets much even in modern 44 specials.
Not much point as I see it.
A cast bullet is fine bear medicine if you are talking the smaller black bears north of here.

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Nemo