enough for bear?

[huntnfmly]

I have a ruger  super redhawk 7 1/2 in barrel .44 magnum. When I bought it came with 240 grain xtp hollow points. I've heard different opinions on hollow points and penetration for bears.What say you?

[tgomez]

Should do the trick. But I wouldn't use hollow points, probably want something better bonded that doesn't expand too much. But im sure some will disagree. Good luck either way. Aim small, miss small.

[jasnt]

I like the 260gr gold dots deep curl or hard cast 305gr LFN in my 44 for bear.  Hallow points are made to stop over penetration and to expand quickly slowing the bullet as it sheds energy. IMO you don't want that with bear. 

[fisheral87]

I think you would need to look at some performance data on the cartridge to see how far it penetrated through similar materials. Hollow points are designed to expand faster, which could be a benefit if it penetrated enough through meat and bone to transfer the foot lbs generated on the target as opposed to a hard cast round that carried on through.

I carry hard cast rounds in my .357 for self defense because I compromised somewhat on my caliber/pistol choice and I'd rather get penetration and sacrifice a few ft/lbs because the chance of getting through skull and shoulders with a hard cast is better odds IMO.

Al

[CAMPMEAT]

I say hardcast too...

[nastybynature]

This is what I carry for now. I haven't handloaded any .44magnum yet because I didn't have any brass when I bought the pistol a year ago. I have been shooting factory rounds and saving the cases so I am now ready to start loading them. But for now, this is what I have been using. http://bit.ly/1STdOoF

[jdb]

Hard cast

[magnumb]

Hard cast

 ................if there was something better, I'd use it.

[rickomatic]

http://www.garrettcartridges.com

[zwickeyman]

Those controlled expansion from Doubletap are good Bear medicine but Hard Cast is a great option

[sagerat1]

I agree with hard cast. my local woods carry is 255 gr. KEITH SWC HARD CAST. pLENTY FOR MOST ANYTHING local.
We have grizzly north of here and up there I load Oregon Trail 310 gr gas check hard lead.. 44 mag
Before I loaded my own I used HSM 310 gr cast lead in my 44 and 180 gr cast in my 357.
HSM is quite a bit cheaper than some other cast ammo.

[huntnfmly]

Thanks for the link and opinions. How can you tell hardcast from non? Will it say on box?

[huntnfmly]

I have several boxes of hsm

[fisheral87]

Should say on the box but here is a good pic, left to right, soft point, hard cast, hollow point.

[huntnfmly]

Thanks everybody